Director

The Playhouse

Theater Het Speelhuis has not existed in its current iconic form for very long. In 2011, a devastating fire seemed to spell the end for Helmond’s already unique theater, with its striking architecture by Piet Blom. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In 2017, architects Van Dongen and Koschuch built an impressive glass pavilion around the Church of Our Lady in the city center, housing two auditoriums and a grand foyer. The church, which had previously served as a temporary theater, thus became the permanent theater. Thanks to its immense transparency, minimalist use of materials, and slender roof, the stately Church of Our Lady has become the star of its own stage.

The pavilion embraces the church, just as the people of Helmond have embraced the new Speelhuis. Every year, the theater hosts more than 160 professional companies and artists, and approximately 200 other events take place there annually. The theater also supports a dozen local initiatives that bring the city to life, making it a home base for local amateur theater groups and a dynamic venue for community and socio-cultural events.

A team consisting of the director and 15 permanent staff members, together with more than 30 volunteers and 12 temporary employees, works to realize the theater’s cultural and social ambitions. Het Speelhuis plays a key role in the collaboration among various cultural institutions in Helmond and the surrounding region, and also works with regional theater partners in response to developments in the cultural and political landscape. The theater is at the heart of the community and strives to think and act with a broad social perspective in all its activities, reaching a wide audience. It pays special attention to young visitors and to engaging those citizens who, for various reasons, may have less exposure to cultural activities.

In the coming years, the city faces the challenge of growing from 95,000 to 115,000 residents, in line with developments in the Brainport region, of which Helmond is the second-largest city. A new cultural vision for the city was recently adopted, in which high-quality cultural facilities and initiatives are considered crucial to the living and working environment of the growing city of Helmond.

Theater Het Speelhuis is part of the Municipality of Helmond with a “special status.” The director therefore operates within the framework of the Municipality of Helmond and, within that context, faces the challenge of realizing cultural and social ambitions for the city and region. The director is the public face of Het Speelhuis and acts on behalf of the organization in regional collaborations, innovation platforms, or with other partners. The theater director reports to the executive board of the Municipality of Helmond and is administratively accountable to the alderman for culture.

Over the past two years, the Theater Het Speelhuis organization has been focused on reevaluating its form and content, all in relation to the city’s cultural landscape. Following a period of deliberation, the decision was made to continue operating the theater as a municipal theater for the time being. In light of this decision, an interim period at the management level is coming to a close, and the organization is setting out with enthusiasm to further expand the central role the theater plays in the city.

The challenge of being a director

As director, you are responsible for the theater’s operations and all aspects of the organization, including partnerships, programming, and the building. You serve not only as a bridge between the municipal government and the cultural and social sectors, but also within the team itself. Together with your team, you will firmly establish Het Speelhuis at the heart of the community. You are the face of the theater!

Given the theater’s unique status as part of the municipality of Helmond, its governance structure is regulated through delegated authority and agreements regarding transparency, reporting, and financial accountability.

The role involves:

• expanding the central role of the theater in the growing city of Helmond, in the context of “the leap in scale” and the city’s established cultural vision
• further professionalizing the team and the theater's operations
• special focus on children and young people, new target groups, and international audiences in the Brainport region
• connecting with the city and its neighborhoods, as well as with the cultural and social sectors; and strengthening collaboration with HART (cultural) institutions and cultural partners in the region.
• expanding cooperation with the education sector and the broader civil society
• developing partnerships with the business community under the motto “Together we build the city”
• contribute to the development and visibility of "creators" in the city.

