ZJCN Senior Advisor Social Support

The organisation

Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN) is part of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), and deals with healthcare and youth care in the Caribbean Netherlands. Unlike in the European Netherlands, ZJCN is also responsible for the administration of the health insurance and youth care in the Caribbean Netherlands. This makes the Directorate responsible not only for policy and legislation, but also for the day-to-day implementation.

Background

Since 1 January 2025, new regulations on social support (SS) have been implemented in the Caribbean Netherlands. Unlike in the European Netherlands, the public entities and the ZJCN directorate share responsibility for their implementation. The public entities are responsible for the registration, the assessment and the advice regarding a bespoke provision. In addition, the local governments are responsible for providing community-based care services.. If someone needs tailored support, ZJCN is responsible for the assessment of the advice and the decision-making. Furthermore, ZJCN is responsible for the supply of custom provisions.

The Senior Advisor Social Support is part of a team of policy officers working on various policy issues in the social domain and public health on the islands. The ZJCN Directorate is also responsible for policy and implementation of the public health insurance and second-line youth care.

Job description

As a Senior Advisor Social Support at ZJCN, you are responsible, together with your fellow SS (Social Support) Advisor, for carrying out the core tasks of ZJCN within social support. You are responsible for the supply of tailored provisions, managing various accounts of your own, acting as the SS point of contact for fellow account managers, and taking the lead in the further development and improvement of the supply. In addition, you work to advance the implementation of the relatively new regulations by developing implementation policies, improving processes and thinking along with the public entities in order to help them improve the supply of provisions. To this end, you work closely with the relevant policy officers within the Directorate, whilst ensuring the coherence with other areas within ZJCN, e.g. long-term care. Finally, you act as a back-up when assessing applications for tailored provisions and, in accordance with the four-eyes principle, read through the (partial) rejections.

As a Senior Advisor, you are involved both in the implementation of regulations relating to social support and in the further development of policy and the supply of provisions, based on the results of the implementation. And in doing so, you constantly need to take the unique local context and needs of each island into account. It requires not only expertise, but also the ability to listen, build connections, bring about change and get your internal and external stakeholders on board.

Job responsibilities

• You focus on the improvement and strengthening of the collaboration with the ublic entities and the social support providers on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. You help them to carry out their duties andensure a comprehensive and coherent supply of social support;
• In addition, internally you work with the relevant policy officers and account managers at ZJCN to improve the supply of tailored provisions and to optimise the implementation policy regarding social support, which is aligned with other processes within ZJCN.
• You ensure that social support is linked to other care domains, e.g. first-line care, long-term care and mental healthcare.
• You act as a back-up and, in accordance with the four-eyes principle, are involved in the analysis, review and assessment – within the framework of the regulations governing social support – of individual applications submitted by clients for tailored provisions.
• You analyse the applications for tailored provisions and – together with account managers – gather experiences from clients, to identify opportunities to improve the quality and the supply of tailored provisions in the Caribbean Netherlands.
• In addition, you monitor the implementation and, based on this, you improve internal and external work processes, so that citizens receive the best possible support when applying for social support.

Job requirements

• A completed training at least at the level of higher professional education (HBO), preferably in a social sciences discipline;
• You ideally have work experience within a local authority in the area of social support;
• You are from the Caribbean or have demonstrable affinity with the Caribbean;
• You dare to make decisions and take the lead;
• You are flexible and able to find suitable solutions in unique situations;
• You are able to collaborate effectively and to build and maintain a relevant network with various stakeholders;
• You have critical and analytical thinking skills and the ability to solve problems;
• You have good communication skills;
• You are fluent in Dutch and English and Papiamento is preferred;
• You are based on Bonaire, but you are open to staying on Saba and/or St. Eustatius on a regular basis.

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 11 / job salary scale 12 from a minimum of $4.338,- and a maximum of $6.340,- based on a work week of 36 hours. A pay grade based on knowledge and experience;
• A holiday pay (8.33% of the gross monthly 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 with the prospect of a permanent appointment in case of good performance and a positive appraisal;
• 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);
• Medical examination regarding mandatory registration for the pension fund (with a personal contribution);
• 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 information about the job vacancy, please contact Jantine Hofman, Management Team Member  Social Domain, telephone number +31 6 469 496 75 or by email jm.homan@minvws.nl.

Digital application

You may send your Curriculum Vitae with cover letter to: vacature@rijksdienstCN.com