(Senior) Policy Officers for Industrial Sustainability / Nitrogen

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / Directorate-General for Business and Innovation (DGBI)

(Senior) Policy Officers for Industrial Sustainability / Nitrogen

Job Description

Accelerating the transition to a sustainable industry, with a specific focus on nitrogen reduction. You’ll be at the forefront of this effort in The Hague. As a (senior) policy officer, you’ll help shape and implement policies for the industry’s transition and actively contribute to reducing industrial emissions. We are working toward a sustainable industry by 2050: an industry that is both climate-neutral and competitive. In this way, you will make a valuable contribution to a major ecological, social, and economic challenge.

Topics you will be working on:

How can the industrial sector reduce its nitrogen emissions in addition to cutting CO2 emissions? How can we prevent nitrogen-related issues from hindering the industry’s efforts to become more sustainable? How do we achieve the energy transition? Within the parameters of existing policy frameworks and legal and financial constraints, you will contribute ideas on developing and implementing policies in this area. This involves intensifying current policies. A clean and competitive economy with room for entrepreneurship—that’s what you’re aiming for!

There are two main tasks in this field:

1. Developing the policy framework. This involves setting NOx reduction targets for sectors such as industry and the energy sector, exploring additional regulatory or pricing instruments, and developing the policy framework for addressing industries that contribute significantly to peak emissions.
2. Achieving nitrogen emission reductions among major emitters through tailored solutions. We will work one-on-one with these companies to identify opportunities for adapting their business processes to reduce nitrogen emissions and to determine the conditions necessary for implementing the relevant projects.

Your job responsibilities will include a mix of the following tasks:

• You will be (jointly) responsible for further developing the policy agenda for the nitrogen strategy for industry, including establishing the necessary conditions and/or utilizing the mix of national and European (grant) instruments.
• You translate signals from internal and external networks into the various action items of the industry policy on sustainability, identify bottlenecks, and resolve them.
• You will support and advise senior political and civil service officials on all matters and issues related to nitrogen policy.
• You will help implement the nitrogen reduction plan at individual farms that have been identified as major contributors to nitrogen pollution.
• You will analyze the specific situation of each company, contribute ideas on how to modify equipment and processes and on potential projects for reducing emissions, and serve as a point of contact for the company.
• You will contribute to the tailored approach for CO2 peak emitters whenever nitrogen-related questions arise.

You will carry out all of this work as part of either the Industry Strategy Team or the Customized Agreements Team within the Industry Sustainability Directorate. You will also work closely with colleagues from the Climate and Energy Directorate-General (DG Klimaat en Energie) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) and other departments such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). In addition to the industry, your external network consists of various civil society organizations, including those affiliated with the European Commission.

We are looking for ten policy officers to help strengthen this policy and approach.

We are looking for people with subject-matter expertise (for example, in production technology, permitting, or infrastructure), as well as those who excel at the day-to-day administrative work (developing approaches, providing advice, drafting memos, etc.). You are a team player who can work effectively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds on projects for a wide range of companies.

What exactly will you be doing? That depends on your knowledge, experience, and preferences. One thing is certain: you’ll be working in a highly engaging and socially relevant environment.

Job Requirements

You are creative, proactive, and a true go-getter. You are a professional representative of our ministry and a valued partner for other stakeholders. You have an affinity for the industry and the sustainability challenges facing this sector. You are able to build connections between the various stakeholders in the nitrogen strategy. You provide realistic estimates regarding the time, capacity, and resources required and monitor progress with internal and external parties. In everything you do, you focus directly on your goal. You are able to adapt quickly and draw on your own expertise to work in highly varied environments and teams.

• You have a university degree or demonstrable work experience at the university level, preferably in a technical, public administration, or business-related field.
• You enjoy complex, challenging problems and have strong analytical skills.
• (Policy) experience in the areas of energy transition, industry, or nitrogen is a plus.
• You have a keen sense of political and administrative dynamics. This means you have a strong understanding of the interests of the various stakeholders and the administrative dynamics, and can collaborate effectively with them.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills and can quickly translate the story behind the rules and figures into an accessible text or presentation.
• You are creative and determined, and you’re good at making connections.
• You are a team player and care about your colleagues.

Skills:

• Analytical skills
• Board sensitivity
• Planning and organizing
• Collaborate
• Results-oriented

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

• Pay grade: 11, step 12
• Monthly salary: Min. €3,608 – Max. €6,227 (gross)
• Employment status: Permanent employment contract
• Minimum number of hours per week: 32
• Maximum number of 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.
• Colleagues within the central government who are permanent employees may be seconded or transferred while retaining their current employment status.
• 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.

Interested in applying?

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / Directorate-General for Enterprise and Innovation (DGBI) 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.

We do not accept unsolicited applications for our job openings.