The Consulate General of the Netherlands in San Francisco has a fulltime vacancy (40 hours per week) for a Senior Officer Public Diplomacy, Communication and Culture. This job will be offered at pay scale 8 for a fixed term of two years, with a probationary period of two months (see job description below).

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Ms. Agnes Koppelman, e-mail: agnes.koppelman@minbuza.nl or Ron Linker (Department Head Public Diplomacy, Press, and Culture of the Netherlands Embassy in Washington, email: Ronald.Linker@minbuza.nl

Application letters with resume, both in English, and 3 examples of your work (e.g. social media, events, press), should be addressed to:

Consulate General of the Netherlands
Attn: Ms. Agnes Koppelman, Deputy Consul General
and be submitted via email to: SFN-HR@minbuza.nl

Closing date for applications:  April 19, 2024

Starting date: as soon as possible.

Indicative monthly gross salary: $ 8,270.00 gross (pay scale 8, step 0)

401K Plan is offered. Health/Dental/Vision is provided on a 72%-28% Employer-Employee basis.

*This vacancy is open to internal candidates (local employees and partners of officials posted to a Mission in the US) and external candidates. If a local employee and a partner of an official posted to a Mission are equally qualified, the local employee shall be given priority. Furthermore, if an internal candidate and an external candidate are equally qualified , the internal candidate shall be given priority.

**As per US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), employers in the US are required to ensure that all employees have the legal right to work in the US. Under US State Department requirements, the embassy and our consulates may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders, visa holders with and Employment Authorization Document or “A” visa holders. There is a max term for A2 visa holders of 5 years, the Netherlands Embassy/Consulate General cannot sponsor any work permits for family members.

General features of the job

The Public Diplomacy, Communication and Culture (PCC) officer supports the Consulate General (CG) in its communication efforts, is responsible for public diplomacy and serves as the point of contact for Dutch cultural activities in the Westernmost US.

General features of the job

1. Communication
2. Public Diplomacy (PD)
3. Cultural activities

• Public diplomacy strategy with regular and well-managed activities that have a visible contribution to the development of a positive image of the Netherlands;
• Active and creative communications, leading to increased visibility, both in the US and in the Netherlands, of the work done by the consulate;
• Active engagement of the Holland in the Valley network in the consulate’s projects and events;
• Broad and well maintained active network of relevant actors in relevant press and media, cultural institutes, the local Dutch community and local professionals in PR, photography and graphic design.

Tasks

1. Communication

• Contribute to and execute the broader US communications strategy, and draw up annual CG communications strategy, in collaboration with the Embassy (bi-weekly video calls) and the teams at the CG; special focus on economic diplomacy.
• Create content for the social media channels and websites managed by the Embassy and the CG’s LinkedIn page, X-account and the CG’s newsletter;
• Develop, advise and execute on communication activities during incoming trade missions, visits and events (partially) organized by the CG;
• Manage PR activities for visits of Dutch government officials and dignitaries, including planning and organizing events (PD events, press conferences, photo ops, social media planning, etc.) and drafting/editing op-ed articles, news releases, statements, etc., in close collaboration with the relevant spokespersons and PR professionals;
• Outreach to relevant local and business media, including traditional and non-traditional outlets (online and offline), engage with them on relevant activities and topics.
• Develop and maintain the network with Dutch media representatives on the West Coast, in line with strategic communication objectives;
• Write and edit speeches and talking points for the (Deputy) Consul General.

2. Public Diplomacy

• Develop and execute the active PD-strategy, liaising with local partners on relevant PD-topics ‘Freedom, Innovation and Sustainability.
• Manage the public diplomacy grant process, including support for team members of the CG in development of applications, reports, communication materials for events, and in PR-related matters for events;
• Coordinate the CG’s Holland in the Valley (HitV) network annual programming with the different departments at the CG;
• Follow local media to stay on top of relevant political, societal and cultural developments, with a focus on the PD-topics, such as  LGBTIQ+ and diversity in the broadest sense, cycling, climate action, press freedom, human rights, circular economy.

3. Culture

• Serve as the US West Coast point of contact for Dutch cultural activities in cooperation with, and under the auspices of the cultural department at the Netherlands Consulate General in New York;
• Visit cultural events with a Dutch connection that might be supported by the Consulate General in New York; develop PD and/or communication strategies; connect culture with economic diplomacy.
• Create and maintain relationships with cultural institutes and artists, and develop initiatives to enlarge the influence of Dutch art and culture on the West Coast.

Framework

• The Senior officer PCC is aware of relevant ministerial policy frameworks and translates them to proposals for specific PD, communication and culture activities of the Consulate General.
• The work is carried out in accordance with broadly formulated assignments. To a large extent the employee makes their own choices and decisions about approach and way of working.
• The Senior officer PCC is part of the economic department but is mandated to work for the whole CG.
• The work is carried out in close cooperation and consultation with the teams at the CG and the embassy in Washington D.C., the culture department in New York, as well as relevant stakeholders at the ministry in The Hague.

Knowledge and skill requirements

• Relevant academic background (communications, journalism, economics, etc.);
• 3-5 years relevant work experience;
• Mastery of the English language required, working proficiency in the Dutch language is not required but recommended;
• Experience with PR/marketing/journalism/branding/communication and proven skills in promoting core messages;
• Excellent writing skills and experience in the use of image; experience with photography and video production
• Affluent in the professional use of social media and online content;
• Good knowledge and experience of both the American and Dutch culture and society; business experience a pre.
• Ability to work independently, think critically and take responsibility;
• Excellent networking skills;
• Affinity with and interest in working in a diplomatic environment.

Competencies

• Networking
• Initiative
• Integrity
• Creativity
• Result oriented
• Team player
• Flexibility

Staff member profile

A ‘digital native’ with excellent writing and content creation skills and a understanding of framing for an American audience. Someone who knows the media and is an avid and creative communicator with a strong business orientation, as well as an understanding of the complexity that the diplomatic network sometimes represents. A team player that is flexible, pro-actively looks for cooperation and has a can-do mentality.

Work environment

The Consulate General (CG) in San Francisco is a medium-sized diplomatic post with 4 seconded and 21 local employees and is active in the fields of economic and technological cooperation, innovation, climate policy, the promotion of Dutch culture & art, public diplomacy and consular advocacy. The working language at the office is English and the office is situated in downtown San Francisco.

The Consulate General in San Francisco is part of the network of Dutch missions in the US, that consists of the Embassy in Washington D.C. and 5 CGs (Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York and San Francisco). CG San Francisco serves a jurisdiction that covers the thirteen western states (including Alaska and Hawaii), an area of ​​approximately 116 x the Netherlands. The center of gravity of the work is in the state of California.

Economic and technological cooperation and trade and investment, the promotion of Dutch culture and public diplomatic activities are shaped in the Economic Cluster of the CG, consisting of Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), Economic Department (EA), the Holland Innovation Network (HIN) and the Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSO) based in Los Angeles and Phoenix (to be opened soon). The 8 honorary consuls within the jurisdiction of the CG fulfill an important supporting role in the performance of tasks.

CONTACT: For additional information, please contact Ms. Agnes Koppelman, Deputy-Consul General via sfn-hr@minbuza.nl

DIVERSITY: The Netherlands Government celebrates all forms of diversity and is deeply committed to foster an inclusive environment within its organization. Individuals interested in advancing these diversity goals are strongly encouraged to apply.