Chair and Vice Chair of the Utrecht Ombudsman’s Office

We are looking for a chairperson and a vice chairperson for our Utrecht Ombudsman’s Office who are a good fit for Utrecht!

What is the Utrecht Ombudsman's Office?

The Utrecht Ombudsman’s Office is a resource for Utrecht residents with complaints and comments regarding the City of Utrecht. The Ombudsman’s Office is well-versed in local policies and current local issues. In addition to handling complaints, the Ombudsman’s Office devotes significant time to providing information, guidance, and referrals. This is done in an accessible manner within the Utrecht context. The combination of a local presence and accessible service, supported by specialized legal experts at the National Ombudsman, is intended to lead to increased use of the complaint-handling process and greater satisfaction with its accessibility. This applies in particular to residents who are less able to navigate the complaint-handling process on their own.

How does the Utrecht Ombudsman's Office work?

• The office acts as an independent body when disputes arise between residents or business owners and the City of Utrecht.
• The service desk strives to identify, address, and resolve issues as effectively as possible, ideally before any complaints are received.
• The help desk focuses broadly on complaint handling and maintains good relationships with all relevant parties in the complaint resolution process.
• The service desk, staffed by personnel, will continue to draw on the legal expertise of the National Ombudsman in handling formal complaints.
• The Utrecht Ombudsman's Office prepares an annual report on its activities.
• The committee will consist of: a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and the staff. The chairperson will focus on adult residents of Utrecht, and the vice chairperson will serve as the point of contact for Utrecht residents under the age of 18.

What is the profile of the chair of the Utrecht Ombudsman's Office?

The Ombudsman’s Office will launch on April 6, 2023, and we are therefore seeking the first chairperson of the Utrecht Ombudsman’s Office. We aim to establish a board with the broadest possible range of knowledge and skills, and a strong independent profile. As chairperson of the Ombudsman’s Office, you will possess the following profile and talents:

Profile

• You are the recognizable face of the service desk for Utrecht residents—approachable and easy to talk to. You are ambitious and enjoy breaking new ground.
• As a networker, you actively invest in building relationships with the people of Utrecht. You are a good listener and dedicate time and attention to maintaining strong, lasting connections—even on an informal basis. An affinity for and experience with dealing with the media are therefore important.

• You are aware of the political and administrative environment in which the service operates and know how to handle the public responsibilities that come with the chairmanship. You have sufficient experience, sensitivity, and a wide range of communication styles to respond appropriately in any situation, whether that involves providing information, acting diplomatically, presenting arguments, or demonstrating integrity.
• You will serve as the public face of the Utrecht Service Center for the City, enabling residents and business owners
• perceive the service desk as accessible.
• You understand Utrecht: the city, the local community, the government, and the dynamics between them.
• As chair, you are decisive, action-oriented, and focused on solving problems

Terms and Conditions

• As chair, you are strictly independent: you have no political affiliations and remain above party politics. You have no active ties to local businesses, institutions, or organizations that have a relationship with the City of Utrecht.
• You are both results- and process-oriented and have knowledge and experience in a leadership role(s) involving the careful, critical, and independent handling of complaints. You have a broad social perspective, combined with relevant legal knowledge.
• You have enough time and flexibility in your schedule to be both a dedicated and visible leader and to connect with residents. The time commitment required averages 1.5 to 2 days. You can also be found outside City Hall, listening to what’s going on in all corners of the community.

What is the profile of the deputy chair of the Utrecht Ombudsman's Office?

As of April 6, 2023, the position of Vice Chair of the Utrecht Ombudsman’s Office is also open for application. The goal is to have a board with the broadest possible range of knowledge and skills, with a strong independent profile. You will therefore complement the chairperson. As deputy chairperson, you meet the same requirements as the chairperson, but you are also able to relate well to and empathize with the world of young people in Utrecht.

What doesn't match?

Section 81f of the Municipalities Act lists positions that are incompatible with membership on an ombudsman’s office (including, among others, civil servants of the municipality in question). The Utrecht City Council has established the following additional requirements for eligibility for the position of chairperson.

A chairperson of the Utrecht Ombudsman’s Office:

• has not been a member of the Municipal Executive or the City Council of the Municipality of Utrecht, nor has he or she held any other political office within the Municipality of Utrecht, for the past five years;
• has not worked as a civil servant for the City of Utrecht in the past five years.

Reimbursement

The amount of the monthly allowance is based (80 percent) on the allowance and expense reimbursement received by council members in the municipality of Utrecht. This amount is set annually by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The gross allowance is currently €1,741.33, and the expense reimbursement is €146.62 per month.

The employment relationship with the municipality of Utrecht is based on a notional employment arrangement, under which members are given the option to pay their own taxes and social security contributions (opting out) or to have the municipality handle this on their behalf (opting in). An annual statement is provided at the end of each year.

Appointment

The City Council appoints the chair and vice-chair of the Utrecht Ombudsman’s Office upon the recommendation of the Council Staff Committee (CPR). The members of the CPR also form the selection committee, assisted by the secretary of the CPR and the council clerk. The target date for the appointment by the city council is April 6, 2023. This is a six-year appointment with the possibility of a one-time reappointment for the same period.

The following is from the website www.werkenbijutrecht.nl

Our city is diverse, and that diversity is reflected in our organization. We want to be an organization with employees who differ in their work, age, background, personality, dreams, and hobbies. Because we believe it’s important for residents to see themselves reflected in us and for us to truly understand them.

Furthermore, differences among colleagues bring diversity in terms of knowledge, experience, and skills, as well as different ways of thinking and working. This allows us to complement each other well, be more creative, and solve problems more effectively. In this way, we can do an even better job working in, with, and for the city of Utrecht. So it doesn’t matter to us where you were born, whether you have a disability, what you believe in, or whom you love—but it does matter whether you are socially engaged. We recognize, value, and make the most of our differences.

This is good to know

If you’re interested in serving as chair or vice chair of the Utrecht Ombudsman’s Office for the City of Utrecht, please apply immediately, no later than February 12, 2023. Would you like more information about the job description first, or are you curious about what this work entails in practice? You can direct your questions about the position and submit your application to Merel van Hall, City Council Clerk, at 06 131 744 90. If you have questions about the application process, please contactGitta Dalenberg, recruiter, at 06 481 921 45.

The interviews will take place on Tuesday, March 14, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. If necessary, they will also take place on Tuesday, March 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.