Policy Advisor on Refugees and Civic Integration

During lunch, you take a walk through the woods with colleagues—a chance for both serious conversations and some fun. In the afternoon, you’ll work with the strategic advisor to prepare for the meeting with the mayor. Afterward, you’ll review your notes and respond to emails. It was another dynamic workday in which you constantly switched between policy, practice, and people. When you close your laptop, you’ll do so with a sense of satisfaction: today, you truly made a difference.  

What will you do? 

In this role, youHealth policies regarding refugees and integration remain up to date andHealth plans are actually implemented. You will draft proposals and recommendations for city officials and the city council, andHealth will participate in national and provincial consultations.Health will also provide sound advice to city officials. 

You will contribute to providing quality social support and housing for status holders. You will also serve as the account manager for social support and language classes. In this role, you will coordinate with neighboring municipalities, regional partners, the province, the COA, and housing authorities to reach practical agreements. You will work closely with the refugee and communications cluster. 

In addition, you’ll monitor national and regional developments and translate them into policies that are appropriate for the municipality. You’ll gather insights and experiences from the field and ensure that policies align with what residents and newcomers truly need. You’ll also contribute ideas for initiatives that help newcomers settle in more quickly, for example, in the areas of language, employment, and community participation.  

You play an active role in engaging with residents. You communicate clearly about policies, involve residents in new initiatives, and encourage participation so that everyone can get involved and feel welcome.  

In short, in this role, you’ll combine policy, implementation, and working with people, and you’ll make a real difference in the lives of newcomers and in society.  

Here's what we offer you 

• Attractive employment conditions; a competitive salary based on Scale 10 of the Municipal Collective Bargaining Agreement (up to €5,624 gross per month for full-time employment), an Individual Choice Budget (IKB) of 17.05%, travel allowance, a pension plan through ABP, and discounts on various insurance policies.  
• A varied job; one day you're drafting policy proposals, and the next you're facilitating community engagement meetings. 
• Plenty of opportunities to develop through training, courses and workshops. 
• Room for your ideas; if you think there’s a better way, we’re open to it. 
• Excellent work-life balance; we'll provide you with a laptop and a cell phone so you can work both at home and at the office. 
• Focus on your well-being; participation in our wellness program, several annual activities involving the entire organization and your team, and a fun work café!  

Who are you? 

We’re all different, and that’s wonderful. It means we can accomplish so much more together than we can on our own. Still, all of our policy advisors share a number of common traits. Do you see yourself in these?  

• You get energy from connecting with others and enjoy making a real difference. 
• You write clearly and make complex topics easy for others to understand. 
• You enjoy working with others and are open to new ideas and perspectives. 
• You build bridges between policymakers, residents, supply chain partners, and community organizations. 
• You combine strategic insight with practical decisiveness. 
• You keep track of things and take action. 
• You take responsibility and have the confidence to move forward. 
• You feel at home in an administrative and civil service environment. 
• You feel a connection to refugees and want to help make a positive impact on society. 
• You have a few years of experience as a policy advisor, coordinator, or project manager. 

This is us 

We are proud of our municipality, which has more than 30,000 residents, 16 villages, and plenty of green space. Every day, we are committed to supporting our residents and businesses. We open doors to new ways of doing things and look beyond the boundaries of our landscapes. Our motto? It *is* possible.   

Working for Opsterland means working with over 300 enthusiastic and friendly colleagues. A great work atmosphere, plenty of humor, genuine interest in one another, and a high five for a smart solution. We’re open to everyone. And with us, you can be yourself. You’ll have the freedom to organize your work in a way that suits you. We value your professional development and are happy to support it. And we encourage you to embark on new adventures. Opsterland gives you the opportunity—are you ready to seize it?   

Have questions? 

Let me know! I'm Wanne Verheul (team manager) and my phone number is 06 54696691. You can also send me a WhatsApp message. If you have any questions, you can call me on July 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Getting excited? 

Show us who you are and apply! Who knows—this could be the start of a wonderful adventure. Reach out to us in a way that suits you best. You can do this with a cover letter and resume, a video application, or in any other way. We’d love to be surprised! We’re accepting applications through August 9. 

Interviews will take place in the afternoon on August 19.

Apply now