Deputy Director

About Paradiso

Paradiso is a leading cultural organization and iconic venue in Amsterdam. Since its founding in 1968, Paradiso has grown into a high-profile cultural hub and an indispensable destination for music, art, and community. Each year, we organize over 1,200 events, ranging from concerts and club nights to talks, festivals, film screenings, and community art. 

We have a clear ambition to ensure that our audience and our programming reflect the diversity of the city of Amsterdam. Paradiso aims to be both an internationally renowned venue and a living room for Amsterdam’s youth. We are known for our rich history, but above all, we look to the future: toward experimentation, new music, young artists, nightlife, and social relevance. 

Through initiatives such as Parallel, DIP (Tuesdays at Paradiso), Soundworks, and Paradiso Research & Development, we are actively committed to talent development, creative freedom, and a sense of community. At the same time, we are preparing for a large-scale renovation and new construction project under the banner of “100 Years of Paradiso” to ensure that our historic building is ready for the future. 

The position

The Deputy Director is a member of Paradiso’s management team and works closely with the Executive Director and the Business Director (for whom a recruitment process is currently underway). Within this trio, the Deputy Director’s focus is on the strategic development of programming and operations, with a particular emphasis on nightlife, club programming, and younger audiences. 

The deputy director directly supervises a portion of the programmers (specifically the club, junior, and assistant programmers), the head of marketing & publicity, and the operations manager. As such, you will share responsibility for a large part of the organization and play a key role in bridging the artistic, organizational, and strategic domains. 

You will facilitate the organization’s development by setting the direction, supporting others in achieving their goals, and inspiring them to reach their full potential. In addition, you will play a key role in the artistic development of the (night) programming and in positioning Paradiso within the club scene. 

Paradiso is actively seeking candidates with growth potential: even if you don’t yet have years of experience as a director, we warmly invite you to apply. What matters to us is your talent, vision, and desire to grow. You’ll be given the opportunity for personal development, potentially through coaching or a short-term training program 

What will you be doing?

•  You will work with the Executive Director on strategy and policy development and help shape Paradiso’s position within the city and the industry.
• Together with the executive director, you will be responsible for ensuring a cohesive and forward-looking (nighttime) program, with a focus on artistic quality, talent development, and audience reach.
• You will ensure coordination between programming, operations, and marketing, and facilitate open and effective collaboration among teams.
• You are visible and approachable within the organization and know how to bring different groups together and inspire them.
• You will support, coach, and motivate employees based on our core values of freedom, enlightenment, discovery, diversity, and community, and you will be responsible for maintaining an inspiring and safe work environment.
•  You will represent Paradiso externally and maintain relationships with partners, creators, media organizations, and other stakeholders. 

What do you bring to the table?

• A clear vision of Paradiso’s role as a cultural hub for Amsterdam.
• An affinity for nightlife, club programming, and current social trends in music and culture.
• Analytical and strategic thinking skills, combined with a hands-on approach.
• Leadership experience, preferably within a complex organization or cultural institution.
• The ability to stay the course, set priorities, and get people on board with change.
• Experience leading teams and bringing together different disciplines.
• An open, approachable communication style and the ability to make room for others. 

What does Paradiso offer?

• A key role in an iconic cultural organization with a collaborative work environment.
• A dynamic work environment that encourages initiative and offers the opportunity to make a difference.
• Salary range in Scale 9 of the NPF collective bargaining agreement: €5,580 – €8,500 gross for full-time employment (38 hours).
• Attractive benefits package, including access to the company’s fitness program and most of Paradiso’s programs.
• A good pension plan.
• An inspiring place where you can contribute to innovation, diversity, and culture at one of the Netherlands’ leading venues.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development. 

Paradiso adheres to the Fair Practice Code and the Diversity & Inclusion Code. We strive to build a team with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and we encourage anyone who identifies with this to apply. 

Interested?

Paradiso is being assisted by Colourful People in this process. If you have any questions about the position or the process, please contact Jantien Plooij at j.plooij@colourfulpeople.nl or 06-17703534. 

You can express your interest by uploading your cover letter and resume no later than May 25, 2025, via the Colourful People website . Once your application has been successfully uploaded, you will receive a confirmation email. Didn’t receive it? Please contact Jantien Plooij. Confidential treatment of your information is, of course, guaranteed. An assessment or talent scan may be part of the process. 

Schedule

The preliminary interviews will take place online during weeks 22 and 23. The interviews with the selection committee will take place on June 20 (first round) and June 26 (second round) 2025. We kindly ask you to save these dates. 

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.