Vacancies

We currently have 1 open vacancy:

Program Officer at Kentalis International Foundation

24 hours per week, part-time
Utrecht and remote work

Do you want to contribute as a Program Officer to the international projects of Kentalis International Foundation, an independent NGO under the umbrella of Royal Kentalis? And in doing so, support knowledge exchange in the field of inclusive education, with a focus on children who are deaf or hard of hearing? Apply your organizational and communication talents in this role and help strengthen education in our African partner countries!

Kentalis International Foundation

Kentalis International Foundation is part of Royal Kentalis in the Netherlands, specifically of the Kentalis Academy, but operates independently on the international stage. International knowledge exchange is a valuable way to share Kentalis’ expertise and to gain new insights. To achieve this, Kentalis International Foundation works with universities, teacher training colleges, NGOs, and national government institutions - primarily in African countries. Learn more about who we are and what we do.

What makes this job special?

Working at Kentalis International Foundation means being part of a small, passionate team of 5 where you can truly make a difference. Do you have experience in project support, strong organizational skills, and are you looking for a varied and dynamic role? Do you have an affinity for international development cooperation and want to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 4: quality education for all, regardless of (hearing) disability? Then this position is perfect for you!

As Program Officer, you will provide administrative and organizational support to our project leaders in the planning and execution of our international projects. You’ll also contribute to both internal and external communication about our work.

What will you do?

This is a truly varied and exciting role in which you’ll be responsible for project support (logistics, contract management), process and document management, (supporting) internal and external communication, and various team organizational tasks. You’ll take a central role within the team and always maintain an overview. You enjoy making sure everything runs smoothly and you'll get to know our international projects inside and out. Being flexible and broadly interested will serve you well in this role!

Your tasks will include:

• Project support and travel logistics: You’ll assist in the implementation and administrative handling of our projects. This includes ensuring that key documents (contract, flight tickets, reports) are correctly stored in SharePoint, arranging logistics with our travel agency, and ensuring compliance with internal processes and donor requirements.
• Contract management: All contracts go through you. Working with project managers and partners in our project countries, you’ll draft international contracts and ensure they are signed on time, following internal procedures. You’ll also liaise with Kentalis Netherlands’ legal department as needed.
• Reporting deadlines: You monitor donor and reporting deadlines to ensure that reports are prepared and submitted on time.
• Monitoring and evaluation: You actively contribute to our Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) process by distributing surveys and maintaining our internal database.
• Communication and marketing: You maintain our website (www.kentalis.com) and social media channels, write engaging content, and create visual materials. You also post updates on our intranet to keep Dutch colleagues informed about our international work. In addition, you’ll compile our annual report (writing and design), edit videos, and create materials (in Canva) such as flyers and presentation slides.
• Process and document management: You manage, write, and update team documents - such as workflows and policy documents - in our document management system (Zenya). You ensure compliance with standards like GDPR.
• Expert group: You support the management of our ‘expert group’: Kentalis colleagues who contribute their expertise to our projects. You’ll post internal vacancies and organize both online and offline meetings.
• Meeting and general team support: You support the Program Manager in preparing for meetings and taking notes/action items.
• Contact person for Kentalis Netherlands: You will serve as the first point of contact for colleagues within Kentalis Netherlands - such as those in the legal, communications, and Academy departments. You also act as an ‘ambassador’ for Kentalis International Foundation, ensuring that our Dutch colleagues know who we are and how to find us.

Who will you work with?

You will join a small, motivated team of 5 colleagues with extensive experience in international development cooperation. The team is characterized by strong expertise and a commitment to improving education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The team meets in person 2 to 3 times a month in Utrecht and otherwise works remotely, maintaining close contact via Teams.

Within Kentalis, you’ll collaborate with content experts - such as sign language specialists and speech therapists - who contribute their knowledge to our international projects. You’ll also work with the legal team, communications department, and privacy officer/GDPR advisor. Externally, you’ll connect with a variety of international partners: consultants in Uganda, researchers in Zambia, teacher organizations in Tanzania, and more.

