Youth Team Manager

The position

As Youth Team Manager, you will be responsible for managing the teams within the Youth Department. The Youth Department consists of three teams: the Youth Prevention Team, the Supplementary Youth Assistance Team, and the Youth Regional Team.

 Together with your team members, you will work to translate the national frameworks (Reform Agenda) and the guiding principles of the Amsterdam Youth Vision into policy, procurement, and agreements with implementing organizations. The core objective is to ensure that children and young people grow up with equal opportunities and develop in a healthy, free, and safe environment. Where necessary, children and families will receive support in this process. We are seeing an increasing demand for youth services. This cannot continue; we do not have enough people or resources for it. This calls for a reevaluation and exploration of other ways and methods to address the problems that children and families face. That is why, in partnership, we are working to ensure that fewer “special services” are needed, but that support takes place much more within the “normal” lives of children and families—such as in daycare, at schools, in the neighborhood, and at sports clubs. To increase equal opportunities for children and families, we will differentiate our approach more and invest more in the city districts and areas where it is needed. In addition, we are pushing for a broader perspective within our municipality on the problems children and families face. Youth services are by no means always the right solution; rather, support may be needed from adult care services, income support, housing, or, for example, education.

As a team manager, you focus on fostering a culture centered on collaboration, innovation, and adaptability, so that youth services can be organized effectively and sustainably. You ensure the implementation of HR policies and a positive, inclusive work culture. You encourage open communication and ownership, so that team members can contribute optimally to the organization’s goals. With your coaching and collaborative style, you contribute to the effectiveness and job satisfaction within the department. You act as a bridge-builder between internal departments and external partners, enabling a coherent and effective implementation of policy goals. With your strategic vision and collaborative leadership, you provide direction for working in partnership with stakeholders in the city and leveraging experiential knowledge from, for example, the youth platform.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You translate strategic goals into concrete team plans by clearly articulating policy decisions and aligning priorities with the department manager and relevant stakeholders.
• You foster a positive work culture through coaching and by creating an environment where open communication and feedback are the norm.
• You encourage and support the development of team members so they can learn and perform
• You will maintain partnerships with internal and external partners to achieve policy goals and effectively support young people and their communities.
• You organize team meetings and feedback sessions to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility within the team.

• You promote data-driven decision-making by encouraging the use of data and analytics, ensuring that results are measurable and transparent.

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!

Within the Youth Division of the Youth, Care, and Diversity (JZD) Department, you will work alongside dedicated professionals who contribute daily to ensuring equal opportunities and the well-being of children and young people in Amsterdam. The Youth Department focuses on creating a safe, healthy environment in which young people can develop to their full potential, while taking into account the differences between the city’s districts. Together with your team and partners in the city, you will seek out the most appropriate and sustainable forms of support. In doing so, you will work based on the seven principles of the Amsterdam Youth Vision and emphasize the best interests of children.

What you bring

For this position as Youth Team Manager, you must have:

• At least 3 years of demonstrable relevant work experience in a managerial role within a political and administrative environment, where you played a key role in organizational change. Please explain in your cover letter what kind of organizational change this involved and what role you played.

  Practical experience: personal experience with issues in the social sector, particularly in healthcare, or insight into the experiences of others gained through (community) networks within the city’s youth services system. We invite you to explain in your cover letter how your experience relates to this.

  Practical experience in leading diverse teams within policy development that address social issues. We invite you to explain in your cover letter how your experience aligns with this.

You should have the following skills:

• Inclusive thinking and action: You have an appreciative and coaching leadership style. You are committed to creating a safe, diverse, and inclusive organization that reflects Amsterdam and contributes to a socially safe work environment. You recognize employees’ talents and support their development.
• Providing direction: You develop a clear vision and provide guidance on strategic issues related to the city, the social sector, and the administration. You draw on relevant practical experience to develop policy-driven contract management. You are also able to act as a client and set priorities effectively.
• Fostering Innovation: You respond flexibly to a changing environment and adapt to new circumstances. You prioritize, organize, and foster innovation, approaching challenges from creative angles and with a fresh perspective. And you encourage employees to come up with innovative ideas.  You leverage the knowledge and expertise gained from implementation and contribute to policy development that aligns with the organization’s objectives and those of Amsterdam residents.
• Collaboration: You are a unifying figure who actively fosters collaboration, both internally within the municipality and your own department—across various programs and city districts—as well as with partners throughout the city. You have an excellent understanding of bureaucratic and administrative relationships and processes.

What we offer you

As a Youth Team Manager, you will join our team for a minimum of 32 and a maximum of 36 hours per week, and you can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary ranging from €5,965 to €8,123 (pay grade 14) 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 for travel by car, €0.15 per kilometer for travel by bicycle, and €0.21 per kilometer for travel by public transportation. This applies to a one-way commute of up to 45 kilometers and for the number of days you work in the office.
• For days you work from home, you will receive a work-from-home allowance of €3 net per workday that you work from home.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.

Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out theCity of Amsterdam Personnel Regulations(PGA).

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application byNovember 28at the latest using the“Apply”button.
• 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.
• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of a CV/cover letter review and two rounds of interviews. We have formed a selection committee of three people. If your CV meets the job requirements, we will be happy to invite you for an interview. An assessment is part of the process.
• The interviews will take place in person at our office located at Amstel 1 in Amsterdam.
• 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.
• We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation by 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 consider these resumes.

Do you have any questions about this job opening?

For questions about the position, please contact Marieke Volbers at m.volbers@amsterdam.nl. For questions about the application process, please contact Ismahan Massaabi at i.massaabi@amsterdam.nl.