Executive secretary

Do you thrive while providing excellent support in a fast-paced international environment? As a key figure for our management team, you will ensure that the day-to-day business of our management team runs flawlessly. The Asser Institute, based in The Hague, and affiliated with the University of Amsterdam is seeking an enthusiastic executive secretary for our dynamic team based in The Hague (32 hours per week).

What are you going to do?
As our Executive Secretary, you will play a crucial role in supporting the day-to-day work of the institute's two-headed leadership, providing administrative and secretarial support in particular to the Managing Director. As part of a small but energetic secretarial team, your responsibilities will include:

  • Secretarial support: managing diaries, scheduling appointments, and handling correspondence for the Managing Director.
  • Central point of contact: you will act as the primary contact for support staff, interns and visiting researchers, whom you will also actively support.
  • P&O related tasks: you will be responsible for P&O (Personnel & Organisation) related tasks, in close consultation with our colleagues at the University of Amsterdam.
  • CRM system maintenance: you will assist in the finalisation and maintenance of our CRM system.
  • Networks: you will also support our inter-university networks, especially the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research (NNHRR).

What do you have to offer?
The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:

  • You have excellent interpersonal skills and enjoy working with researchers, students, diplomats, and policymakers from around the globe.
  • You are a team player with a service-oriented attitude, a sense of humour and the ability to put things into perspective.
  • You have a completed secretarial-administrative education (HBO/WO level) and have several years of relevant work experience.
  • You have a demonstrable experience with P&O related activities, including the administration of application procedures, and the 'onboarding' of new colleagues.
  • You have a good understanding of MS Office and have the curiosity to get acquainted with new software and (CRM) systems.
  • Your keen eye for detail guarantees consistent accuracy in all your work, even under pressure.
  • You have excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Dutch.
  • You are a proactive, independent worker with a strong sense of responsibility, integrity, and flexibility.

Our offer
We offer an appointment for 32 hours per week (0.84 FTE, four days) for the period of one year with a probationary period of two months. If proven suitable, the temporary contract will be converted into permanent employment. The salary is based on knowledge and experience and amounts to a minimum of €3,072 and a maximum of €4,103 gross per month for full-time work, excluding a holiday allowance (8%) and an end-of-year bonus (8.3%). The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (Cao Nederlandse Universiteiten) is applicable. The position falls under the University Job Classification (UFO) profile, Management- Office Assistant 1, scale 8. You will be employed by the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Law, but seconded to the T.M.C. Asser Instituut in The Hague. Only candidates with permission to work in the Netherlands will be considered.

In addition, we offer:

  • An inspiring, friendly, and diverse working environment with nice (international) colleagues.
  • 29 days' holiday at full employment and extra holidays between Christmas and New Year. 
  • Excellent working facilities.
  • Pension accrual with ABP.
  • Excellent study and development opportunities.

About us: T.M.C. Asser Instituut
The T.M.C. Asser Instituut is an independent research centre in international and European law, based in The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice. We are affiliated with the University of Amsterdam, the largest university in the Netherlands. The Asser Institute's mission is to contribute to the development of international and European public and private law. We achieve this by:

- Independent legal research: we conduct fundamental, policy-oriented and applied legal research in international and European public and private law. For example, we conduct research into the protection of journalists; we look at the legal aspects of counter-terrorism or artificial intelligence, and we investigate how companies handle human rights can be better protected in international business.

- Knowledge dissemination: we initiate and facilitate academic and expert meetings, (professional) education and public events aimed at disseminating knowledge on international and European public and private law. Furthermore, we share our legal knowledge by contributing to the public debate. Examples of this knowledge dissemination are our training courses for lawyers. We also train judges from Ukraine, collaborate with the Movies that Matter film festival, and organise training sessions and public events for different target groups.

The University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the widest range of courses on offer. An intellectual hub with 39.000 students, 6.000 employees and 3.000 PhD students connected by a culture of curiosity.

Amsterdam Law School
With over 5,000 students and more than 500 staff members, the Amsterdam Law School is one of the larger law faculties in the Netherlands. We educate lawyers who know how to apply the law effectively with the aim of making a real contribution to solving social problems. Read more.

Any questions?
For more information, please contact: Hanna Thuránszky (Executive Secretary), or Kasper Vrolijk (Managing Director) at po@asser.nl.

Job application
Please send your CV, a cover letter and two references to po@asser.nl indicating ‘Executive Secretary’ in the subject line. Interested candidates should be eligible to live and work in the Netherlands. All genders are encouraged to apply.

While we appreciate all expressions of interest, only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Employment agencies should not submit applications. The deadline to submit applications is Sunday 2 June 2024 (23:59 CEST). Interviews will follow shortly thereafter. The successful candidate will ideally begin no later than 1 September 2024.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

No agencies please.