Interim Head of Corporate Media

Project overview

For our end client, the Police, Harvey Nash is looking for an Interim Head of Corporate Media.

Expected start date: 01-01-2027 (start possible after completion of screening)

Duration of assignment: 24 months

Number of hours per week: 36

Location of work: Rotterdam

On-site or from home: Hybrid

Freelancer possible: Yes

Deadline for proposing candidates: 26-10-2026

Position scale and step: Business Operations Specialist E scale 13

Education level: WO (University level)

You have a diploma at HBO level (bachelor) or equivalent through EVC. Or you have at least two years of demonstrable experience at the required work and thinking level. This must be demonstrated with your CV, supplemented with an official job description, vacancy text, or other document clearly stating the required work and thinking level.

Project details

125 euros all-in excluding VAT

Assignment description

You will manage the Corporate Media Department, consisting of the News Team, Cross Team, and Social Team (approximately 32 FTE in total). Together with two coordinators, you will have final responsibility for the quality of the delivered services and products, as well as for HR matters within the teams. You will do this in a phase where strengthening collaboration and looking beyond the boundaries of Corporate Media and the Communication Service are more important than ever. Anticipating the likely decision to merge the Directorate and Communication Service, you will determine the course and direction.

In managing your department, the further development of the services and products created is of great importance. It is therefore important that you have a clear vision of how the editorial team will develop further in depth and breadth, as well as in collaboration with all organizational units and communication disciplines. Consider advice, spokespersonship, and research.

In recent months, one of the heads of the Communication Service has temporarily filled the role of Head of Corporate Media. In the near future, an organizational change is being prepared, whereby the Communication Service and Directorate will be merged into a new Communication Directorate. The timeline for the organizational change is not yet fully known, which is why we have chosen to fill the position on an interim basis.

Activities:

You will represent Corporate Media both internally and externally. Together with the Head of Media and Publicity of the Communication Directorate, you will ensure a well-functioning corporate newsroom and be responsible for the ongoing pilot on better collaboration on current affairs and the structural improvement of the working methods for this. This joint project should ensure a new balance and structure for central control of current affairs and long-term strategies.

You are a connecting leader and ensure good cooperation between Corporate Media and the other departments within the service, the Communication Directorate, and with the units. Together with the Director of the Communication Service and the heads of departments within the service and directorate, you form the management team (MT) of the Communication Service and Directorate. In this capacity, you are jointly responsible for the course and results.

Result:

Phase 1 – Design and further development

Period: January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2027

In the first phase, the focus is on further elaborating the existing high-level design into a concrete and feasible detailed design for the future structure of the new Communication Directorate, with specific attention to Corporate Media and the Content & Channels unit.

The contractor will analyze the current structure, service delivery, work processes, and collaboration structures of Corporate Media and map out the necessary adjustments to align with the future organizational structure.

This will specifically look at the positioning and further development of the News Team, Cross Team, and Social Team, and their mutual collaboration with other communication disciplines, including advice, spokespersonship, and research.

Based on this analysis, the contractor will develop a future-oriented organizational and structural proposal, detailing responsibilities, work processes, collaboration agreements, and the desired development of services and products.

Furthermore, the contractor will provide substantive expertise in shaping the future structure of Content & Channels and align the proposed changes with the relevant stakeholders within the Communication Service and Directorate.

Deliverables phase 1:

An analysis of the current organizational structure, work processes, and collaboration structures within Corporate Media.

A detailed design for the future positioning and structure of Corporate Media within the new Communication Directorate.

A development plan for Content & Channels, including proposals for the further development of service delivery, products, and work processes.

An advisory report with concrete recommendations for strengthening collaboration between Corporate Media and other communication disciplines.

An implementation plan with milestones, prerequisites, risks, and a schedule for the realization phase in 2028.

End result phase 1: A coherent and feasible detailed design, including an implementation plan, that can be submitted for decision-making and will serve as the basis for the actual organizational change in phase 2.

Phase 2 – Implementation and safeguarding

Period: January 1, 2028, to December 31, 2028

In the second phase, the focus is on realizing, implementing, and safeguarding the organizational structure elaborated and approved in phase 1.

The contractor will provide specialized expertise in executing the implementation plan and will guide the transition to the new working methods and organizational structure, with specific attention to Corporate Media and Content & Channels.

The activities will focus on translating the approved detailed design into concrete work processes, collaboration agreements, and organizational improvements. Attention will be paid to the further integration of the various communication disciplines and strengthening uniform and future-proof service delivery.

The contractor will identify bottlenecks during implementation, advise on necessary adjustments, and develop measures to sustainably embed the new structure within the organization.

Furthermore, the contractor will ensure the transfer of developed knowledge, working methods, and implementation results to the internal organization, so that it can continue to operate independently according to the new structure after the assignment is completed.

Deliverables phase 2:

Realized implementation of the approved components of the detailed design for Corporate Media and Content & Channels.

Documented and implemented work processes, collaboration agreements, and division of responsibilities.

A progress and evaluation report detailing the implementation results, bottlenecks, and achieved improvements.

A safeguarding plan with concrete measures for the sustainable continuation of the new working method.

A final report with an evaluation of the realized organizational change, remaining points of attention, and recommendations for further development.

Completed knowledge transfer to the internal organization, including relevant documentation and transfer agreements.

End result phase 2: An implemented and safeguarded structure of Corporate Media and Content & Channels within the new organizational structure, where the internal organization possesses the necessary knowledge, processes, and agreements to continue operations independently.

Work experience and knowledge:

You are an experienced manager who can strike a good balance between results-oriented and people-oriented management, with a focus on content and attention to process. You have experience with team development and know how to guide change processes. You can motivate people and show them that self-reflection is necessary for personal and professional growth. You are an inspiring department head who steps forward when necessary but can also slow down when needed.

You have a sense of administrative relationships and understand the sensitivities associated with a large organization that is always under public scrutiny. You have a good network within the communication domain and preferably also within the police force. Additionally, you possess knowledge and skills in change management and have experience in managing a cross-media editorial team in a complex environment. You also hold a WO diploma, preferably in communication.

Competencies:

The work will be conducted from the office on Marten Meesweg in Rotterdam (Communication Service). Or from Nieuwe Uitleg in The Hague (Communication Directorate). It is also possible to work from home occasionally. Given the current phase, it is desirable for the head to be present on the work floor frequently.

The police operate in a changing society where diverse perspectives are essential for good police work. Therefore, diversity is of great importance to us. How can your knowledge and background contribute to this?

For this assignment, a screening type BO+ applies. For more information about the screening: Police selection - Screening | Join the Police

We also require the following information:

First possible start date

Availability in hours per week

All-in rate (incl. travel and/or accommodation costs, excl. VAT)

Vacation schedule within the next 3 months

Place of residence

Candidate's date of birth

Candidate's email address

Candidate's phone number

Motivation (max 150 words)

If supplier: email and phone number of contact person

Engagement type: Freelancer or Own Supplier Employee or Freelancer via Supplier

Availability for potential intake interviews at the Police, within 5 days after the application deadline.

By responding to this request, the Contractor declares to have taken note of and agrees with the General Hiring Conditions or General Hiring Conditions for Independent Professionals of Harvey Nash and the associated Client Annex Police. These can be found at www.harveynash.nl/politie

• Decisiveness
• Coaching
• Networking skills
• Politically sensitive
• Connecting leadership
• Start: 01-01-2027(starten kan na afronding van screening)
• Duration: 24 maanden
• Remote: hybrid
• Location: Rotterdam, Nederland, NL
• Languages: Dutch