Director of Operations

Leerplein055 offers you:

• A supportive and challenging work environment;
• A strong leadership role within the organization;
• The opportunity to apply your expertise, experience, and innovative thinking;
• The opportunity to make a significant contribution through social engagement.

Learning Plaza 055

We are an educational organization with 20 elementary schools in and around Apeldoorn, a vocational school, and a special needs school. At Leerplein055, we focus on strengthening professionalism and a sense of ownership among all employees of the organization.

Guided by professionalism, a sense of community, and determination, our 400 staff members work every day to provide the best possible education for the approximately 3,500 students who attend our schools daily.

The assignment:

• overseeing policy and implementation in the areas of Finance, Housing and Facilities; Procurement and Contract Management, IT, HR, Marketing & Communications
• managing approximately 15 employees
• helping to develop strategic policy;
• providing reliable, timely, and comprehensive management information;
• overseeing the development of the financial policies of the schools and the foundation, including the financial frameworks of the staffing plan;
• working with the housing coordinator to address various housing issues;
• strengthening the services provided to school administrators.

Who are you and what can you do?

You are able to work with your colleagues to translate the 2024–2027 strategic plan into concrete policies. In the financial realm, you develop proposals for multi-year policies that take into account potential growth, necessary innovations, and personnel developments. You think in broad terms, collaborate with colleagues, and reach agreements and implement them. Furthermore, you are a professional with knowledge of and experience in the planning & control cycle, facilities management, and education funding. You bring a combination of analytical skills and a hands-on mindset. You are interested in educational developments within Leerplein055 and are driven to support these from your role. You are able to connect a wide variety of processes and interests. Building on established trust, you know how to create support for financial policy and support services. You have knowledge of and experience with complex housing projects and results-oriented consultations with the municipality. When necessary, you are a skilled project manager.

You provide direction, autonomy, and trust to your team. You know how to guide and coach them, and lead by example in terms of professionalism.

As Director of Operations, you are analytical and a strong communicator. You serve as a point of contact for the executive director and the Board of Trustees. You are visible and accessible to the school principals. You ensure high-quality support for the school principals, both collectively and individually. The connection with the entire network of schools is maintained through regular consultations with the principals, among other things. You have an analytical and systematic approach and are results-oriented.

In your role, you will liaise with the Supervisory Board’s audit committee. You will serve as the “guardian” of protocols and regulations. You are socially engaged and combine this with solid financial knowledge and the ability to translate goals into concrete actions.

Terms of employment

This is a 36–40-hour-per-week position at OOP pay scale 13 (maximum gross salary is €7,710 for a full-time appointment) in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement for primary education. The principal will be appointed for a one-year term, with the intention of converting this to a permanent position upon satisfactory performance.

The procedure

If this job opening interests you and you recognize yourself in this profile, we’d love to hear from you. We assume that, as a candidate, you possess the skills and qualifications appropriate for this position and profile.

Leerplein055 works with the executive search firm Colourful People for its recruitment and selection processes.

Sandra Lutchman, Esq., a senior partner at Colourful People, would be happy to provide you with more information about the organization, the position, and/or the application process. You can contact her via WhatsApp at 06 407 44 074.

An assessment may be part of the process.

Important dates:

The deadline for responses is January 17 at 12:00 p.m.

• The letter screening will take place on a date to be determined in January.
• The first round of interviews between the Appointments Committee and the Advisory Committee and the candidates will take place on a date to be determined.
• The second round of interviews with the candidates will take place on a date to be determined.
• The assessment for this position, if any, is scheduled for a date to be determined
• The meeting to discuss employment terms is scheduled for a date to be determined.

The intended start date is April 1, 2025.

Are you interested?

You can upload your resume and cover letter via the Colourful People website.