Managing Director

0.8 FTE | effective October 1, 2024

About Grand Theatre

Grand Theatre is a unique, unconventional, raw, and adventurous venue and the heart of innovative performing arts in the Northern Netherlands. Located on the Grote Markt, Grand Theatre programs and produces cutting-edge theater and actively engages with the local community. Grand Theatre Development Agency and Station Noord are integral parts of this effort and will continue to play a key role in the coming years. In recent years, new ways of working have been established, and these are now bearing fruit. Together with the public, social partners, and artists, Grand Theatre seeks new ideas, connections, and methods to make professional performing arts valuable to the residents of the Northern Netherlands. In doing so, it extends far beyond the boundaries of its own physical theater.

Grand Theatre enjoys collaborating frequently with a wide variety of partners. It is a prominent venue for theater and music festivals in the northern region, programs youth theater, provides a space for local theater makers, and supports them by offering facilities, performance spaces, expertise, and technical support. New local initiatives are always welcome to approach us with fresh, innovative ideas. Grand Theatre also seeks to collaborate with social and non-cultural partners and organizations.

Vision and Mission

A vibrant arts scene is essential for the Northern Netherlands. Independent performing artists from the region bring social issues and societal changes to the forefront, making them accessible and relatable. They contribute to a dynamic region that dares to look ahead to the future.

Grand Theatre aims to enrich and strengthen the open and diverse artistic climate in the performing arts in the Northern Netherlands through sustainable artistic and professional talent development. The organization prepares emerging professionals for a career in a changing society and a changing cultural landscape by helping them develop flexible ways of working. Tailored support is provided by assessing what an artist wants, can do, and needs, within the real-world context of the Northern Netherlands and, when appropriate, beyond. Grand Theatre invites theater makers from elsewhere to present contemporary work and establishes connections with local artists. Through its programming, Grand Theatre offers audiences and local artists a challenging context and points of reference to keep pace with current artistic developments.

Current Status

Over the years, many well-known artists have created and exhibited their work here. After a period of prosperity, the loss of government subsidies led to difficult years, resulting in bankruptcy in 2015. With the support of numerous cultural partners from the city and the Municipality, a new organization was established in 2016 to rebuild the contemporary and independent Grand Theatre. Grand Theatre receives ongoing support from the City of Groningen and the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science.

The following key objectives apply for the coming years:

• Making the programming future-proof by opting for fewer touring performances and more intensive collaborations with specific performing artists;
• To contribute to substantive reflection and the formation of opinions on important human and social issues, targeting a broad audience characterized by curiosity and engagement, and viewed less as consumers and more as partners in dialogue;
• Even more personalized support for talents in different tracks, with a more solid financial foundation for each artist’s development and projects;
• Increase the number and variety of opportunities for artists to perform;
• Expanding the program for business leaders, independent producers, and educational content creators to include a track for marketers, with the aim of further strengthening the broader arts sector.
• Further expand the opportunities offered by the digital transition and embed them in the career paths of performing artists;
• Embedding sustainability within our own organization and in the working practices of the performing artists we support;

Profile

Grand Theatre is looking for an executive director who:

• Fits the organization’s unique, authentic, and distinctive character;
• A generalist with strong strategic insight, a compelling vision, and a keen sense of the artistic process of presenting, (co-)producing, developing, and connecting;
• Has an entrepreneurial spirit, spots opportunities, and knows how to capitalize on them;
• has a strong business background and is capable of implementing sound financial policies;
• Is able to make clear decisions and get employees and stakeholders on board
• An experienced and collaborative leader. Anyone looking to take the next step in their career is also welcome to apply;
• Is politically and administratively astute and experienced, and thinks across disciplines and organizational boundaries;
• Is community-focused and makes an impact on a broad group of residents in the city and region;
• Gives employees the space and support they need to grow and acts as an inspiring and supportive leader.

Job Objective

The Executive Director bears ultimate responsibility for the stability and development of Grand Theatre, including its artistic policy. In consultation with the Artistic Director, the Executive Director shapes and defines the organization’s strategic and artistic policies. In doing so, the Executive Director ensures that these policies are implemented and that the organization is managed efficiently and effectively, while also overseeing internal and external communications.

Functional components

The Managing Director:

• Has final responsibility for policy, policy implementation, prudent financial management, the allocation of personnel and resources, and strategic positioning;
• Develops, in close consultation with the artistic director, a sustainable strategic vision regarding the Grand Theatre’s position within the local, regional, and national cultural and social landscape;
• Has final responsibility for translating this vision into concrete objectives, (annual) plans, and associated budgets;
• Develops a sustainable financial foundation for the future and seeks new forms of collaboration and funding;
• Develops innovative concepts and organizational models;
• Is responsible for day-to-day management and internal operations;
• Represents the organization in external meetings with (among others) the municipality and other government agencies, as well as cultural and other partners;
• Is responsible for human resources policy, including any volunteers, on-call staff, interns, and temporary employees;
• Reports to the Supervisory Board.
• Provides stage management services during performances and events.

Information and Procedure

Siart Smit is currently serving as interim director at Grand Theatre. The goal is for him to hand over the reins to the new executive director between September 1 and October 1. The Grand Theatre Board of Trustees is being supported in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about this position, please call Winfred Voordendag, senior partner at Colourful People, at 06-28284706.

You can express your interest by submitting your cover letter and resume viathe Colourful People website no later than Sunday, May 12. There will be two rounds of interviews. The interviews will be held on Friday, June 14, and Friday, June 21. Additionally, a reference check will be part of the process. Salary indication: Scale 9 of the Dutch Performing Arts Collective Labor Agreement (CAO Nederlandse Podia). The position is 0.8 FTE.

Grand Theatre offers a pleasant and open work environment with a dedicated team. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and as diverse an organization as possible. We want our staff to reflect the world we live in and consider this essential to the effective functioning of an arts organization. We recognize that we are still learning, but we are eager to work with you to address your individual wishes and needs.