Project Manager, Planning

Would you like to work as a Project Manager to develop a climate-resilient water system? And do you enjoy working area-specific with our colleagues and external stakeholders—such as residents, farmers, provincial governments, councils , and land management organizations? Then we’re looking for you!

Location

Number of hours

36 hours per week

Salary

Scale 10, Minimum 4313, Maximum 5848

Interested?

You can respond by Sunday, September 13, 2026

Apply Now

Imagine

On your way to the “ Water-authority office ” in Groningen, you drive past the Stadspark. Your gaze wanders toward the water, and you think back to the issue you began addressing a year ago. Several challenges were on the table: flow could be improved, flushing required attention, and water quality was also a concern. You didn’t tackle this alone. Together with water level managers, maintenance colleagues, the Water Management Authority ( council ), and other stakeholders, you investigated what was needed. You reconciled various interests, held discussions, and translated the issue into a concrete plan. You now know which measures are necessary, and they can be implemented—for example, by dredging or installing a culvert.

That’s what gives you energy—the diversity in your work, the conversations with different people, and especially the moment when something that was once vague becomes concrete. You’re sometimes out in the field and often work from the office, but you’re always collaborating with others. You connect people, help move processes forward, and ensure that a plan doesn’t get buried in a drawer but leads to action. You see that your work has actually set things in motion. The water system is functioning better, and together with others, you’ve resolved the bottlenecks. That’s what it’s all about.

What are you going to do?

As a planning project manager, you’ll work on waterproofing the future, clean and healthy water, and sufficient water in every season. In this way, you’ll ensure that the water system continues to function properly in the future.

You link water-related challenges to other developments in the region and ensure that issues are transformed into concrete actions. You serve as the link between substance, context, and implementation. You collaborate with colleagues, councils, provincial governments, farmers, residents, and land management organizations. Interests do not always align, but that is precisely where you make a difference. You bring together different perspectives and translate them into solutions that work for the region.

Specifically, your responsibilities will include:

Developing integrated solutions for spatial water issues;
organise and overseeing regional processes, water management plans, and water level decisions;
Connecting colleagues and regional partners and building support;
Ensure active connexion between our water allocation and the allocation from the region;
Chairing community meetings and conducting informal discussions;
Monitoring the content, context, and progress of planning processes;
Translating policies and regulations into spatial development;
Ensure that plans lead to concrete decisions and actionable measures;
Further develop the planning processes within the “ water authority.”

About the Water System Management and Water Safety Team

We are the Water System Management and Water Safety Team, a dedicated and passionate group of 31 enthusiastic and knowledgeable people. We manage, plan, and provide comprehensive advice on the water system and water safety—from policy development through to implementation. We do this as data-driven as possible and by applying new digital innovations. We have both feet firmly on the ground and actively involve the local community in our work. As part of our management team, you’ll work within the regional team of our “ organisation.”

About the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority

Noorderzijlvest Water Authority is located in a unique area where subsidence natural gas extraction and earthquakes significantly impact water management. The consequences of these developments, as well as climate change, are affecting the (bin) water system. Rising sea levels, more frequent and longer periods of heavy rain interspersed with prolonged droughts, as well as challenges related to sustainability and new (problematic) substances: these are problems that call for robust solutions. We want our (bin)water system to function as naturally as possible and to be climate-resilient, resilient, and healthy in the long term. This requires us to implement appropriate and affordable measures in a society that wants to participate in the discussion and exert influence on these matters.

Here's what we're asking of you

Environmentally Aware: You work with councils, farmers, residents, and colleagues. You understand their different interests and know how to bring them together.
Collaboration: In this role, you won't accomplish anything on your own—you'll bring people together, keep connexion , and ensure that others can move forward with the plan.
Analytical: An issue often has multiple facets. You make connections, weigh information, and turn something complex into a clear plan with concrete solutions.
Results-oriented: You are someone who enjoys driving complex issues forward. For you, a plan is not the end goal. You monitor progress and ensure that plans lead to concrete actions in the field.
Administratively astute: You understand how decision-making works and recognize the interests and sensitivities at play. You know when to push forward and when coordination is needed.

In addition:

Do you have at least a higher vocational education (HBO) level of work and thinking, as well as relevant work experience, for example as a planner or junior project manager;
Do you preferably have experience with regional programs and developing plans?;
Do you have knowledge of water systems, or are you willing to learn about them?;
Do you have experience with project-based work and, preferably, with working in an administrative environment?;

Here's what we offer you

A job in the social services field.
Initially, a fixed-term contract (1 year), with the possibility of a permanent contract.
A gross monthly salary of up to €5,661 (scale 10) for full-time employment.
In addition to your gross salary, you will receive 21% as an IKB (individual choice budget); you can have this paid out or use it in another way, such as to purchase additional time off.
A pension plan with the ABP Pension Fund.
Excellent opportunities to achieve a good work-life balance, for example through our work-from-home options.
A personal budget of €6,000 (€12,000 for those under 35) once every five years for purposes such as training,
Reimbursement for commuting expenses, a work-from-home allowance, a work-from-home budget, and a bicycle allowance
The position is based at our headquarters in Groningen (city). The office is easily accessible by bike, public transportation, or car.

Will you be our Planning Project Manager?

Are you enthusiastic and do you have the required qualifications? If so, please upload your cover letter and resume via the application button no later than September 13, 2026. Interviews will take place on the morning of September 25, 2026.

Would you like to know more? Please contact Floris Knot, team manager of the Water System Management and Water Safety Team, at 06-20616433.
If you are selected to work for us, you will be required to behaviour a Certificate of Good behaviour .

Your future department and organisation

About the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority

The Noorderzijlvest Water Board is located in a unique area where subsidence by natural gas extraction and earthquakes significantly impacts water management. The consequences of these developments, as well as climate change, are affecting the (bin)water system. Rising sea levels, more frequent and longer periods of heavy rain interspersed with prolonged droughts, as well as challenges related to sustainability and new (problematic) substances: these are problems that call for robust solutions. We want our (bin)water system to function as naturally as possible and to be climate-resilient, resilient, and healthy in the long term. This requires us to implement appropriate and affordable measures in a society that wants to have a say in these matters and exert influence over them.

To water authority the challenges facing our water authority , we are implementing organisation so that we are better able to work in a forward-looking and integrated manner. We believe this will lay a solid foundation for strategic thinking, for translating those plans into our day-to-day work, and for carrying out our work as efficiently as possible. And that is becoming increasingly important in a society that is changing and placing high demands on us.

Do you have any questions about the application process for this job opening?

Please contact Esther de Jager-de Brouwer at counsellor Recruitment and Selection at 050 304 89 11 or werven@noorderzijlvest.nl.

Are you excited? Apply now!

Fill out the application form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Apply now

Dynamic water world

Are you a thinker or a doer? We’d love to meet you. At the water authority , no two days water authority ever the same!

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