Director

Your role 

The Technasium Foundation is seeking an inspiring director to lead a team of independent professionals. As director, you will be responsible for increasing the visibility and impact of our foundation and the Technasium schools in the Netherlands, while constantly seeking out new strategic opportunities and partnerships.

Your role is crucial to the success of Technasium schools, serving as a link between various stakeholders. You have a keen eye for developments in national policy and, ideally, have strong connections in the political sphere. As director of the Technasium Foundation, you act as a facilitator, catalyst, and motivator, while also being hands-on and practical. You don’t necessarily need a technical background, but experience in education is a strong plus. You understand network organizations and have leadership experience. Commitment and sensitivity are key to your approach, and you always bring a touch of humor to the table.

Qualities 

The ideal candidate is a reliable individual with strong leadership skills, strategic vision, and excellent communication abilities. You are able to take the lead and stand your ground while remaining attentive to the people around you. You are experienced in monitoring an organization’s financial health and know how to bridge the gap between the center of expertise and the board, always prioritizing accessibility for everyone.

The director of the Technasium Foundation must possess:

• Excellent leadership skills
• Persuasiveness and the ability to build and maintain relationships
• An interest in STEM subjects and a passion for innovative education
• An academic level of work and thinking, combined with a broad perspective on educational developments
• The ability to identify trends and respond to them
• An understanding of business operations, financial processes, and project management
• Experience in HAVO/VWO education, including curriculum reform and testing, is a plus
• Experience with relevant networks and network organizations at the national level is a plus
• Experience with and a network in government and politics is a plus

About the Technasium Foundation

The Technasium is an educational program for science and technology education at the HAVO and VWO levels, established in 2004. It is a nationwide program offered at 105 Technasium schools throughout the Netherlands. Our educational innovation is based on the core values of co-creation, an appreciative perspective, and trust. Central to the Technasium at these schools is the Research & Design (R&D) course, in which students work on authentic science and technology assignments. This takes place from the first year through to graduation.

The 105 Technasium schools are organized into 18 regional networks. Within these networks, the schools work together continuously to ensure the quality and relevance of Technasium education. In doing so, they maintain contacts with businesses and higher education institutions in their own region.

The Technasium Foundation coordinates, drives, inspires, connects, and supports schools in these activities. Its focus is on ensuring the quality of Technasium education and the professional development of teachers at Technasium schools.

Playing field

The Technasium Foundation is a small organization that, in addition to the director, consists of a close-knit team of 6 network coordinators and 5 advisors specializing in operations, quality, professional development, and marketing & communications. Every employee reports directly to the director. Both the foundation’s staff and the schools are located throughout the country.

The world of education is undergoing rapid change. There is an increasing emphasis on collaboration within regional partnerships. The government is also encouraging this through various initiatives. As a result, partnerships other than Technasium are becoming larger and more professional. This requires the Technasium Foundation to place a stronger focus on educational innovation and positioning in order to maintain Technasium’s strong market presence.

Educational innovation takes place within the technasium community, in collaboration with schools, teachers, organizations, the business community, higher education institutions, and students, and is aligned with the strategic plan. In 2024–2025, we will be working on our new strategic plan for the period 2025–2029.

What do we offer?

• a dynamic and challenging role where you can truly make a difference in shaping the innovative education of the future;
• an independent and inspiring team to work with and help bring out the best in each other;
• a dynamic field where no two days are the same: one moment you’re sitting down with the minister, and the next with a teacher;
• a 0.8 FTE position;
• Salary in accordance with the CAO VO, pay scale 14 (€5,939 – €7,936 based on full-time employment);
• attractive employment benefits, such as a year-end bonus and a flexible spending account;
• A detailed job description and terms of employment can be downloaded here.

Interested?

The Technasium Foundation is working with the executive search firm Colourful People to fill this position. For more information about the role or the application process, please contact Jantien Plooij, partner at Colourful People (06-17703534) or j.plooij@colourfulpeople.nl. You can express your interest by uploading your cover letter and resume (in PDF format) by April 1, 2024, via the Colourful People website. Confidential treatment of your information is, of course, guaranteed.

Schedule

The interviews will be held on May 15 and 22 at the Technasium Foundation office in Utrecht.

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