Strategic HR Policy Advisor

The position

As a Strategic HR Policy Advisor, you will be part of a (hierarchical) team that includes policy advisors and implementation managers, and (following the reorganization) you will work functionally within HR task forces. The Policy and Implementation team within the Human Resources & Organization department makes a significant contribution to addressing issues such as: How do we ensure that employees remain employable in the long term and stay healthy? How do we strengthen both leadership and our position in the labor market? And how do we grow into a diverse and inclusive organization? You will play a key role in the development and implementation of these priority HR themes.

• You identify relevant trends and developments in the HR field and translate them into implications and opportunities for the organization.
• You will develop frameworks and strategic policies for the entire organization across the full spectrum of HR. As a generalist, you are capable of handling any issue, such as those related to employer branding, leadership, inclusion and diversity, and agility.
• You will advise the HR Director, the Municipal Management Team (GMT), and the HR Alderman on priority HR issues. Your advice will provide a framework and guidance.
• You will draft policy briefs, handle written inquiries, and prepare for council meetings. In doing so, you will collaborate with policy advisors, labor lawyers, and spokespersons.

Here's what you do on an average day

• In the morning, you will lead a workshop with HR colleagues on your policy proposal regarding sustainable employability. You will later turn this policy proposal into a lecture.
• In the afternoon, you’ll respond to written questions that have been submitted. You’ll have a video call with the board advisor to discuss the approach you’ll take.
• You will then work with a colleague from the employer relations team to prepare a request for approval from the Works Council.
• Once a week, you start your day with a weekly kick-off meeting with your fellow policy advisors. We share what we’re working on, exchange experiences, and check in with each other.

This is where you get started

We strive to be a great employer that ensures all our colleagues feel seen and valued. We embrace the differences among our colleagues; these differences lead to better results for both our organization and our city. We aim to build a workforce that reflects Amsterdam’s diverse population. So, whoever you are, you’re more than welcome here!

The HR Department is part of the Operations Cluster. The department consists of approximately 600 employees who work across the broad HR spectrum. This includes recruitment and selection, employee well-being, learning and development, HR consulting for line organizations, and, of course, payroll and personnel administration. We are on the eve of a reorganization that will result in a revised range of products and services and a new organizational structure. Societal developments call for a different approach to HR. It is our task to respond to these changes and, at the right moment, work closely with other departments and management teams across the city to ensure the best employees are in the right places. To achieve this, it is essential that we, as a unified HR department with clear goals and a consistent approach, collaborate with other departments and management teams to address the city’s challenges.

What you bring

For this position as Strategic HR Policy Advisor, you must have:

• A university-level education and a completed academic degree (for example, in public administration, business administration, or a related field).
• Several years of demonstrable experience in strategic policy development in the HR field and in advising the board and senior management (including civil servants).
• Several years of demonstrable experience working in a complex political and administrative environment. Experience within the City of Amsterdam and/or another large government organization is preferred.
• Strategic thinking combined with a pragmatic approach and a way with words.
• A clear vision regarding the (future) HR policy area and broader developments within the organization. You communicate this vision in an engaging and accessible manner.

You should have the following skills:

• Environmental awareness: You demonstrate a solid understanding of professional, organizational, social, and political developments, as well as other environmental factors, and you know how to effectively apply this knowledge to your own role or organization.
• Collaboration: You make a constructive contribution to achieving shared goals, particularly by fostering a positive atmosphere and strong relationships within the group or team. You are a good listener, able to reflect and build connections around content, process, and relationships.
• Results-oriented: You set specific goals as the basis for your actions and stay committed to them until the goal is achieved. You deliver results even within the complexity and scale of the organization.
• Persuasiveness: Drawing on your personal authority, you influence people and situations with the aim of gaining acceptance and overcoming resistance. You communicate ideas clearly and confidently.
• Inclusive thinking and action: You think and act inclusively. You value a diverse Amsterdam and a work environment that includes people from different cultures and religions. You help create a socially safe environment. You are approachable, reliable, predictable, and inspire trust. You recognize employees’ talents and are committed to talent development.

What we offer you

As a Strategic HR Policy Advisor, you will join our team for 36 hours a week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary ranging from €5,561 to €7,325 (pay grade 13) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.
• A one-year employment contract, with the possibility of a permanent contract thereafter, if you do not currently have an employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, or if you have only a temporary one.
• If you already have a permanent employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, you will retain it and be transferred.
• Opportunities for professional development and training. Our in-house training center, the Amsterdam School, offers a variety of training programs, professional development tracks, and on-the-job coaching to help you continue to challenge yourself.
• An individual flexible budget (IKB) equal to 17.05% of your salary, which you can use for things like additional pension contributions or extra days off.
• A pension plan with ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education.
• A travel allowance of €0.10 per kilometer, up to a 45-kilometer one-way commute, for the number of days you work in the office, and/or a work-from-home allowance of €3 net per workday that you work from home.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.
• Hybrid work: In this role, you can work partly from home and partly in the office. We provide the necessary equipment to help you set up a safe and healthy workspace at home.
• A cell phone and a laptop.

Interested in learning more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out the Municipality of Amsterdam Personnel Regulations (PGA) on our website.

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by April 21, 2024, via the application form on our website.
• We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain, in no more than one A4 page, why your work experience and skills are a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
• If your resume and cover letter meet the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
• The selection process consists of up to two rounds of interviews.
• The process concludes with a final discussion of the terms of employment.
• The interviews will take place in person at our office located at Amstel 1 in Amsterdam.
• The first round of talks will take place on April 29.
• This job opening is being advertised internally and externally at the same time. Employees of the City of Amsterdam will be given priority in the hiring process.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

Do you have any questions about this job opening?

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Steven de Roode (Strategic HR Policy Advisor) at s.deroode@amsterdam.nl or call 06 3831 3205.

We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation from recruitment agencies, and such actions may result in exclusion from our other recruitment initiatives. We also consider the unsolicited submission of resumes by agencies to our employees to be solicitation. We will not review these resumes.