Team Leader, Animal Inspection Team

What will you be doing?

You will lead one of the nine inspection teams, specifically the Animal Welfare 5 South team. This team focuses primarily on Enhanced Monitoring. Agricultural operations where animals are kept may be placed under enhanced monitoring in cases of recurring non-compliance with animal welfare regulations or when very serious violations of animal welfare regulations have been identified. Supervision of a farm placed under VETO is intensified through more frequent inspections and the potential use of other enforcement tools.

As the Animal Welfare Inspection Team Leader, you are responsible for achieving the (team) results outlined in the annual plan. No two days are the same. From the office or your home, you ensure that inspectors in the field can do their jobs. When inspectors encounter challenges during inspections, they call you for advice. You serve as their sounding board and provide substantive advice and solutions. You are able to quickly grasp political issues and propose solutions, having carefully weighed the consequences for the parties involved. You know what is going on within your team, you drive toward results, and you lead discussions on the implementation of inspections. You coach employees and prioritize their development.

In addition, you will make a significant contribution to the further development of supervision and the department. You take a proactive approach to this. You will ensure that inspections are carried out efficiently and effectively, using a systematic, risk-based, and project-oriented approach. Both the field and the department are undergoing significant change. It is your responsibility to continuously assess where we stand, where we want to go, and which external developments impact our work. You maintain an overview, bring order, and share your vision with your team, the other team leaders, and the department head. 

You will work closely with your fellow team leaders within the Animal Department and colleagues elsewhere within the NVWA. You will share updates on developments within the areas of supervision and supervisory processes, and discuss employee development. You will also be in regular contact with departments such as Expertise and Strategy. You coordinate how projects are progressing, assess practical experiences with work instructions, identify bottlenecks inspectors encounter in the field, and contribute ideas for improving the quality of inspections. Finally, you maintain contact with various external parties, for example, in the handling of legal matters or when collaborating with regulatory partners. 

Here's what you get

• scale 12
• €4,691.71 – €6,907.67 (gross)
• Fixed-term employment contract with the possibility of conversion to a permanent contract
• 1 year
• 36 hours

Here's what else we offer

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 will receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB) equal to 16.50% of your gross annual salary. You can choose to 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 a week, you are entitled to 144 vacation hours and 64 IKB leave hours per year. Do you work more or fewer hours? In that case, these hours are calculated proportionally. And if you don’t need as much vacation time? Then you can also choose to have your 64 IKB leave hours paid out or added to your IKB saved leave.

Travel Expense Reimbursement

You will receive a commuter pass 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 hold a field-based position, you are often eligible for an electric company car. You may also use this vehicle for personal purposes, subject to the additional tax liabilityand a personal contribution.

Leave Policies

The government offers various leave schemes for different situations, such as (supplementary) 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 offers an attractive pension plan through 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, these requirements are offset by additional allowances or compensation. For example, we offer an on-call and standby duty allowance and an irregular shift allowance.

Here is what we are asking for

You have a steady personality and proven experience in a leadership role. You know how to set a clear course and steer the organization firmly in that direction, while maintaining a focus on collaboration and connection. You are decisive, capable of making tough calls, and able to make well-considered decisions in difficult situations. You know how to build support despite differing interests and opinions. You have strong empathy and show understanding for others and the situation. You act with tact and are able to communicate with all levels of the organization. Finally, you are a manager who addresses behavior, sets boundaries, and can have constructive conversations. You know how to remotely guide teams and possess coaching skills that help employees reach their full potential. You foster calm and balance within the team and are willing to commit to the team for an extended period. 

In addition, you have:

• University-level work and thinking skills. 
• Knowledge of and experience with at least one of the Animal Division’s key areas of oversight (animal welfare, animal health, veterinary medicines, fertilizers, and/or European subsidies).
• Proven experience leading teams of 15–20 professionals.
• Extensive experience in planning, implementing, and evaluating projects.
• Experience in dealing with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the business community, and/or industry associations is a plus.
• Living in the southern part of the country.

Does this job opening sound like a good fit for you? If you have any questions or are unsure whether you qualify, please contact Jaap Cats, Head of the Animal Department, at 06-11024895 (secretariat). 

