GIS and Knowledge Specialist – Maritime Heritage

What You’ll Do Bring together fragmented information and knowledge on the Netherlands’ underwater cultural heritage and make it usable for research, management, and protection. Using your expertise in GIS and spatial data, you will help build a current and cohesive national picture within the Impulsprogramma Maritieme Archeologie. Additionally, you will coordinate knowledge development and quality assurance across regions. You will collect, analyze, and link spatial data and various data sources—including MACHU, MaSS, Archis, and SONAREG—refine files and registrations, identify discrepancies and missing information, and help develop a practical workflow ensuring regional knowledge meets sufficient quality standards and becomes part of the national picture. Your work will contribute to a clear, up-to-date, and actionable overview of the underwater heritage inventory, enabling more targeted research, management, and protection efforts. You do not need to be an archaeologist; we are looking for someone experienced in GIS, geoinformation, and complex datasets, who is eager to apply this expertise to maritime heritage. You will work closely with archaeologists and other subject matter experts within and outside the RCE (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed). The program is evolving, so each year, together with the program leader, we will assess where your input is most needed and what tasks that entails. In the first year, the focus will be on inventory, updating, and unlocking knowledge. What You’ll Get Salary scale 10: €3,496 – €5,535 (gross/month) Fixed-term contract for one year, with option for extension 32–36 hours/week Depending on knowledge and experience, placement in scale 9 may be possible during the probationary period Additional Benefits In addition to your salary, you will receive an Individual Choice Budget (IKB), consisting of money (16.5% of your gross annual salary) and time. With the IKB, you can customize your employment conditions to suit your personal preferences—for example, converting part of your salary into leave, or investing in tax-efficient benefits. The Dutch government strongly supports personal growth and career development, offering numerous opportunities. Other secondary employment conditions include various study facilities, company fitness, full reimbursement of public transport costs for your commute, and partially paid parental leave. What We’re Looking For You are a practical and resourceful specialist who can bring clarity to complex information. You enjoy untangling data, but especially ensuring it becomes usable for others. You work accurately and systematically, take initiative, and collaborate well with subject matter experts, organizations, and local governments. You can switch between technical details and broader knowledge objectives. You can work independently with GIS and spatial datasets, combine and assess information from multiple sources, and analyze and structure large, heterogeneous datasets. In your work, you will regularly consult and advise external partners on GIS and spatial data. You are proficient in identifying patterns and trends in data using standard GIS packages [1] and advanced analytical tools and techniques. You can translate complex information into practical outcomes and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. As a GIS specialist, you play a crucial role in optimizing and innovating our archaeological data infrastructure within maritime heritage care. You have an HBO+ or WO level of working and analytical ability in GIS, geoinformation, spatial data, archaeology, heritage, or another relevant field. You have demonstrable experience with GIS and spatial datasets, as well as extensive knowledge and experience with standard GIS packages and their functionalities (e.g., ModelBuilder, PostGIS). You are experienced in setting up and designing geodatabases in PostGIS and PostgreSQL, and also have experience using and creating (Geoserver) web services. Knowledge of archaeology, maritime archaeology, or underwater heritage is a plus. In your cover letter, please answer the following three questions: Describe a project where you integrated multiple spatial datasets. What was your role, and what was the outcome? How do you ensure complex geospatial information becomes usable for colleagues who are not GIS specialists? What knowledge or experience do you wish to further develop in this role? We recognize this role requires a specific combination of knowledge and experience. If you do not fully meet the profile, please don’t hesitate to apply—we are happy to invest in your development. [1] Within the RCE, QGIS is the standard. ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, and MapInfo are also used. Where You’ll Work About Archaeology at the RCE You will join the Waterbodems (Aquatic Sites) team and work for the Impulsprogramma Maritieme Archeologie of the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. You will collaborate closely with archaeologists and other specialists focused on maritime heritage at the RCE, as well as with colleagues and partners in the regions where the program operates. The position is temporary and tied to the program’s duration, ending in 2029. The role falls within the Archaeology department (~30 FTE). Within this department, applied knowledge is developed to enable effective, efficient, and targeted archaeological heritage care in the Netherlands—not only on land, but also in inland waters and the North Sea. The department is also responsible for maritime heritage abroad owned by the Dutch state. The department manages the Archis archaeological information system, develops knowledge on the nature and distribution of archaeological remains, and advances methods and techniques for archaeological research. It also oversees the proper execution of archaeological fieldwork in national projects. We are looking for an enthusiastic and constructive colleague who contributes to the department’s mission. About the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (RCE) Our mission is to ensure the Dutch heritage care system functions well, so that cultural heritage is passed on to future generations—to give the future a past and the past a future. The RCE is a knowledge institute and executive organization for the Minister of Education, Culture, and Science. We implement national legislation concerning monuments, archaeology, movable heritage, and landscapes, and provide subsidies to owners. We develop our extensive and specialized heritage knowledge at the intersection of policy, practice, and science—and make it accessible for practical use and the public. We advise national, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as monument owners, and collaborate widely with stakeholders—from market parties to volunteer organizations. The RCE is a professional organization with an interesting field of work, dedicated colleagues, and an informal working atmosphere. The main office is in Amersfoort, and working from home is possible. Additional Information Please send your motivation (including CV) by 8 November 2026. Interviews are scheduled for weeks 46–48. We aim to respond within 5 working days after the closing date. Recruitment is conducted simultaneously interdepartmentally and externally. If candidates with "from-job-to-job" status apply, they take precedence over those who are voluntarily mobile. If you fall into the former group, please include a recommendation or supporting document and indicate this in the relevant field. We serve the Netherlands and therefore aim to reflect the country’s diversity at all levels. We highly value diversity and encourage everyone to apply. We look forward to learning about you, your personal motivation, and how you can strengthen our team. After the closing date, the vacancy text and details will no longer be available online. To avoid having to retrieve them later, we ask you to download and save the vacancy text. Recruitment efforts based on this advertisement will not be appreciated.