Putting Apeldoorn on the map – literally and figuratively – for everyone. That’s something you’d love to be part of! In this role as Community Manager at Apeldoorn City Council, you’ll play a key part in ensuring successful public engagement in Apeldoorn’s high-impact projects.

Here’s what you’ll be doing
Society is changing rapidly. This is reflected in the way we live, learn, provide care and live together. As the municipality of Apeldoorn, we are keeping pace with these changes, with clear ambitions for the city and for our organisation. We are recruiting the necessary environmental managers in the physical domain for projects relating to area development in the city centre, the energy transition programme, major infrastructure projects on the ring road, and the reception of Ukrainian refugees. We will explain this in more detail for each task. A separate profile will be drawn up for the energy transition.

City Centre Programme
This programme focuses on the integrated area development of three strategic zones in Apeldoorn: the city centre, the railway zone and the canal zone (referred to as the BSK). The aim is to make these areas future-proof, attractive and liveable. This includes creating a green and vibrant city centre, developing a learning urban district in the railway zone, and transforming the canal zone into an urban residential and working area with space for education and business.

In the city centre, the focus is on housing, retail/the economy and amenities, the mobility transition (more public transport and fewer cars) and the existing urban fabric. The area is therefore extensive, with many different challenges and stakeholders. Read more at: New-build and development | Apeldoorn City Council

Infrastructure/ring road
With the widening of a section of the ring road and the construction of several tunnels, we are facing a major challenge. The impact on the local area is significant, and we know from our experience with the construction of the tunnel on Laan van Osseveld that professional environmental management is a key factor in the project’s success.

The aim of the measures is to improve traffic flow on the outer ring road. This is necessary due to the decision to make the city centre car-free and because of spatial developments such as additional housing and new business parks.

In addition, this involves various traffic measures in the surrounding neighbourhood, such as opening a bus lane to motorised traffic and implementing traffic restrictions.

Reception of refugees from Ukraine
The municipality’s efforts to provide shelter for people from Ukraine began in response to a crisis situation. A municipal project team was set up around four years ago to ensure that accommodation, shelter, facilities and everything else involved ran smoothly. Funding comes from central government, whilst implementation is the responsibility of the local authority. Given the political significance of the issue, it is on the executive committee’s agenda every week and progress is reported to the local council on a monthly basis.

What do we expect from an environmental manager?
As an environmental manager, you oversee the external environment, including internal and external stakeholders and their interests. You are responsible for identifying the stakeholders’ wishes and requirements. You act as the link between the external environment and the project team. You proactively raise issues from the wider context that may influence the project. In doing so, you are adept at managing stakeholders’ expectations and are also able to convince the project team to incorporate opportunities and possibilities arising from the wider context into the project’s detailed plans. This means you will oversee the implementation of the participation process and coordinate with internal colleagues, such as public space coordinators, communications advisers and area managers.

The environmental manager works closely with a multidisciplinary project team and operates within the framework of the BSK programme, where coordination between the various sub-areas and projects is essential. 

In practical terms, this means that you

Internal collaboration

• works alongside the other team members and coordinates with them on areas of overlap and the choices to be made;
• works closely with the project leader and liaises regularly;
• works with the project manager to organise the logistics for the project.

External collaboration

• involves residents, (civil society) organisations and colleagues in developments and systematically documents this;
• are visible and approachable to those around you, and are able to explain any queries and the decisions you have made;
• organises and implements the process of public participation in accordance with the Apeldoorn approach;
• You are accustomed to working within an administrative organisation with its associated political dynamics, whilst acting as a partner to society.
• you are the point of contact for the contractor’s environmental manager and coordinate the progress of the project (insofar as it relates to environmental management aspects).

Department of Environmental Management
The field of environmental management is still very much evolving within our organisation. We currently employ two environmental managers. Together with your colleagues, you will play an active role in sharing knowledge and experience, and in standardising and improving processes and working methods within the field of environmental management. 

As an Environmental Manager, the following skills are a given:

• Highly sensitive from a political and administrative perspective
• Calm and steady under pressure
• Unifying, but not conflict-averse
• Customer-focused and a strong networker
• Flexible and environmentally conscious

Working for Apeldoorn
…means working for an open and ambitious organisation. With over 169,000 residents, we are the 12th largest municipality in the Netherlands. Together with around 2,000 colleagues, we are working to shape Apeldoorn today and tomorrow. So there’s no shortage of challenges!

You will be joining the Energy Transition Programme: a close-knit team of dedicated professionals. Organisationally, you will be part of the PPIM department (Projects, Programmes and Interim Management). Here, project leaders work day in, day out on a wide range of projects across various municipal sectors. Alongside you, there are also programme managers, interim managers, development managers, planners, strategic advisers and project support staff. The Centre of Expertise for Project-Based Working supports the entire organisation in ensuring that project-based working is embedded throughout. The whole department, including a flexible workforce, comprises around 115 colleagues.

As an environmental manager, you’ll work in an environment where social challenges, political and administrative interests, and collaboration with residents and partners all come together. What sets us apart? A deep commitment to the city and to one another. At Apeldoorn City Council, you’ll be working not only on the development of our city, but also on your own personal development. We’re a learning organisation, with plenty of opportunities for training and growth. You won’t often find a closed door here; instead, you’ll find helpful and innovative colleagues.

Here’s what we offer you

• A position for 36 hours a week.
• A gross monthly salary of up to €6,422 (scale 11) based on a 36-hour week. Salary will be determined based on your experience;
• An Individual Choice Budget (IKB) of 17,45% on top of your salary. You can use this, for example, for:
• Extra income by having it paid out.
• Buying extra holiday hours.
• A good work-life balance, with the option to save up leave and flexible working hours;
• A range of opportunities in the field of learning and development;
• 201.6 holiday hours based on a 36-hour week;
• An attractive pension scheme;
• It’s a lovely setting, as our townhouse has been beautifully modernised and fitted out to support flexible working;
• Can you work (partly) from home in your role? If so, you will receive a home-working allowance;
• Do you travel to work by public transport? If so, you’ll be fully reimbursed. Do you travel by car, bike or on foot? If so, you’ll receive an allowance for this.

Things to bring with you

• A relevant degree at, at least, higher professional education (HBO) or university (WO) level;
• Extensive and demonstrable work experience (>5 years) as an environmental manager is required for this role. You may have gained this experience whilst working for a government body and/or a development or implementation organisation;
• You feel at home here and have an interest in a range of issues within the physical domain (such as construction, infrastructure and reception centres);
• You have an understanding of the (spatial) procedures and know which relevant studies are required to prepare the project;
• You have a good understanding of what it’s like to work within a local authority organisation;
• Empathy: you have a keen sense of the interplay between internal and external forces, and you possess a healthy dose of determination to defend people’s interests.

Fancy applying?
 You can apply via the ‘Apply’ button until 8 September. Do you have any questions about the vacancy, or would you like to pop in for a coffee first? If so, please contact Sander Dresken, Head of Programmes, Projects and Interim Management, via s.dresken@apeldoorn.nl or 06 48425927.

Everyone’s taking part
Apeldoorn City Council is an inclusive organisation. We firmly believe that a diverse organisation enables us to be better prepared for developments in society. As well as your talents and qualities, you also bring your background and preferences with you. You’re welcome here! 

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this vacancy.