Your duties and responsibilities

• You will be responsible for the theater’s operational and artistic management. You will oversee staff and resources, establish the framework for programming and policy implementation, and ensure the theater’s integration into and alignment with Helmond’s community. You will report to the management of the City of Helmond.
• You will maintain an administrative relationship and coordinate with the alderman for culture, just as the subsidized cultural institutions in the municipality of Helmond do
• You will lead the team—which consists of programming, marketing & communications, technical services, facilities, administration, visitor services, catering, and rentals—in a collaborative manner. You will indirectly oversee the entire team of staff and volunteers, and provide broad guidance on content and branding.
• You will curate an engaging program of activities at the theater and strike the right balance between cultural, community, and socio-cultural activities.
• You have a clear vision of and extensive experience in cultural programming in general and the performing arts in particular. You will develop a future-proof business and artistic strategy for programming and operations, expand the team and the organization, and establish partnerships. In doing so, you will take into account the city’s social identity and have an eye for new audience groups.
• You are responsible for ensuring the continuity and professionalism of the organization, with a focus on adhering to the Fair Practice Code and the Cultural Governance Code, as well as establishing a future-proof and financially sound foundation. You strike the right balance between Het Speelhuis’s ambitions, its financial objectives, and available resources.
• You will ensure sound financial management, efficient communication structures, and well-oiled work processes so that the team can perform at its best.
• You are the public face of Theater Het Speelhuis in the local and regional community. You represent the theater within HART (cultural partners, the Helmond cultural sector) and the WONKA venues (theaters in the Brainport region). You maintain a broad network with government agencies, cultural and social partners and organizations, and foundations. You collaborate with the business community across the board to collectively connect and strengthen the position of culture in the city and the region.
• You will be working within the context of the “scale leap” that Helmond will make by 2040 and the recently adopted Cultural Vision for the city of Helmond.
• You are aware that the theater is a municipal department and understand the political and administrative considerations that go along with that.
• Naturally, you will be visible and approachable to staff, performers, and the public, and regular availability during evening and weekend hours is essential for this position.

Ideal colleague

You have experience in the arts and culture sector, extensive and proven experience in management and operations, and preferably experience with organizational development and employee engagement, and you understand the political and administrative sensitivities of the theater within the city. A good understanding of administrative processes (as part of the municipal organization) is a plus, and you recognize the political and administrative sensitivities surrounding the theater in the city.

• Your vision of the role of the performing arts in local and regional communities, and your ability to translate that vision into a clear and realistic strategy. You take a bold approach to programming in order to create innovative programs, while of course ensuring the organization’s financial health.
• Sufficient all-around expertise in finance, HR, marketing, communications, and hospitality. To serve as a sounding board for the professionals on the team and to liaise with the municipal organization (management and administration).
• A coaching leadership style. You give people autonomy and trust whenever possible and step in when necessary. You are empathetic and have an eye for talent.
• As a cultural entrepreneur, you can identify opportunities for (new) partnerships and funding options.
• You have a sound business sense, and you are organized and clear.
• You are a people person. You have a knack for inspiring and motivating others.
• You have a strong network. You move easily in the various spheres of politics, culture, education, business, and civil society organizations.
• You have a strong commitment to ensuring that art and culture are as meaningful as possible for all residents of Helmond and the surrounding region. And last but not least, you are able to navigate the tension between being a municipal department on the one hand and operating as an independent theater within that context on the other.

Your skills

• Strategic and inspiring leadership
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Knows how to combine business and artistic leadership
• Leadership, Collaboration, and Coaching
• Politically sensitive
• Networking skills
• Decisive
• Self-reflection

Good to know: what do we offer?

• It’s a wonderful challenge to work with an enthusiastic team to further expand the Het Speelhuis theater in the growing city of Helmond.
• A one-year contract, which may be extended depending on performance and developments.
• Pay grade 13 under the municipal collective bargaining agreement; placement in a higher pay grade is possible depending on knowledge and experience.
• You will receive a salary ranging from a minimum of €5,631 to a maximum of €8,123, based on a 36-hour workweek and depending on your knowledge and experience.

Are we a good fit?

Then start your application process by clicking the“APPLY” button. If you’d like more information about this position, please contact our recruiter, Nicole Maas. You can reach her at 06-41791587. If you get her voicemail, feel free to leave a message!

The first introductory interviews will take place on Thursday, November 21, in the afternoon.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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