Managing Director

About the National Slavery Museum

The Netherlands is on the cusp of a significant milestone in its cultural and social history: the establishment of the National Slavery Museum. Prior to its opening in 2030, the museum will organize temporary exhibitions and continue the participatory process already underway. With a mission to tell the full story of the Netherlands’ history of slavery, the museum aims to contribute to an inclusive, just, and equitable society.

The museum, which will be operated by an independent foundation, will fulfill a wide range of functions: it will house a physical and digital collection, offer educational programs, organize exhibitions, and serve as a knowledge center. It will be a meeting place where history and current social issues converge. Personal stories and diverse perspectives are central to the narrative the museum tells, divided into five periods. In this way, the museum aims to inform, inspire, and engage visitors by offering an authentic, layered experience. More information about the mission and establishment of the NSM can be found in the plan“Tell the Whole Story.”

For this unique and ambitious project, we are seeking an executive director with vision and decisiveness who embodies a unifying and inclusive leadership style.

The role of managing director

As Executive Director, you will have ultimate responsibility for the foundation’s artistic, programmatic, and business policies. You will build an organization based on the mission of creating a meaningful museum. You will translate the vision into strategy and concrete results, mobilizing people, resources, and networks. You will work closely with the Supervisory Board and various stakeholders, such as government agencies, civil society organizations, donors, and communities in the European Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba, St. Eustatius, Saba, St. Maarten, Suriname, the Indian Ocean region, the Indonesian archipelago, South Africa, and all other countries with which the Netherlands shares a history of slavery. As a figurehead and ambassador, you will represent the museum at the national and international levels.

Goals through 2030

The National Slavery Museum will be located on Java Island in Amsterdam. The building, which will cover approximately 9,000 square meters, is scheduled for completion in 2030. As executive director, you will play a crucial role in the founding phase of this project. Your responsibilities will include the following. You will collaborate with architects, designers, and the municipality to realize and furnish the museum building. The building will be functionally aligned with the museum’s objectives. You will develop a program of temporary exhibitions and activities that present the museum’s story and foster public engagement prior to the opening. You will establish a digital collection and knowledge center as the foundation for the physical museum. This digital infrastructure supports the museum’s mission and objectives. You will further develop the participatory process by involving communities, heritage organizations, and grassroots groups in initiatives. This process strengthens support and ensures a broadly supported museum vision. You will solidify the financial foundation through fundraising and collaboration with both public and private partners, focusing on sustainable and strategic partnerships. 

Of course, you won’t be doing all of this on your own—you’ll have a management team (MT) and staff to support you. The MT will consist of a Head of Programs, a Head of Research and Knowledge, a Head of Audience Engagement, and a Head of Operations. This team will provide expertise in the areas of research and knowledge, education, collection management, museum programming, and operations. You will then build the organization to a staff of approximately 50 to 70 employees. Under your leadership, the museum will develop into a professional and inclusive organization. 

Part of this involves putting together a compact and flexible management team with three main responsibilities:

• Artistic and Curatorial: exhibitions, educational programs, collection management, and research.
• Business: financial management, fundraising, and operations.
• Communication & Relations: stakeholder management, external communication, and community engagement.

Following the opening of the NSM in 2030, the focus of the position will shift toward a more traditional leadership role at a significant museum. 

Your profile

We are looking for an inclusive leader with strong strategic skills. A unifying figure with extensive experience in complex, public, or cultural settings who is capable of serving as a figurehead to maintain and develop networks. You possess:

Subject matter expertise:

• Relevant knowledge of and demonstrable commitment to the history of slavery in the Netherlands and its societal impact.
• Understanding of museum processes and the cultural sector.

Strategic, inclusive leadership:

• Inclusive, inspiring, and supportive leadership, in which empathy, openness to feedback, and self-reflection are key traits.
• Experience with organizational development and change processes.
• Strategic insight, decisive decision-making, and results-oriented management.
• A keen awareness of social trends and debates, and the ability to strategically align them with the NSM’s mission.
• Experience in a strategic leadership role.

Networking and communication:

• A relevant and up-to-date network for the museum.
• Experience with stakeholder management in a multicultural and international context.
• Excellent communication skills, both internally and externally.

Business and entrepreneurial skills:

• Proven expertise in financial management and fundraising.
• Ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities.

What are we looking for in you?

We realize that we are outlining an ideal but demanding profile here. We also realize that the success of the NSM is partly determined by the complementarity and collaboration within the management team. We therefore ask interested and motivated candidates to—in addition to your cover letter—indicate in your application how you view the positioning of the NSM and how you relate to this profile. We ask that you specifically address what specific expertise, knowledge, and experience you bring to the table. And what additional knowledge, experience, and personalities you need in the management team to work together to make the NSM a success. 

What we offer

A unique opportunity to play a crucial role in establishing an institution with significant social and cultural impact that contributes to an inclusive society. The terms of employment are commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the social significance of the organization. The appointment is for a term of 4 years, with the intention of extending it—by mutual agreement—for a second term of 4 years. 

Procedure

The National Slavery Museum is being represented in these proceedings by Melek Usta and René Burgler of Colourful People. 

For more information, please contact us and schedule a phone call yourself via"Schedule a Call with Melek Usta | Colourful People: National Slavery Museum" or with René Burgler via"Schedule a Call with René Burgler | Colourful People: 10-Minute Phone Call."

Are you interested? Please submit your cover letter and resume via the Colourful People website.The deadline for applicationsis January 8, 2025. Interviews with the Advisory Board will take place onFebruary 3 and 5, 2025, until 9:30 p.m.