Managing Director

About Kunstgebouw

Kunstgebouw is South Holland’s cultural support organization. Its mission is to ensure access to culture for everyone in South Holland. Kunstgebouw achieves this by effectively and efficiently developing, organizing, and supporting cultural education and participation. It does this for and in collaboration with educational institutions, civil society organizations, cultural providers, municipalities, and the Province. Within the arts and culture sector of South Holland, Kunstgebouw serves as a networking and knowledge partner. Its core values are: connecting, results-oriented, service-oriented, expert, and resourceful.

In Kunstgebouw’s vision, cultural education and cultural participation are essential to our development, both as individuals and as a society. By viewing art, creating art, engaging in culture, and experiencing cultural heritage, you get to know yourself and the world around you better. Moreover, culture makes an important positive contribution to equal opportunity and, thereby, to a livable, thriving society. With its broad and diverse range of services, Kunstgebouw contributes to a strong and broad foundation for culture in the province.

The offering is based on three pillars:

• Makingknowledge and researchon culture and its effects on people and society accessible;
• Developing, promoting, and supportingcultural programs, projects, and activities in South Holland by leveraging networks, available resources, knowledge, and experience;
• Developing high-qualityeducational programsfor elementary and secondary school students in South Holland.

The organization

The organization has about 25 employees, most of whom are full-time staff. In addition, Kunstgebouw commissions a large number of independent contractors, including consultants, trainers, event organizers, and art teachers. The Kunstgebouw team is a mix of young, new employees and those who have been with the organization for a long time.

The organization was restructured in 2023 and now consists of three substantive clusters—Educational Programs, Sector Development, and Research—led by a Program Director, and an Operations and Support cluster led by an Operations Director.

The managing director and two department heads together form the management team.

The Supervisory Board consists of four members.

Multi-Year Policy Plan 2025–2028 and Annual Work Plans

The strategic goals for the period 2025–2028 are set out in the Multi-Year Policy Plan “Access to Culture for Everyone in South Holland.” Link: multi-year policy plan

The specific details for 2025 can be found in the 2025 Annual Plan. Link: Annual Plan 2025

Position

As an executive director, you are responsible for a number of key performance areas, along with the associated responsibilities, tasks, and expected outcomes.

The key performance areas are: 

• Ensuring the continuity of the organization;
• Developing and ensuring the implementation of organizational strategy, policy, and plans;
• Providing and ensuring leadership for the organization;
• Contributing to the development and achievement of shared national, provincial, and regional goals, and ensuring sufficient revenue and responsible spending;
• Ensuring visibility and support for the organization and its activities among relevant stakeholders in the field;
• Influencing political decision-making on policy issues related to the organization’s mission.

Profile

You are an inspiring and visible leader who, guided by a clear vision, motivates people, builds trust, and is able to delegate responsibilities. You are a hands-on director who actively implements policies yourself—someone who rolls up their sleeves and gets to work. Naturally, you are passionate about Kunstgebouw’s mission and its field of activity.

To the outside world, you are the strong and unifying figurehead of Kunstgebouw. Within the organization, you value the existing professionalism and, building on a shared sense of commitment, continue to develop Kunstgebouw with care, drive, and empathy.

You have excellent political acumen, are diplomatic, and strike the right balance between firm negotiation and maintaining the relationship.

You are able to build relationships with municipalities, the provincial government, schools, cultural institutions, and community organizations. You act as the organization’s ambassador, advocate, and negotiator in a professional and inspiring manner.

Job Requirements and Qualifications

• You have a vision for culture, education, and civic engagement; while work experience in the cultural sector is not required, you do need an affinity for and experience working in the public sector;
• You have experience in a political and administrative context and are interested in playing an active role in that field;
• Ideally, you have a network in the South Holland region; if not, you should be willing and able to quickly build a relevant network.
• You are familiar with working with (multiple) municipal and state grant programs;
• You are a decisive, strong-willed yet empathetic person; you are also approachable, selfless, reflective, and able to give and receive feedback;
• You have knowledge and insight into business management principles and financial management, and are capable of acting both strategically and operationally;
• You have experience in organizational development and leading change;

You are able to get everyone on board, at their own pace and level, in line with organizational objectives.

• You have a college degree or equivalent work and intellectual experience.

Terms of Employment

• Classification in pay grade 14 of the Social Work Collective Bargaining Agreement;
• Employee benefits, such as the travel allowance, commuting benefits, and the career budget, are provided in accordance with the Social Work Collective Bargaining Agreement;
• This is a full-time position, with the possibility of hybrid work arrangements in consultation with the management team.Duringthe initial period, it is essential that the new managing director be physically present at the office in Rijswijk.

Procedure

Following the departure of the previous executive director, the decision was made to first appoint an interim executive director. Starting in March 2025, Kunstgebouw intends to continue working on the organization’s development with the new executive director.

Schedule

The goal is to make the appointment by December 31, so that a start date in March 2025 is realistic. Please submit your application byFriday, November 29, 2024. Interviews will be held onFriday, December 13, andFriday, December 20, 2024.

Interested?

Kunstgebouw is being advised by Colourful People in this process. Winfred Voordendag, a senior partner at Colourful People, will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

You can reach him atw.voordendag@colourfulpeople.nlor by cell phone at 06-28284706.

We welcome applications via the "Apply" button, along with a resume and cover letter.