Director of Operations

About SKVR

SKVR –the Creative Network– is one of the largest institutions for arts education and amateur arts in the Netherlands. With a vibrant range of year-long classes, courses, workshops, and projects in music, dance, theater, visual arts, fashion & design, photography & media, and writing, thousands of Rotterdam residents are given the opportunity each year to discover their talents and develop personally. We do this with over 100 full-time staff members and more than 350 freelancers—at our own locations throughout the city, in schools, and in collaboration with countless partners in the cultural and social sectors. Following a major transition, SKVR is once again on solid financial and organizational footing. Through innovative entrepreneurship, we aim to increase our visibility, broaden our audience reach, and fulfill our social mission within the reality of an organization that is partly subsidized and partly market-oriented. 

The position

As Director of Operations, you are responsible for the financial health, day-to-day operations, and long-term effectiveness of SKVR. You translate our strategic ambitions into concrete and actionable policies and serve as a strategic partner on both content and process. You report to the Executive Director and lead a diverse team comprising the Finance, Service & Planning, Facilities, IT, and MarCom departments. You develop and implement financial policies that provide direction and ensure SKVR’s future-readiness. As a leader, you build resilience, foster a sense of ownership, and support employees in their professional development.

The Challenges 

This role calls for a versatile professional who connects easily with others and effortlessly bridges the gap between practice and strategy. You combine financial acumen—with a robust planning and control cycle and scenarios that create room for growth and innovation—with inspiring leadership, setting clear expectations, deploying resources effectively, and fostering your teams’ capacity for learning and innovation. You monitor the quality of operations and ensure that IT and information management strengthen decision-making and service delivery. You translate strategic policy into actionable guidelines and projects that deliver results. As a sparring partner for the executive director and, where appropriate, the Board of Supervisors, you advance both substance and process. And as a connector and networker, you develop relationships with partners and stakeholders into sustainable collaborations.

What do you bring to the table?

We are looking for an Operations Director who is committed to SKVR—to who we are, what we do, and whom we serve. Someone who believes in our creative and social missions and is eager to contribute to them with energy, focus, and passion. You will further strengthen and develop SKVR’s foundation so that we can realize our artistic and social ambitions. 

You also recognize yourself in the following competencies:

• Strategic and financial acumen: you have a deep understanding of numbers, processes, and structures, and you translate that into effective policies.
• Coaching leadership: you provide direction, encourage ownership, create space for professional expertise, and build a culture of trust and resilience.
• Organizational awareness: You have a keen sense of the dynamics and interests within and around the organization, adapt your approach to different situations, and easily build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Results-oriented: You maintain a clear overview, set priorities, achieve goals, and optimize processes. You leverage IT/AI to enhance effectiveness and drive innovation.
• Communication skills: You communicate clearly and concisely, invest in relationships, and build support at all levels.
• Innovative capacity: You stay abreast of developments, work with future scenarios, and encourage innovation.
• Integrity: You act with transparency and diligence and are a reliable, trustworthy partner both within and outside SKVR

Background and experience

• With a college or university-level education and way of thinking, you’ll easily navigate the intersection of culture, society, employees, and other stakeholders. 
• You are accustomed to having final responsibility for finances and operations; experience in the cultural or social sector is a plus.
• You have managed a team in a multidisciplinary environment.
• You can not only prepare and interpret financial analyses, forecasts, and reports, but also translate them into clear systems and processes. It’s a plus if you can identify opportunities for additional funding, such as grants, funds, or partnerships.
• You have an interest in IT and AI and understand how they can enhance work processes and organizational performance

What does SKVR offer?

You’ll work with enthusiastic people and make a difference at an organization that matters in Rotterdam. The position is classified in scale 15 of the Arts Education Collective Bargaining Agreement (max. €7,649 gross per month (price level as of 1/1/2026), excluding 13.4% Individual Choice Budget) based on full-time employment (36 hours per week). Other terms of employment are in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

Application Process

We believe in the power of diversity, inclusion, and a variety of voices. You’re comfortable and eager to engage with different perspectives, connect with a diverse range of people, and contribute to an inclusive work environment. Do you see yourself in this profile, even if you don’t meet all the requirements? If so, we warmly encourage you to apply.

We are being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about the position, please contact Judith Gunneweg, senior partner at Colourful People, at 06-51515567 or j.gunneweg@colourfulpeople.nl. You can upload your cover letter and resume via the application form on the website. We would like to receive your applicationby October 14 at the latest. Interviews at SKVR are scheduled for November 11 and 13, 2025.

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