Director - Executive

Who are we looking for?

Our ideal Executive Director translates social developments into the three museums based on a clear artistic vision. You have a keen sense of the political landscape and serve as the public face of the museums. You are a warm, unifying, and engaged individual who inspires and motivates staff and volunteers. You thrive in an open organizational culture, value the professionalism of your colleagues, and empower them. A long-term vision, experience with strategic organizational policy, and knowledge of operations within museum organizations are essential. You have an in-depth understanding of the world of art, culture, and history and possess an extensive relevant national and international network.

In the coming years, the focus of the position will be on:

• Fostering an open, creative, and inspiring work culture
• Strengthening the financial foundation of museums
• Enhancing the museums' appeal by fully leveraging the organization's potential
• Enhancing the value of museums for society in these complex times
• Strengthening and expanding our collaboration with our many stakeholders

What are you going to do?

As director, you have overall responsibility for the museums’ strategy and operations. Together with the teams, you will work on the long-term vision and the achievement of the established objectives. You will chair the Management Team, which consists of the heads of the Knowledge & Collections, Audience & Exhibitions, Relations & Fundraising, Operations, and Human Resources & Organization departments. As director, you will report to the Board of Trustees.

The director:

• serves as the figurehead of the Fries Museum, the Fries Resistance Museum, and the Princessehof Ceramics Museum; communicates the organization’s vision and policies; positions the museums; and represents the organization’s interests;
• has overall responsibility for the artistic development and quality of the exhibitions and programs;
• ensures that the Fries Museum is more deeply rooted in the Frisian community, enhances the contemporary significance of the Fries Resistance Museum, and strengthens the position of the Princessehof Ceramics Museum on the national and international stage.
• actively works to foster an open and safe work culture, with a focus on collaboration;
• brings together, inspires, and motivates employees and volunteers;
• initiates collaborations and forms strategic alliances;
• is politically and culturally sensitive: maintains contact with government agencies, foundations, sponsors, business partners, and other museum contacts, and continues to expand the network;
• has final responsibility for financial management, the budget, and investments;
• as a WOR director, consults with the works council.

What we're looking for

• An academic level of work and thinking in the fields of (contemporary) art, culture, and history;
• Demonstrable knowledge of and insight into the fields of culture, museum policy, and arts policy;
• Extensive experience in developing strategic policies and leading a (museum) organization;
• Proven experience in fostering a transparent and open culture;
• A coaching leadership style, in which you empower others and help them excel;
• Knowledge of and insight into social developments as they relate to museums;
• Extensive experience with the administrative and political dynamics within the cultural sector;
• Financial expertise, business acumen, and the ability to identify (financial) opportunities and tap into new revenue streams;
• An extensive and relevant network, both nationally and internationally, and the ability to expand it;
• An interest in digital developments both within and outside the field;
• Understands (and preferably speaks) Frisian or is willing to learn it;
• Active involvement in and participation with the Frisian community;
• A connection to the most beautiful and unique province in the Netherlands.

What we offer

We offer you a varied and challenging position of 32–36 hours per week, where you can make a difference. You will be working in a dynamic and open organization with enthusiastic colleagues. Your office offers a panoramic view of Leeuwarden. The salary is based on your knowledge and experience. The position is classified in scale 15 of the Museum Collective Labor Agreement. This is initially a temporary appointment for a period of one year, with the prospect of permanent employment. We follow the Museum Collective Labor Agreement. An exception to this is the pension fund: the Fries Museum, the Fries Resistance Museum, and the Princessehof Ceramics Museum are affiliated with the ABP.

About us

The Fries Museum | Princessehof Ceramics Museum is an organization of independent, contemporary museums where quality and the public come first. Recent crowd-drawing exhibitions include“Yes, I Do! 250 Years of Wedding Dresses in the Netherlands”at the Fries Museum,“IMPACT. The Air War in Friesland, 1940–1945’by the Fries Resistance Museum, and‘Wu Zetian. China’s Only Female Emperor’by the Princessehof Ceramics Museum. We are currently working on an ambitious exhibition project about the medieval King Redbad as part of a major European collaboration. An innovative and challenging project is ‘Fries Museum on the Road’: starting in 2024, the Fries Museum will spend three years traveling with items from its collection to villages across Fryslân to share and gather stories. The Fries Museum, which houses the Fries Resistance Museum, attracts approximately 100,000 visitors annually; the Princessehof Ceramics Museum attracts approximately 40,000 visitors annually.

With its extensive and diverse collection, the Fries Museum offers a window into the past and insights into the future. The museum serves as a treasure trove of heritage and visual arts, attracting, connecting, and inspiring both Frisians and visitors from across the country. One of its sections is the Fries Resistance Museum, which focuses on World War II, its lasting impact, and freedom today.

The Princessehof is the premier national ceramics museum and the only national museum in the Northern Netherlands, housed in an 18th-century city palace that is also the birthplace of M.C. Escher. With its world-famous collection, the museum tells current and relevant stories, ranging from imperial porcelain from China, beautiful Art Nouveau ceramics, and Delft Blue, to works by modern and contemporary artists and designers.

Fries Museum | Keramiekmuseum Princessehof is flexible and forward-looking, and both museums have evolved into modern and professional institutions. The organization is currently undergoing a transitional phase, both operationally and structurally: due to reduced financial resources, a reorganization is taking place. We are also currently working to strengthen an open and transparent organizational culture. The museums’ organization consists of 75 employees with a combined total of 52 full-time equivalents (FTEs). They work alongside more than 146 volunteers and a large number of externally hired staff. The work atmosphere is informal and characterized by a high degree of independence.

Apply

Are you our new Executive Director? If so, please email your cover letter, statement of interest, and resume by October 1, 2025, tovacatures@friesmuseum.nl, addressed to Karin Vermeulen (Head of Human Resources & Organization), with the subject line“Executive Director Position.”

For more information about the job description, please contact Karin Vermeulen atk.vermeulen@friesmuseum.nlor 058 2050004, or Lisa Janssen (member of the Supervisory Board) atlisa@lisae.nl.

The first job interviews will take place on October 6, 2025. The follow-up interviews will take place on October 9, 2025. An assessment may be part of the hiring process.

Fries Museum | Keramiekmuseum Princessehof is an inclusive organization that welcomes all segments of society. Through our human resources policy, we aim to contribute to a labor market where everyone has equal opportunities and where there is no room for discrimination. We welcome a diversity of backgrounds and expertise and select our employees based on the required qualifications.

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.