Managing Director

Organization

SPIN offers playground and children’s programs at and from eight playgrounds. We also conduct children’s programs and drop-in play sessions from other locations in various neighborhoods in Amsterdam-Noord. Playground and children’s program staff, together with volunteers, ensure safe and inviting play areas and organize all kinds of creative, athletic, and social activities and projects. In doing so, we are committed to fostering connections between children, parents, and neighborhood residents from all kinds of social and cultural backgrounds.

Vision

SPIN Foundation: Special Playground Initiatives in Amsterdam-Noord
“Playing our way toward a promising neighborhood for young and old(er).”
“Our playground work is children’s work is community work”

Our Children’s Programs: A Space for Discovery
Our mission is to help children in Amsterdam-Noord grow up with opportunities in pleasant and livable neighborhoods. At our playgrounds throughout Amsterdam-Noord, we offer children safe, adventurous, and green spaces to play. Here, children are given the freedom to play endlessly (together), experiment, and discover a “new” world.

Our play sessions: a space for parents of young children to talk with one another and learn about raising children. We use playful methods and programs to spark conversations about parenting, health, and child development.

(https://www.stichting-spin.nl/visie/)

SPIN is a medium-sized, flat-structured organization (over 40employees, over 35 full-time equivalents).

Developments and Challenges

In the coming years, the SPIN Foundation aims to strengthen its position in Amsterdam-Noord by:

· Increase our visibility among partners and other stakeholders by strengthening and further developing our connections, thereby ensuring that safe havens for children and parents remain available.

· Continue on the path toward professionalization by evolving into a fully-fledged learning organization.

· Translate societal needs into innovative projects and tap into new sources of funding.

What do you have to offer?

You have several years of experience in a leadership role within social (youth) services or related organizations. You understand the political and administrative landscape. And you’re looking for an exciting new challenge where you can continue to create safe havens for the most vulnerable children in Amsterdam-Noord with dedication and passion.

You are a professional and results-oriented individual with a people-focused approach. You are a modern leader who delegates responsibilities to team leaders and employees. You motivate and inspire employees and ensure that their talents and skills are utilized to the fullest. You are an approachable leader who can engage effectively with people at all levels of the organization.

Your vision and personality are what enable you to work with partners to bring key issues to the forefront and engage them with SPIN, thereby making a difference for the target groups SPIN advocates for.

You are able to establish and maintain a stable foundation with key financial backers. You ensure that there are constructive relationships between employees and the municipality.

You are someone who thrives on taking on new challenges and preparing the organization for the challenges of the^21st century—on the path to a future-proof SPIN.

The qualifications of the new executive director

• Vision and strategic insight: You are able to take a step back and see the big picture in a professional manner, without losing sight of day-to-day operations. You are sharp and analytical, have a clear vision, and possess strong conceptual thinking skills.
• Ambassador: You are a strong advocate for the organization, understand what is happening in the social sector, are aware of the sensitivities involved, and know how to anticipate them. You actively engage with the networks of relevant stakeholders to achieve SPIN’s goals and lobby where necessary.
• Social entrepreneurship: You are proactive, think in terms of opportunities and possibilities, take the initiative to influence the course of events, have the courage to come up with new ideas, are a skilled negotiator, anticipate relevant developments, and are socially engaged.
• Leadership: You communicate clearly and make decisions with compassion, encourage open discussion, and hold people accountable for their commitments and results. You harness the strengths of your team members, establish clear and well-defined guidelines in a convincing manner, and provide the necessary space within those guidelines for the professional growth of your team.
• Results-oriented and decisive: you act quickly and effectively, set the right priorities, and make decisions in a timely, careful, and consistent manner.
• Ability to bring people together: You can connect people, build bridges, and inspire others to embrace a particular vision or approach, and you know how to embed this within the organization for the long term.

What do we offer?

• A challenging management position in an organization where you can make a difference for children in Amsterdam-Noord
  
• Committed and inspiring colleagues
  
• A high degree of independence
  
• Room for your own ideas and initiatives
  
• A salary based on pay scale 13 of the Social Work Collective Bargaining Agreement, based on a full-time position (36 hours, up to €6,761)
  

Procedure

The SPIN Foundation is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about the position and the process, please contact Hatice Türkmen, a partner at Colourful People (06-46081232).

Schedule

If you're interested, please apply by November 25, 2022, using the "Apply" button.

The preliminary interviews are scheduled for November 29 and 30. The selection interviews at SPIN are scheduled for December 9 and 13, 2022.