Senior Policy Advisor

The position

As a Senior Policy Advisor, you will work on various initiatives within Amsterdam’s secondary and vocational education systems. You will serve as a senior advisor on several major issues within the team and the department, such as school safety policy, compulsory education policy, and other topics. You have a vision for developments in education in Amsterdam and are able to translate this into effective policy. You empower people both within and outside the organization to implement these policies.

The Secondary Education/Vocational Education (VO/MBO) team is organized into two clusters: Secondary Education (VO) and Vocational Education (MBO). You will work in the Vocational Education (MBO) cluster, which is led by a cluster coordinator. About this cluster: key components of the municipal MBO policy include the Amsterdam MBO Agenda, the policy regarding young people in a vulnerable educational position, and the approach to preventing early school leaving and the associated RMC task. We invest in ensuring a strong connection between education and the labor market, the transition from secondary education to vocational education, and policies for lifelong learning. The cluster is also responsible department-wide for school safety and compulsory education policy.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You will be responsible for the substance of Amsterdam’s policy on one of the aforementioned topics. You will work closely with schools and other relevant stakeholders (both within and outside the municipality) to achieve the desired results;
  
• You will lead a subteam of ambitious policy advisors, focusing on content. Together with the cluster coordinator, you will set the team’s direction and ensure optimal conditions for achieving the desired results;
  
• You identify connections, build support, and actively foster collaborative relationships. In doing so, you maintain a keen awareness of how these efforts align with other developments;
  
• You translate national policy into municipal policy and have relevant work experience with or at both levels of government;
  
• You will act as the client for the implementing organizations;
  
• You will work closely with the cluster coordinator to discuss the results and progress of your cases;
  
• You will be responsible for providing substantive input and preparing decision-making materials on all matters for the alderman, the committee, and the City Council;
  
• You bring in knowledge from outside sources (best practices, national trends, experiences from other cities and municipalities).
  

This is where you get started

We strive to be a great employer that ensures all our colleagues feel seen and valued. We embrace the differences among our colleagues; these differences lead to better results for both our organization and our city. We aim to build a workforce that reflects Amsterdam’s diverse population. So, whoever you are, you’re more than welcome here!

The city’s goal is to ensure that all children in Amsterdam can reach their full potential, regardless of their background. Promoting equal opportunity and quality in education is a top priority. The Education Department works closely with schools throughout the city.

The department is working on:

• preschool and early childhood education;
  
• supervision and enforcement of child care;
  
• ensure that all children and young people follow an educational path that matches their abilities and potential, in primary education (PE), secondary education (SE), and vocational education (VE);
  
• ensure that all young people find the best possible fit in the labor market, in line with their abilities;
  
• other issues such as: the teacher shortage, admissions policies, and special education.
  

What you bring

For this position as Senior Policy Advisor, you must have:

• Work and cognitive level;
  
• At least 2 years of experience in policy development within a government organization;
  
• At least 1 year of experience in providing substantive guidance to professionals in the social sector, preferably in the field of youth or education;
  
• At least 1 year of experience leading the development and implementation of policy programs, including providing substantive guidance to the team;
  
• Experience in the education sector and an affinity for education in Amsterdam;
  
• Translate long-term visions into concrete goals and ensure their implementation and execution.
  

You should have the following skills:

• Analytical skills
  
• Inventiveness
  
• Collaborate
  
• Results-oriented
  

What we offer you

As a Senior Policy Advisor, you will join our team for 32–36 hours per week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary of up to €6,103 (pay grade 12) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.
  
• A one-year employment contract, with the possibility of a permanent contract thereafter, if you do not currently have an employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, or if you have only a temporary one.
  
• If you already have a permanent employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, you will retain it and be transferred.
  
• Opportunities for professional development and training. Our in-house training center, the Amsterdam School, offers a variety of training programs, professional development tracks, and on-the-job coaching to help you continue to challenge yourself.
  
• An individual flexible budget (IKB) equal to 17.05% of your salary, which you can use for things like additional pension contributions or extra days off.
  
• A pension plan with ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education.
  
• A travel allowance of €0.10 per kilometer, up to a 45-kilometer one-way commute, for the number of days you work in the office, and/or a work-from-home allowance of €2 net per workday that you work from home.
  
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.
  
• Hybrid work: In this role, you can work partly from home and partly in the office. We provide the necessary equipment to help you set up a safe and healthy workspace at home.
  
• A cell phone and a laptop.
  

Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out the City of Amsterdam Personnel Regulations (PGA).

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by September 11, 2022, using the “Apply Now” button.
  
• We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain, in no more than one A4 page, why your work experience and skills are a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
  
• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of two rounds.
  
• If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
  
• The selection process consists of a CV/cover letter review and an interview.
  
• Interviews will be conducted in person whenever possible, in September or early October, at our office on Jodenbreestraat in Amsterdam.
  
• A writing assignment or role-play may be part of the application process.
  
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.
  

We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation from recruitment agencies, and such actions may result in exclusion from our other recruitment initiatives. We also consider the unsolicited submission of resumes by agencies to our employees to be solicitation. We will not review these resumes.