Skills 

• Organizational sensitivity 
• Managing a group 
• Employee Development 
• Reflecting

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.

This is where you'll be working

More about the Inspectorate

As Team Leader of the Animal Inspection Team, you will be working in the Enforcement Directorate, within the Inspection Division. The Animal Department consists of 9 teams and approximately 150 employees. The department is undergoing significant development. Professional expertise will take center stage; we will operate more on the basis of knowledge, and this will bring about numerous developments and organizational changes.

Within the NVWA, the Animal Department of the Inspection Division is responsible for monitoring compliance with various animal-related laws and regulations. Inspectors monitor compliance by conducting inspections at businesses in a wide range of industries and sectors that are subject to these laws and regulations. The various teams within the Animal Department are organized according to the following areas of focus:

• Veterinary medicines
• Animal Welfare
• Live Animals and Animal Health
• Transport Animal Welfare/Animal Health

In the event of large-scale projects, a risk of animal diseases, or a shift in work priorities, your team may be assigned to one of the other focus areas.

In total, there are 9 teams within the Animal Department. 

• Animal Welfare Teams 1 through 3 are responsible for the general oversight and enforcement of regulations regarding animal welfare and animal health. 
• Animal Welfare Teams 4 and 5 focus primarily on so-called "veto farms" (farms that are under increased supervision due to serious animal welfare violations).
• Animal Welfare Team 6 focuses on the (illegal) trade in pets. 
• Veterinary Medicines Teams 1 and 2 deal with, among other things, veterinary medicines, animal products, and biocides.
• The Animal Welfare Transport Team is responsible for inspecting animal welfare and health during the transport of animals.

A team consists of approximately 18 employees. The teams are jointly responsible for carrying out oversight within these areas in accordance with the annual plan. In doing so, they take departmental interests into account. 

About the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)

In the Netherlands, we take it for granted that the products we use and everything we eat are safe. We expect animals to be treated well, even if they are destined for slaughter. We want to be able to consume fruits and vegetables without a second thought, and other products are “naturally” fine too. We want to be able to walk in nature without worry and buy toys for our children without suspicion. As consumers, we simply rely on that; for us, it goes without saying.

But we sometimes forget that companies work hard every day to maintain those high standards. That it isn’t always easy for business owners to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. We also forget that the government oversees this. Safety sounds so simple, but it isn’t.

What does the NVWA do?

The staff of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) work hard every day to maintain that standard. Through dialogue with businesses in the hospitality sector, slaughterhouses, plant cultivation, and other producers, the NVWA monitors food and product safety, plant health, and the welfare of animals, nature, and the environment. We do so in accordance with national and international laws and regulations. We operate on a basis of trust, but we take firm action against businesses that do not adhere strictly to the rules. In the interest of society.

We closely monitor where the greatest risks lie and where oversight is most urgently needed, so that we can inform consumers and others in a timely manner. The NVWA also plays a key role in export inspections and in the import of products into Europe.

What does the NVWA stand for?

The NVWA is responsible for overseeing animal welfare, animal health, food safety, product safety, tobacco and alcohol prevention, plant health, and nature and the environment.

The Dutch government strives to be an employer that every employee—regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, or disability—wants to work for. Addressing social issues in diverse teams makes us more effective and innovative. That makes the work meaningful and challenging.

The NVWA is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature (LVVN) and the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport.

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.
• We will review your application and respond no later than 10 business daysafter the application deadline.
• Are you applying for this position as a priority candidate through VWNW or due to a disability? (Priority Candidate) In that case, in addition to your resume and cover letter, you will also need a referral letter and a nomination letter. The nomination letter is prepared by the VWNW manager. You can add the additional documents, such as the designation letter and nomination letter, by first submitting your application (without the designation letter and nomination letter), and then clicking on the link in the confirmation email. After logging in, you can then add the designation letter and the nomination letter under “Additional documents.”

About the Manager job category

The Central Government Performance Framework helps employees and managers establish performance and development goals during performance reviews and provides insight into career opportunities within the federal government.

For more information, visit the Central Government Job Classification System