(Senior) Food Safety Policy Officer

What will you be doing?

We are looking for a policy officer working at the intersection of the agri-food industry and food safety, with a keen understanding of how the food system operates and the risks involved. Your responsibilities will include addressing environmental contaminants (such as PFAS), biocides, radionuclides, and natural toxins such as cyanotoxins. You will identify issues that undermine the functioning of a safe food system and actively seek substantive engagement with relevant stakeholders. You do not need to have specialized knowledge yourself, but you will consult frequently with subject matter experts, ensure that the necessary expertise is developed, and determine which studies and measures are required. Using these insights, you will ensure that robust policy recommendations are formulated—especially during food safety emergencies and incidents where contaminants are involved.

In addition, you will work closely with a colleague on food safety issues within the meat supply chain. Your responsibilities will include policy matters related to qualified hunting personnel and the animal health fund.

We are looking for a versatile policy officer who wants to be at the heart of society and seeks to build meaningful connections. It’s okay to push boundaries, but always with respect, understanding, and interest. This requires you to demonstrate the necessary diplomacy and firmness in your formal and informal discussions with the sector, policy officers from other ministries, research institutes, and regulators. And you know what you’re talking about. You keep a close eye on recent national and international developments and trends, have the most up-to-date market analyses at your fingertips, and know how to gather the right substantive knowledge.

The PAV management team is a dynamic group where a lot is happening. You’ll be part of a team with a pleasant, collegial, and informal atmosphere. Within the team, you will be assigned your own set of responsibilities. You will carry out your work in consultation with your management team member, team coordinator, and together with your colleagues on the team. However, you are also willing to step in flexibly when needed, including on issues that are broader in scope within the department.

Job Requirements

For this position, we are looking for a policy officer who enjoys working on complex and dynamic policy issues. You are flexible, a team player, and have an affinity for (European) regulatory processes, policy-making, and political advising. You are versatile and have strong analytical skills. Whether it involves preparing for a House of Representatives debate, drafting a letter to the House, or assisting in the drafting and implementation of a legislative proposal, you are up for the challenge. It helps that you are skilled at working on projects and can communicate effectively with colleagues and external stakeholders. You are curious, eager to learn, and a true team player.

What else we ask for:

• You have a college-level education.
• You have a background in food safety and are familiar with food production systems.
• You are interested in working in a policy environment.
• You have an interest in European processes and global food safety issues (Codex Alimentarius).
• You are a networker who easily connects with stakeholders with diverse interests.

Don’t meet all the job requirements, but think you can still add value to the team? We’re open to fresh ideas and curious to hear about your motivation. We warmly invite you to apply.

Skills:

• Environmental awareness
• Planning and organizing
• Networking
• Collaborate
• Initiative
• Strong analytical skills
• Political and administrative sensitivity

We value diversity within our organization and take this into account in our hiring process. We believe that diversity enhances the quality and broad support for our work, and we strive to be an organization where everyone can be themselves and has the opportunity to grow. In our work, we therefore examine issues from various perspectives and aim to connect with all segments of society.

Terms of Employment

Salary level: Scale 11
Monthly salary: Min. €3,608 – Max. €5,503 (gross)
Employment type: Permanent employment contract
Minimum hours per week: 32
Maximum hours per week: 36

Other terms and conditions of employment

In addition to your salary, you will receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB). The ICB consists of money (16.37% of your gross annual salary) and time. With the ICB, you can make choices that suit you and customize part of your employment benefits. For example, you can choose to have a portion of your monthly income paid out whenever you wish. You can also convert this budget into leave and vice versa, or spend it on tax-friendly purposes. The Dutch government is strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offers numerous opportunities for this. Secondary employment conditions include various study facilities, company fitness programs, full reimbursement of your public transportation costs for commuting, and partially paid parental leave.

Details

• The introductory and selection process consists of at least two rounds of interviews and a final discussion regarding terms of employment.
• Checking references or conducting an assessment may be part of the selection process.
• Candidates for reassignment and candidates subject to mandatory job-to-job placement who are not employees of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy or the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality must include a designation decision from the competent authority with their application.
• Colleagues within the central government who are permanent employees may be seconded.
• If you do not (yet) have a permanent position as a civil servant, you will start with a temporary position with the prospect of a permanent one.

What else do we offer you:

• A pleasant work environment with excellent facilities, just a short walk from the central station.
• Plenty of opportunities to continue developing your skills and specialize.
• We believe it’s important to maintain a good work-life balance. Working hours can be arranged flexibly by mutual agreement.
• If you are hired, hybrid work is an option; you will work partly from home and partly at the office. We believe it is important to have a good home office setup. We therefore offer a subsidy for home office equipment and a work-from-home allowance in accordance with the Central Government Collective Labor Agreement (CAO Rijk).

After the application deadline, the job posting and the employer’s contact information will no longer be visible online. To avoid having to request this information later, we ask that you download and save the job posting.

We do not accept unsolicited applications for our job openings.

Interested in applying?

The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality / DG Agro (DGA) invites you to apply on their website. Click the button below to leave this site and go directly to the application form. The government values a diverse and inclusive organization. Working in diverse teams makes us more effective, more innovative, and makes the work more enjoyable. Everyone is therefore invited to apply.