What we offer

Working at Kentalis International Foundation is dynamic, challenging, and meaningful. We value a good onboarding process. That’s why you’ll be guided by an experienced colleague. Additionally, we offer:

• A gross monthly salary between €3,362 and €4,799 (FWG scale 50) for a full-time 36-hour workweek (cao Gehandicaptenzorg);
• A one-year contract for 24 hours/week, with the prospect of permanent employment upon good performance and unchanged organizational conditions;
• A laptop and mobile phone;
• Flexible working days: tailored scheduling with generous remote work options;
• 144 hours of vacation and 57 ‘balance hours’ (pro rata), which you can use for time off or payout;
• Extras such as an 8.33% year-end bonus, pension contributions through PFZW, and travel reimbursement;
• A benefits package you can customize: choose a gym membership, bike, or travel cost exchange.

About Kentalis

You will be employed by Royal Kentalis, the parent organization of Kentalis International Foundation. With over 5,000 employees, Royal Kentalis is a national center of expertise for people who are hard of hearing, deaf, deafblind, or have a language development disorder (TOS) or multiple communication disabilities. Kentalis has schools, care facilities, and audiology centers at about 138 locations across the Netherlands.

Kentalis International Foundation is part of Royal Kentalis but operates as an independent foundation. Our focus is exclusively on education and care for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

Who are you?

You want to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (quality education) and believe in an equitable, inclusive society, wherever in the world. You are detail-oriented and organizationally strong.

You also bring the following:

• At least higher vocational education (HBO) working and/or thinking level;
• Affinity with international development cooperation and a desire to contribute to improving deaf education globally;
• Strong organizational skills and experience with administrative processes;
• A structured, accurate work style, with the ability to maintain oversight and ensure everything runs smoothly;
• Experience following internal procedures;
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with Drupal (or other CMS), Microsoft tools (MS Project, Forms, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, etc.), Google Analytics or Search Console, and design tools like Canva;
• Familiarity with compliance and privacy regulations and the ability to apply them independently;
• Experience in online communication and marketing, including managing websites and social media, writing engaging content, and creating visual materials;
• Experience in contract management and travel logistics;
• Excellent writing and speaking skills in Dutch (minimum CERF level C1) and English (minimum CEFR level B2); French is a plus;
• Sensitivity in communication and awareness of intercultural differences;
• A flexible, committed, and proactive attitude, able to work to deadlines and remain effective under pressure in a dynamic environment;
• Experience with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) is a plus.

Even if you don’t meet every requirement but are precise and quick to learn, we encourage you to apply! A comprehensive onboarding process with a buddy will be provided.

Interested? Get in touch and discover how valuable your work can be!

Excited to become a Program Officer at Kentalis International Foundation? Apply in the way that suits you best - either with a CV and cover letter or surprise us with a video. We look forward to hearing from you!

Apply here: https://werkenbij.kentalis.nl/apply/programmamedewerker-program-officer/zm541p/nl 

Apply now, or no later than November 9, 2025. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; the vacancy will close once we’ve found our candidate. As long as the vacancy is visible, you can still apply. Interviews will take place in the week of November 10. Ideally, our new colleague will start in January 2026.

Not ready to apply just yet but would you like to know more? We offer the option to have an informal introductory call first and ask any questions you may have. Feel free to email Maria Brons, Program Manager at Kentalis International Foundation, at m.brons@kentalis.nl.

Application procedure

If selected, the procedure consists of the following steps: an initial interview, a second interview, and a final conversation about terms of employment. We will request a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) and references as standard parts of the process.

Note to recruiters and headhunters: we appreciate your interest, but we are handling recruitment and selection for this position internally.

At Kentalis International Foundation, we are committed to safeguarding the children and young persons we support. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse. To ensure the safety of children and young persons, screening procedures (including a recent 'Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag') and reference checks are always part of our recruitment process.

Learn more about our Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy.

For job updates and more information follow us on LinkedIn.

We find it important to be an equal opportunity employer. We promote inclusion and diversity our work: in the office and beyond. This means that we select potential new colleagues without regard to gender, race, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Our parent organization Royal Kentalis takes care of the hiring process. Find more information on their website (in Dutch).

If you are located in the Netherlands and speak Dutch, you can also have a look at the vacancies of Royal Kentalis, our parent organization.