Managing Director

With over 70 employees, approximately 400 dedicated volunteers, six branches, and more than 97 activity and program locations, BNWV is the largest cultural and social organization in the region. In the municipalities of Harderwijk, Ermelo, Putten, and Nunspeet, the library serves a combined total of over 132,000 residents with a broad social mission: promoting literacy, strengthening basic digital skills, and encouraging lifelong learning.

The Noordwest Veluwe Library upholds the core values of hospitality, initiative, competence, reliability, and enthusiasm. The library is in good shape. In recent years, targeted investments have been made in quality, visibility, and an agile organizational culture. This has prepared BNWV for its next phase of development: further expanding its role as a community gathering place of the future, where residents can learn, discover, and grow—both physically and digitally.

The implementation of the new healthcare law, with its strong emphasis on prevention, self-reliance, and basic skills, is increasing the library’s social significance. This calls for clear strategic decisions, sustainable partnerships, and accessible programs. In this dynamic environment, BNWV is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial executive director who can provide direction and inspire others to follow.

Job Description

As Executive Director, you will have overall responsibility for the strategy, policy, financial sustainability, and organizational development of the Noordwest Veluwe Library. You are the public face of the organization and provide direction for the library’s social, cultural, and organizational initiatives. You develop and implement policies, lead the organization through a phase of administrative and legal change, and build sustainable partnerships with municipalities and strategic partners.

Tasks for the coming period

The Executive Director faces a number of interrelated strategic challenges. Working closely with political leaders, administrative bodies, and civil service organizations from the four municipalities, he or she will guide the implementation of the new healthcare law. This requires a proactive and unifying role, in which the library positions itself as a natural community partner in the areas of prevention, basic skills, and self-reliance.

At the same time, the goal is to maintain and further strengthen BNWV’s strong position in the areas of language education, equal opportunity, and digital skills. These core strengths will be further developed, while targeted investments are also made in collaborative partners, including those in the education, social services, and cultural sectors.

In addition, there is a need to further enhance BNWV’s visibility and positioning, clearly articulating the library’s social significance, ambitions, and priorities to municipalities, partners, and residents.

Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing strategic policy, including drafting and implementing the multi-year policy plan.
  
• Strengthening cooperation with the four municipalities and strategic partners in areas such as education, culture, and health and social services.
  
• Leading the management team and the operations department, and having final responsibility for organizational development, operations, and HR policy.
  
• Representing the organization locally and regionally as the library’s public face.
  
• Promoting innovation and encouraging innovative initiatives among employees.
  
• Fostering a professional, learning-oriented, and self-reliant organizational culture.
  

Profile

• Proven experience in the political and administrative sphere and in strategic leadership.
  
• Experience in the social sector, knowledge of administrative and bureaucratic relationships.
  
• Financially savvy, entrepreneurial, with knowledge of grant programs and fundraising.
  
• Strong networking skills and the ability to build connections.
  
• An affinity with the New-Style Library: the library as a versatile space for learning and socializing.
  
• Value-driven and people-oriented leadership; open and approachable.
  
• A demonstrable focus on organizational development, work processes, and internal cohesion.
  
• Management experience in a leadership role; able to provide direction and set priorities.
  

Personal characteristics

You are an inspiring and clear leader who operates on the basis of trust and connection. You provide clear guidelines, encourage ownership, and foster professional accountability. You maintain focus, make decisions, and manage implementation, progress, and course corrections in a systematic and results-oriented manner.

You combine strategic vision with a focus on people and practical application. You have an entrepreneurial mindset, recognize opportunities, and translate them into concrete initiatives and sustainable partnerships, while keeping public values and financial sustainability in mind.

You navigate an administratively and socially complex landscape with confidence and conviction. As a leader, you build a healthy, learning, and forward-looking organization where professionals feel valued and work together to achieve BNWV’s social goals.

You are reliable and decisive, strategic and entrepreneurial. You bring people and interests together, communicate clearly, and inspire others, while leaving room for innovation and creativity.

Terms of Employment

We offer you a challenging full-time position. You will lead a dedicated organization where we operate based on the core values of hospitality, entrepreneurship, competence, reliability, and enthusiasm. The salary is based on your knowledge and experience and follows the Collective Labor Agreement for Public Libraries, scale 14 (EUR 6,783 to EUR 8,481) gross per month, excluding an 8% vacation allowance and a 5% year-end bonus. We also offer excellent benefits and opportunities for professional development.

Procedure

The current director will step down on May 1. The goal is to make an appointment by April 1, so that the new director can realistically start in the summer of 2026. Please submit your applications for this position by Sunday, March 1. Interviews will be held on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 20.

Interested?

The Noordwest Veluwe Library is being advised by Colourful People throughout this process. Winfred Voordendag, a senior partner at Colourful People, is happy to answer any questions you may have. He can be reached at w.voordendag@colourfulpeople.nl,, or by cell phone at 06-28284706. Please submit your application via the "Apply" button, including your resume and cover letter.