Strategic Communications Advisor DEI+ and Sustainability

Welcome to Maastricht University!
Do you want to strategically embed societal themes such as diversity, equity, inclusion, sexual safety (DEI+) and sustainability within our organization? As a Strategic Communications Advisor, you set direction, connect people and translate complex content into stories that move people and spur action.

Strategic Communications Advisor DEI+ and Sustainability 

Our goal: to firmly embed DEI+ and sustainability in UM’s strategy, identity and communications, with visible impact on campus, education and research.
Your colleagues: You work from the DEI+ Office, in close collaboration with the Sustainability Office and Marketing & Communications (M&C). Together you form a network of advisors, project leaders, student employees and data specialists.

What you do

• You advise colleagues, develop strategic communication lines and ensure coherence between internal and external communication. You identify opportunities and risks and help strengthen reputation and support.
• Develops, advises on and monitors the strategic communication around DEI, the sexual safety programme and sustainability.
• Builds key messages and campaigns that stimulate awareness and behavioural change.
• Ensures, aligned with M&C, consistent internal and external communication for the DEI+ Office and the Sustainability Office.
• Supports management and project leaders with positioning, storytelling and stakeholder management.
• Provides content direction to student and communications staff.
• Monitors opportunities and risks; proactively advises on strategy and reputation.
• Connects UM-wide initiatives and shares best practices within the network.
• Develops formats for dialogue (events, articles, toolkits) and guides implementation.
• Ensures evaluation and continuous improvement (PDCA) of interventions and campaigns.

Are you ready to set the course for the coming years? Then we would love to meet you.

What you bring
It’s not about ticking boxes for us, but about who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• Strategic and hands-on: You switch smoothly between strategy, advice and execution.
• Strong communicator: You write and advise convincingly in Dutch and English.
• Experience with societal themes: You have demonstrable experience with the themes of DEI+ and sustainability.
• Organizationally sensitive: You have a good sense of timing and relationships and build relationships easily.
• Solid foundation: HBO+ level and approx. 5+ years of experience as a (strategic) communications advisor.

What you can expect from us 
At Maastricht University, you work in an international, open and engaged environment. We offer:

• A one-year contract; upon mutual satisfaction it will be converted into an open-ended contract. The contract scope is 0.5 to 0.6 FTE.
• A gross salary between €3,546 and €6,433 per month (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week and depending on education and experience), excluding 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off, and the possibility to build up 12 extra days via compensatory hours.
• Flexible working hours, a working-from-home allowance and hybrid working.
• Freedom and space to organize your work independently and develop your own ideas in alignment with your team.
• A close-knit community of colleagues you work closely with.
• A solid pension scheme via ABP, corporate fitness and access to an extensive sports offering.
• An inspiring working environment in the heart of Europe. 

About the Maastricht University Office (MUO)
MUO connects, facilitates and strengthens collaboration within and beyond UM. As a network organization, we support the Executive Board, faculties and service departments with joint programmes, communication and strategy. In this way, we make the university’s course visible and tangible together.

Curious?
Would you like to know more about this position or about working at our university? Please contact Margriet Schreuders via j.schreuders@maastrichtuniversity.nl or 043-9885201.

You can also apply directly via the button below. The closing date of the publication is 15 March 2026. The first interviews will take place in week 13.

We hope to get to know you soon! 

About Maastricht University 
At Maastricht University, we work together to find answers that help move the world forward. We do this together with 23,300 students and 5,400 staff, spread across 5 cities in the region, 6 faculties and over 70 research institutes in the Euregio. Here you have the space to push boundaries and discover new opportunities—for yourself and for the world around you. Because we find real answers together.

This vacancy is open to internal and external candidates. In case of equal suitability, internal candidates will be given preference.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask agencies or intermediaries not to send unsolicited offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and maintaining a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM. We want to make this possible through inclusive policy and innovative projects in collaboration with students and staff. We encourage you to apply for this position.