Staff Member

Job Description

As a staff member, you contribute to parliamentary democracy in the Netherlands on a daily basis. This role is at the heart of the Senate’s core legislative process. Every Tuesday, the entire country can see and hear that the Senate’s work runs smoothly. To ensure this, thorough preparation, collaboration, and coordination on the other days of the week are essential. 

As a staff member, you will be assigned to one or more committees; these are expected to be the Finance Committee and the Infrastructure and Water Management/Housing and Spatial Planning Committee.

Together with your colleagues (committee clerk, information specialists, fellow staff members, and support staff), you will handle the substantive and organizational preparation for committee meetings. You will draft committee letters, analyze legislative proposals, organize (international) working visits, and prepare for consultations with government officials and other parliaments within our Kingdom. In addition, you will contribute to strengthening the knowledge and expertise of Members of Parliament in the field of digitization/AI. You will also ensure that commitments made by government officials are recorded and identify when these must be fulfilled. 

In short, you’ll play a central role in the day-to-day operations of your committees and help ensure high-quality decision-making. Work for the committees will take up most of your workweek, but depending on your expertise and ambitions, other (ad hoc) tasks may also be assigned. When needed, you’ll occasionally step in to assist other colleagues. In addition, we at the Senate also place great importance on your professional development and ensure that there are ample opportunities for it. 

The Senate offers a structured and dynamic work environment where no two days are alike. The Senate Secretariat supports the members of the Senate and operates with independence, integrity, a service-oriented approach, and proactivity, with enthusiastic and knowledgeable colleagues working together flexibly and collaboratively. 

Job Requirements

• You have a (law) degree and the corresponding level of academic thinking and work experience, with at least five years of professional experience at the intersection of politics and public administration.
• You have extensive experience in a role that requires both organizational and substantive skills.
• You have a good understanding of the organization, working methods, and processes within the States General, and you have a keen sense of political and administrative dynamics.
• You are able to handle stress, service-oriented, and have strong analytical skills. You communicate effectively and enjoy working closely with colleagues. 

Terms of Employment

• Salary level scale 12
  
• Monthly salary Min. €4,691 – Max. €6,907 (gross)
  
• Employment 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 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-efficient 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

• We’d like to give you a clear and comprehensive picture of the role, your colleagues, and the context of our organization. That’s why we’re organizing two in-person interviews at our office, where you’ll have the chance to talk with teammates, the management team, and HR, and get a feel for the atmosphere firsthand.
• Naturally, we also hope to get as complete a picture of you as possible. As part of this process, an assessment and reference check (both online and by phone) will be included in the selection process.
• This position occasionally requires some flexibility. Work for the Senate often takes place outside the Senate building and during non-business hours, and your presence may sometimes be required.
• Conversely, you can also expect flexibility from us when it comes to balancing your work and personal life, and it is common practice within the organization to work partly from home, for example.
• If you are already employed by the government under a permanent contract, we will assume that contract.
• Do you have any questions about this procedure? Please contact Roel Joosten, HR Advisor, at 06-11750372. For questions about the position, please contact Luuk van Luijk, First Deputy Registrar/Director of Content, at 06-52450282.
• If you don’t meet all the job requirements but believe your background provides a solid foundation for this position, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
• Interested in applying? Please email your cover letter and resume to sollicitaties.eerstekamer@rijksoverheid.nl by June 16 at the latest. 

Interested in applying?

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 invited to apply.