ZJCN Policy Officer Care & Services

The organisation

ZJCN is the directorate within the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) that is responsible for healthcare and youth care in the Caribbean Netherlands. The Directorate is partly based in The Hague, but the vast majority is on Bonaire. Through video conferences and working visits, we really try to work as one Directorate, despite the distance and time difference. Unlike in the European Netherlands, VWS implements the health insurance and youth care in the Caribbean Netherlands itself. This makes the Directorate responsible not only for policy and legislation, but also for the implementation.

Job description

The directorate Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN) of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport is responsible, among other things, for the policy, the organisation, and the implementation of the care and services in the Caribbean Netherlands.

Within the Care and Services Team of ZJCN, professionals across all three islands are committed to supporting residents with their medical needs. The team is responsible for core processes such as the registration and insurance of citizens, the assessment of referral requests, and the processing and implementation of medical referrals.

We are looking for a policy officer who can bridge the gap between implementation and policy. You analyse operational issues and translate these into practical policy or cooperation arrangements with relevant chain partners. You advise the management on improvements, you contribute to quality development, and you ensure that processes run efficiently, lawfully and in a customer-focused manner.

Job responsibilities

• As a policy officer, you translate practical experiences and operational issues into policy and improvement arrangements within the Care and Services Team. You ensure that policy is properly aligned with the day-to-day implementation of core processes such as the registration and insurance of citizens, the assessment of referral requests, and the processing and execution of medical referrals. You actively involve the employees of the team in this process, and you coordinate proposals both internally and externally, while providing clear advice to the Head or the Management Team.

• You are responsible for the development, revision and implementation of guidelines and procedures relating to the core processes. This involves the identification of bottlenecks, the formulation of proposals for improvement, and the provision of support to teams in the implementation of new policy measures.

• You liaise with colleagues, partners in the chain and relevant external parties to optimise processes, strengthen collaboration and improve services for residents. 

• You work together with colleagues on Bonaire and in The Hague – both policy officers and account managers – who manage healthcare agreements. In doing so, you focus on the effective delivery of the healthcare insurance and the services of ZJCN.

• You advise the management on trends, legislation and regulations, and best practices within care and services; you translate these into concrete actions; and you help to ensure quality and compliance with legislation and regulations.

• You supervise the implementation of new processes, systems or methodologies and you contribute to the professional development of the team by developing support materials, training programmes or communications regarding changes.

• This role is based on Bonaire, with the possibility of working on all three islands. You work closely with fellow policy officers within ZJCN and other relevant teams in the Caribbean Netherlands, and you liaise with relevant national or regional partners.

Job requirements

• At least Higher Professional Education (HBO), preferably in a relevant specialisation (Health Sciences, Public Administration, Social Work, Law or comparable);

• Knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations in the care domain (BES context);

• Experience with the translation of operational issues into policy and procedures;

• You have affinity with the Caribbean. You quickly become familiar with various files; you know how to independently collect information for your policy advice and to identify the bottlenecks for which a solution is required;

• You know how to present your case in a well-reasoned, fluent and clear manner, both verbally and in writing;

• You work well with others and are able to quickly build up a network in the Caribbean Netherlands and the European Netherlands;

• You are flexible, customer-focused and able to plan and organise your own work effectively;

• You are fully aware of the interests at stake at board and organisational level within a chain;

• Good command of Dutch, Papiamento, English and Spanish, both in the spoken and in the written word.

Competencies

• Administrative sensitivity;

• Organisational sensitivity;

• Networking;

• Situational awareness;

• Flexible;

• Collaboration skills;

• Planning and organisation;

• Creativity.

What do we offer?

• An appointment in conformity with the Rechstpositiebesluit Ambtenaren BES (BES Legal Status of Civil Servants Decree);

• A salary in line with the market, in initial salary scale 10   and job salary scale 11 from a minimum of $3.775,- and a maximum of $5.612,- based on a work week of 36 hours. A pay grade based on knowledge and experience;

• A holiday pay (8.33% of the annual income);

• A13^th month (8.33% of the annual income);

• Vitality allowance;

• A pension plan administered by Pensioenfonds Caribisch Nederland (PCN);

• 182 holiday hours based on a work week of 36 hours;

• A temporary appointment of one year;

• A relocation scheme for applicants not living in the island.

Procedure

An assessment, case and/or reference check may be part of the procedure.
This vacancy is being advertised internally and externally, and the following order will be considered in the selection process:

• Official RCN staff on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (internal);

• Residents of the Caribbean part of the Netherlands (external);

• Other candidates (external);

Terms of appointment

• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG);

• Participation in the pension fund is mandatory, which includes an employee contribution;

• A medical examination is required for this position. Without a positive result from this examination, the appointment cannot proceed;

• Dutch citizenship.

Important information for interested applicants living outside the Caribbean Netherlands

• The salary is paid in American dollars, the official currency in the Caribbean Netherlands;

• The Caribbean Netherlands has its own tax regulations. Income above the tax-free allowance $21,956 in 2026 is taxed at 29.4% in the first bracket (up to an income of $53,198). A tax rate of 38.4% applies to the second bracket;

• You are or will become a resident of the Caribbean Netherlands.

More information?

For more information regarding the vacancy, please contact Sulay Lau, Team Leader Care & Services, via phone at +599 795 2024 or by email at Sulay.Lau@zorgverzekeringskantoor.nl.

Digital applications

You may send your curriculum vitae with cover letter to: vacature@rijksdienstCN.com.