Senior Advisor, Scientific Climate Council

Senior Advisor, Scientific Climate Council

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / Scientific Climate Council (WKR)

Job Description

As an advisor, you play a crucial role in providing scientific and strategic policy advice to the government and parliament on climate policy. As a staff member of the Secretariat of the Scientific Climate Council (WKR), you will collaborate with council members on recommendations regarding major long-term climate issues. Your work will focus on a wide range of cross-domain and cross-sector climate issues.

As a senior advisor, you will work as part of a team with fellow advisors to develop policy recommendations. You will collaborate with council members and fellow advisors on the procedural and substantive aspects of developing these recommendations. You will be (jointly) responsible for drafting policy recommendations.

You will be involved with many different scientific disciplines. The WKR and its advisory services will draw on a wide range of expertise. You will also maintain contact with various government agencies. Administratively and organizationally, the WKR falls under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, but it operates autonomously and independently.

As a senior advisor, one of your first assignments will be to prepare a WKR advisory report for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in preparation for the five-year Climate Plan (as referred to in the Climate Act). This advisory report will be published prior to the adoption of a new Climate Plan. Since the next Climate Plan is scheduled to be adopted in 2024, the Council’s first advisory report must be published by the end of 2023 at the latest.

This advice must be based on the latest scientific insights. At the same time, it is important that the advice takes into account different perspectives and societal values. To this end, you and your colleagues will collaborate with scientists and other advisors. You study scientific publications and stay abreast of the latest (technological) and societal developments. You contribute to high-quality, authoritative, and independent advice.

What will you be doing?

Your responsibilities:

• In consultation with and/or under the guidance of council members, the executive secretary, and fellow advisors, contribute ideas regarding various aspects of WKR projects (problem definition, approach, methodology, partnerships, and helping to ensure the timely delivery of the final result).
• Preparing the agenda for council meetings, in consultation with fellow advisors, as it pertains to your projects and recommendations.
• Gathering (scientific) information, translating it into research questions, and proposing potential solutions from various fields of expertise. This will include a literature review.
• Based on this, you will (co-)author advisory documents, subproject plans, internal documents for the board, reports, and other (scientific) articles. When necessary, you will assist the project support staff in accurately recording the minutes of board meetings.
• Provide support in the substantive management of contractors, for example, when planning sub-studies.
• Stay informed about developments in the field, identify and propose initiatives for new policy recommendations, partnerships, new methods, and the like, and translate these into relevant policy recommendations. In doing so, you keep an eye on developments in related fields and delve into relevant social trends.
• Delivering presentations and explaining specific aspects of advisory reports and papers.

The WKR is seeking several senior advisors for its secretariat to help shape and implement its recommendations.

Job Requirements

• Academic level of thinking and work (master’s degree). Experience at a knowledge-intensive organization is preferred.
• Strong analytical and writing skills. Able to quickly grasp complex subject matter, break it down into understandable terms, and communicate it effectively in writing.
• Experience with (literature) research and writing reports.
• A demonstrable interest in climate issues.
• Experience with project-based work is a plus.
• A keen sense of social and cultural trends to identify emerging trends.

Terms of Employment

Salary level: Grade 11

Monthly salary: Min. €3,503 – Max. €5,343 (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).

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We do not accept unsolicited applications for our job openings. 

Interested in applying?

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / Scientific Climate Council (WKR) 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.