"Head of the Department of Language Education Courses"

This is what you will do

Enhance the operational effectiveness of the armed forces!
Do you want to directly contribute to the operational effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence? Do you see language education as a force multiplier for military capabilities? Then this is your chance to make an impact.

Our mission:
The world around us is changing rapidly. The security situation in Europe and beyond demands an agile, scalable, rapidly and effectively deployable armed forces. Therefore, the Ministry of Defence is scaling up significantly, with the ambition to structurally meet a larger, more capable armed forces with high deployability requirements by 2030. Language skills play a key role in this development.

Your position:
You will work as a civilian employee at the Defence Language Centre (TCD) in Breda, part of the Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA). The TCD provides language expertise to support:
• military and professional language skills;
• knowledge and expertise, such as language standards, language testing, terminology, and intercultural communication;
• operational interpreting and translation services;
and • policy advice on language and communication.
The TCD comprises six departments and contributes directly to the deployability of the armed forces.

Your assignment:
As Head of the Language Education Training Department (TO1), you will direct Dutch and English language instruction within the Ministry of Defence's training programs. With the Language Education Training Department (TO2), you will strengthen and develop language education in a dynamic and demanding context where quality, innovation, and collaboration are paramount.
You will be ultimately responsible for five teams, spread across three regions in the Netherlands (North, Central, and South), working at various Defence training institutes and training centers. Together with the team leaders, you will ensure that military personnel, at all stages of their careers, possess the language skills they need to operate effectively – both nationally and internationally.

Your tasks
• You provide inspiring and results-oriented leadership to five team leaders and are ultimately responsible for approximately 45 professionals within the department.
• You ensure that language education demonstrably contributes to the operational effectiveness and interoperability of Defence, in a national and international context.
• You advise on and implement defence-wide policy for language education, and update this in line with changing threats, NATO objectives and technological developments.
• You drive innovation in didactics and learning materials, including blended learning and applications of (generative) AI within the education domain.
• You build and maintain strategic partnerships with defence education programs, training centers and external partners.
• As a member of the TCD Management Team, you advise the commander and fellow department heads, both solicited and unsolicited, on language education, capacity and deployability.
• You actively contribute to the realization of the Defence Language Centre's Mission, Vision and Strategy 2030.

This is what you get

• scale 12 €5,863.78 - €7,575.55 (gross)
• Temporary appointment
• 24 months
• 32 - 38 hours
• The salary is based on a 38-hour work week.

We offer even more

Starting in 2025, defense employees will no longer receive their holiday pay and year-end bonus as separate allowances, but will accrue these monthly through the Individual Choice Budget (IKB). The IKB for defense employees amounts to a total of 16.33 percent of their salary. With the IKB, defense employees can decide for themselves when, on what, and how much budget they spend on time, money, or tax breaks. This can be up to the monthly accrued budget. The IKB can be used for:

• A maximum of 15 percent of the salary can be used monthly for the exchange of the commuting allowance.
• The monthly difference between the allowance for private transportation for commuting and the tax maximum.
• A bicycle for personal use, including bicycle accessories and bicycle insurance.
• A computer that can also be used for work or study, including computer accessories and computer insurance.
• A battery or electrical parts for a bicycle.
• Have the union dues payment cashed out.
• The Ministry of Defence expects to further expand the possibilities of the IKB in the future.

This is what we ask

Your profile:
You're an experienced leader with a vision for education and organizational development. You move effortlessly between strategy and implementation and know how to connect and strengthen your team members. With your affinity for language education and a keen understanding of administrative and social developments, you're a strong discussion partner within a complex organization.

Your competencies
You are an experienced leader who feels at home in a complex, mission-driven organization and who knows how to connect education with operational reality.

You have:
• A completed relevant university degree;
• Extensive experience as a manager of professionals within the education domain;
• Demonstrable affinity with Dutch and English language education (experience within the Ministry of Defence or another government organisation is an advantage);
• Excellent command of Dutch and English, additional languages ​​are an advantage;
• Experience with policy and business management issues;
• Strong communication skills, with a leadership style focused on collaboration, feedback and professional development;
• Interest in military, political and social developments and innovation, including digitalisation and AI.

Why this role?
In this role, you'll work on military operational readiness through education. You'll make a tangible contribution to the effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence and to the security of the Netherlands and its allies.
Your leadership makes the difference – in the teams, in the supply chain, and in the operational area!

This is where you come to work

More about Defence Support Command

The work is carried out within the Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA), which is administratively part of the Defence Support Command (DOSCO). The NLDA comprises the Faculty of Military Sciences (FMW), the Royal Netherlands Naval Institute (KIM), the Royal Military Academy (KMA), the Institute of Defence Training (IDL), the Centre of Expertise for Defence Leadership (ECLD), the Defence Language Centre (TCD), the Netherlands Institute of Military History (NIMH), and a staff.

The NLDA aims to train the best possible (prospective) officers and students, ready for tomorrow's conflict. To this end, the NLDA provides education, training, and support in the areas of initial and career training for officers, leadership training, and language/interpretation/translation services across the Defence organisation.

Language capacity within the Defence organisation is housed within the Defence Language Centre. This includes language education, translations, interpreting services, and knowledge and policy support in the field of language.

Defense Support Command

About the Ministry of Defence

The Ministry of Defence is committed to the interests, prosperity, and freedom of the Netherlands. We are active daily, both at home and abroad. Our global efforts strengthen international cooperation and ensure that people can develop freely, now and in the future.

Approximately 79,000 people work directly and indirectly on peace and security at the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry comprises the Materiel & IT Command (COMMIT), the Central Staff (the department), the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Royal Netherlands Army, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, and the Defence Support Command (DOSCO). The Ministry of Defence is one of the largest employers in the Netherlands and bears resemblance to a large corporation. The operational commands (naval, army, and air forces), the Marechaussee, DOSCO, and COMMIT are like operating companies.

The armed forces protect what is dear to us. The Defence Support Command (DOSCO) makes a vital contribution to this. With more than 10,000 employees, we support the army, air force, navy, and marechaussee anytime, anywhere. We do this at defense locations, during daily operations, during exercises, and during deployments. We ensure the armed forces have a competitive edge!

At DOSCO, you contribute to a strong Defense organization. We are one of the most versatile departments within the Defense Department. From catering to security, from real estate to logistics, from facilities to procurement, from HR to medical care, behind every soldier is a team of professionals who provide support 24/7. You don't have to be a soldier to work at DOSCO. At DOSCO, it's all about craftsmanship, reliability, and commitment.

Does this appeal to you and does the vacancy match your profile? Then apply now!

Ministry of Defense