Program Manager Regional Development

Project overview

Give direction to the future of Southeast Friesland. As Program Manager Regional Development at the municipality of Opsterland, you will connect governments and societal partners, translating regional ambitions into concrete results.

The position

As Program Manager Regional Development, you will fulfill the role of 'Regiopionier' (Regional Pioneer) within the National Program Vital Regions (NPVR). You will translate the Southeast Friesland 2045 Regional Plan from vision to execution.

You will connect municipalities, the province, the national government, and societal partners around eight regional tasks, including housing, economy, mobility, health, and facilities. You will create coherence between existing initiatives and, together with the involved parties, determine which issues will be prioritized for 2027–2030.

Responsibilities

You will work closely with strategists, directors, and administrative representatives. In doing so, you will ensure that substantive choices form the basis for executable and future-proof regional cooperation.

About the company

The municipality of Opsterland, within the National Program Vital Regions, collaborates with the municipalities of Heerenveen, Ooststellingwerf, Weststellingwerf, and Smallingerland, the Province of Friesland, Wetterskip Fryslân (Friesland Water Board), and the national government.

With the Southeast Friesland 2045 Regional Plan, these partners are building a vital, livable, and future-proof region. In the coming years, the focus will be on concrete regional priorities, shared responsibility, and a solid foundation for execution.

What you bring

Offer

• Analyze: Map existing programs, regional tasks, and opportunities for collaboration;
• Connect: Bring together governments, entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions, and societal partners;
• Prioritize: Translate joint ambitions into strategic choices for 2027–2030;
• Develop: Create a concrete and broadly supported implementation agenda;
• Organize: Develop proposals for collaboration, governance, and structural financing;
• Advise: Prepare decision-making and present substantiated proposals to the Regional Board.
• Demonstrable experience with regional cooperation programs;
• Demonstrable experience with intergovernmental processes;
• Experience with governance and organizational development;
• Experience with programmatic work and implementation agendas;
• Experience with setting up and financing regional cooperation partnerships;
• Availability for 24–32 hours per week during the assignment period.
• Competitive salary depending on knowledge and experience in accordance with the CAO Gemeenten (Municipalities Collective Labor Agreement);
• Employment conditions that match your contribution within the public sector;
• 25 vacation days per year based on a 40-hour work week;
• Possibility of a fixed-term or permanent contract;
• 8.33% holiday allowance;
• Participation in the StiPP Plus pension scheme from your first working day;
• A suitable travel allowance, with a kilometer allowance, full public transport reimbursement, or the option of a lease car, depending on your situation.

Project details

• Start: flexible
• Location: Beetsterzwaag, NL
• Languages: Dutch