Senior Product Owner

As a Product Owner, you are responsible for maximizing the value of several key IT products within our organization. Your scope is broad: from defining and prioritizing the product vision to maintaining intensive stakeholder management. In doing so, you take into account organization-wide objectives and the (legal) frameworks that apply within the Dutch government. You focus on clear priorities, represent the interests of all parties involved, and ensure stable and innovative solutions.

What will you be doing?

As a Product Owner in the Enforcement Division’s Operations Department, you will work alongside your colleagues to drive the ongoing development of our information systems. You will be the driving force behind the vision for (the development of) the product that supports our primary oversight process, ensuring clear expectation management and alignment between the business and our IT organization. You will actively gather requirements and needs from the business owner, users, and other stakeholders (including compliance), and actively involve them in further product development and decision-making. In doing so, you ensure that everyone is on the same page and help build a future-proof information system. You do this in collaboration with the various players in the change landscape (information management and IT) within the NVWA, such as the business information manager, business architect, project managers, delivery managers, fellow product owners, etc.

Your responsibilities:

• You will develop and oversee the product vision for medium-sized and large complex systems or application landscapes.
• You will create the product backlog and set priorities in collaboration with stakeholders both within and outside the organization.
• You will represent the business needs at both the tactical and strategic levels and contribute to the achievement of policy objectives.
• You have the authority to make decisions regarding content and scheduling in consultation with the business owner and business information managers.
• You will work closely with Super Users, users, and other (supply chain) stakeholders to ensure that the solutions align with both day-to-day operations and the medium- to long-term strategy.
• You identify and manage risks related to technology, processes, and organization, and ensure quality control. In doing so, you provide both solicited and unsolicited advice.
• You facilitate collaboration within Agile development teams and drive a continuous improvement process.
• With your knowledge and expertise, you make a significant contribution to ensuring that information is provided effectively. 

This is how you ensure that the NVWA carries out its duties very effectively.

Job Requirements

You thrive on maintaining numerous contacts within the organization and handle conflicting interests with ease. In a complex environment, you effortlessly build and maintain a strong network. You form independent judgments and communicate clearly about the decisions you make. Analysis comes naturally to you; you take initiative, actively seek alignment with stakeholders, and plan and organize your work with ease. In addition, together with the delivery manager(s) and the team, you set concrete goals and actions so that everyone can get to work with a clear focus.

We would also like to see the following:

• You have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a relevant field (such as business administration, information management, or public administration).
• You have proven experience as a Product Owner, project manager, or (senior) consultant in a complex (government) organization.
• You have experience with Agile and Scrum methodologies and are familiar with creating and managing a product backlog.
• You have excellent communication skills; you can work effectively with both development teams and various levels of management.
• You excel at stakeholder management: you connect people, negotiate, and build bridges between different disciplines and interests.
• Experience managing projects or subprojects that have a significant impact on the organization is a plus.

Skills

• Planning and organizing
• Networking
• Persuasiveness
• Collaborate

The NVWA is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of society and places great importance on an inclusive hiring policy. We therefore encourage everyone to apply, regardless of cultural background, age, gender identity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Terms of Employment

• Salary level: Grade 13
• Monthly salary: Min. €5,212 – Max. €7,747 (gross)
• Employment status: Fixed-term employment contract with the possibility of conversion to a permanent contract
• Contract duration: 1 year
• Minimum number of hours per week: 32
• Maximum number of hours per week: 36

Other terms and conditions of employment

In addition to an onboarding program tailored to your role and extensive training and/or coaching opportunities to support your professional growth, we also offer the following employee benefits:

Individual Choice Budget You receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB) equal to 16.50% of your gross annual salary. You can have your ICB paid out, for example, on a monthly or annual basis, or you can use it to purchase additional leave hours. In addition, you can use your IKB to purchase a (electric) bicycle for commuting tax-free, set up your home office,pay off your student loan with tax benefits up to a maximum of €2,000 per year,or even make your home more sustainable. To encourage this, the national government offers an employer contribution on top of the IKB.

Vacation Days If you work 36 hours per week, you are entitled to 144 vacation hours and 64 IKB leave hours per year. Do you work more or less? Then these hours are calculated proportionally. And do you need a little less vacation time? Then you can also choose to have your 64 IKB leave hours paid out or added to your IKB saved leave

Travel Allowance You will receive a mobility card that allows you to travel by train in second class for your commute. Do you bike to work? If so, you will receive a travel allowance of €0.21 per kilometer cycled. If you have a field-based position, you are often also eligible for an electric company car. You may also use this for personal purposes based on the additional tax liabilityplus a personal contribution.

Leave Policies
The government offers leave policies for various situations, such as (additional) maternity leave (up to 5 weeks with 100% pay), parental leave (up to 9 weeks with 100% pay in the first year and an additional 75% for 4 weeks), care leave, and adoption/foster care leave.

Pension The Dutch government has an attractive pension plan with ABP, the General Civil Service Pension Fund. Read more about the ABP pension plan here.

Additional allowances and reimbursements
For some positions at the NVWA, it is necessary to work outside regular office hours or to be on call. However, this is compensated by additional allowances or reimbursements. For example, we offer an on-call and standby duty allowance and an irregular shift allowance.

Details

• Applications will be considered in accordance with applicable agreements, including the Central Government Collective Labor Agreement and the NVP Application Code.
• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is required to work at the NVWA.
• If the position involves a fixed-term employment contract with the prospect of becoming permanent, the permanent contract is initially preceded by a one-year contract. Provided the employee proves to be suitable, the contract is generally converted into a permanent contract of indefinite duration after one year.
• Is this a job opening for a fixed-term contract with the possibility of becoming permanent, but do you already have a permanent position as a civil servant? If so, you will retain your permanent position.
• If the position is initially a fixed-term role, it will not be reopened if the role can be made permanent within the organization and the (initially) temporary position was filled by an internal employee with a permanent contract.
• Online screening—for example, through search engines or social media—can be part of the selection process.
• A competency test and/or an assessment may be part of the selection process.
• A comprehensive A or B screening by the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) may be required for certain positions at the NVWA, including those in the Intelligence and Investigation Service (IOD).
• Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.

Feel free to ask your question

For more information about this job opening: Patricia van Schaik

0611588809 or Richard van Kleven

0611777605

For more information about the application process: Michael Daarnhouwer

0615473857

Interested in applying? 

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) invites you to apply on their website. The government is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive organization. Working in diverse teams makes us more effective, more innovative, and makes the work more enjoyable. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply.