RVB Cluster Head Caribbean Netherlands

HBO/WO | Bonaire | 36 hours | Vacancy number: P&O2025_03_022 | Closing date: 25 April 2025

Job description

As Cluster Head, you provide committed and energetic leadership to the Caribbean Netherlands (CN) Team and you represent the team at the regional level. Your mission? To offer our Caribbean clients safe buildings and premises so that they can optimally carry out their primary processes. Whether it concerns maintenance on a correctional institution, renovation of an office or a new development, your team always stands for quality, customer orientation, safety, and integrity. 

You build sustainable relationships based on mutual trust, both with your employees and clients. You optimise processes and services where necessary and you create an open, safe work environment in which learning and cooperating are key. Through the efficient deployment of people and resources, you achieve the annual targets in your region. You discuss long-term plans, current activities, and customer satisfaction with clients. 

Together with your fellow MT members of the Carib Section, you translate the strategic and tactical objectives of the Central Government Real Estate Agency into operational successes within the Caribbean context. A flexible attitude is crucial, both for you and your team. You regularly travel between the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands, if required. 

Your cluster is also part of the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland (RCN). You work together with other heads of service of RCN to realise optimal synergy and service provision for citizens and civil servants in the Caribbean Netherlands.

Job responsibilities

• Managing the team and efficient planning, including monitoring budgets and progress. 
• Ensuring structured work meetings and adequate internal and external communication. 
• Motivating, supporting, and managing employees in an inspiring way. 
• Applying personnel instruments (e.g. performance and assessment interviews) correctly and in a timely manner. 
• Realising agreed results and delivering products and services according to applicable frameworks. 
• Providing advice and input for management reports and (multi-) annual plans. 
• Analysing innovations and improvements and translating them into practical solutions. 
• Assessing policy plans and ensuring operational feasibility. 

Organisation

The Property Management Directorate of the Central Government Real Estate Agency is responsible for the management of buildings, technical installations, land and premises, both in use and vacant. The Carib Section, part of this directorate, consists of thirty-five team members. We are responsible for the preparation and implementation of all projects and agreements in the region, ranging from conservation projects to investment projects. Our portfolio is highly diverse: from offices and official residences to police and fire stations, military sites and prisons.

The Carib Section is divided into two clusters: The Caribbean Netherlands Cluster (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba) and the Curacao, Aruba, and St. Maarten Cluster. Your team consists of skilled and independent Object Managers, Project Managers, a Troubleshooting Coordinator, and Project Assistants. We work across the islands and are a familiar face to the users of the properties. There is an open and pleasant working atmosphere within our team, in which trust and a ‘go-getter mentality’ are key.

Competencies

• Strong communication skills for various discussion partners. 
• Clear and steadfast; you know how to set boundaries. 
• Connector with a sense of balance between different interests. 
• Excellent social and coaching skills; you inspire and motivate your employees. 
• Creative and pragmatic attitude; you come up with solutions outside existing frameworks. 
• Flexibility in dealing with shifting priorities and various forces. 
• Digital skills, including for administrative responsibilities within your job. 

Job requirements

Do you live or have you lived on the islands? Then you are familiar with the island feeling and the opportunities and peculiarities of living and working on an island. Are you from abroad? Then it is important that you can feel at home on an island and know how to adapt. The main thing? Your tremendous perseverance to turn this role into a success! You also bring along:

• Higher Professional Education (HBO) or University Education (WO) level with completed technical or facilities training and/or at least 10 years of relevant work experience as a manager, project or programme manager, or client of construction or maintenance projects, preferably in the Caribbean. 
• Management experience and affinity with construction and technical projects. 
• Broad technical knowledge, including architecture, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering, as well as legal knowledge of agreements. 
• Excellent command of Dutch and English; knowledge of Spanish and/or Papiamentu is preferred.

What do we offer?

• An appointment in accordance with the Rechtspositiebesluit ambtenaren BES (Legal Status Decree on Civil Servants BES);
• A competitive salary in initial salary scale 12 and job salary scale 13, monthly of at least $ 4.801,- and at most $ 6.785,-, in case of a 36-hour working week. Assignment to a pay scale based on knowledge and experience;
• Holiday pay (8.33% of remuneration);
• A end of year bonus (8.33% of remuneration);
• Vitality allowance;
• A pension provision placed with Pensioenfonds Caribisch Nederland (PCN);
• 182 holiday hours for a working week of 36 hours per week;
• A temporary appointment of one year, with the prospect of a permanent appointment for good performance and a positive assessment result;
• A relocation scheme for candidates who respond from outside the island.

Procedure

An assessment, case and/or reference check may be part of the procedure. This vacancy will be opened simultaneously internally and externally, taking the following order into account in the selection:

• Official RCN staff on the BES islands (internal)
• Residents of the Caribbean part of the Netherlands (external)
• Other candidates (external)

Appointment requirements

• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG);
• A medical examination for admission to the pension fund (participation is mandatory, including a personal contribution);
• Dutch citizenship.

Good to know for those interested outside the Caribbean Netherlands

• The salary is in US dollars which is the official currency in the Caribbean Netherlands;
• The Caribbean Netherlands has its own tax regulations. Income above the tax-free allowance of $21.373,- in 2025 is taxed in the first bracket, up to an income of $51,250, at 30.4%; In the second bracket, a tax rate of 35.4% applies.
• You are or will become a resident of the Caribbean Netherlands.

More information?

For information about the content of the vacancy you can contact  René Spanjers, Regional head Carib at +599 9 5102785 or Rene.Spanjers@rijksoverheid.nl

Digital application

You can send your Curriculum Vitae including motivation to  vacature@rijksdienstcn.com