Three members of the Supervisory Board

About BIJ de Bieb

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the Library’s broad role in society. The Library is seen as a microcosm of society; everyone is welcome and invited to meet, learn, and discover.
At the national level, three societal challenges have been identified, to which we are all committed: a literate society, participation in the digital information society, and lifelong learning.

BIJ de Bieb also contributes to these social challenges. It does so through seven library branches and seven pickup points/neighborhood libraries in the local communities, and has approximately 66 staff members and 350 volunteers. In 2023, more than 26,000 people were members of the libraries out of a population of 129,000, and there were nearly 500,000 loans. But it is precisely the many activities at the branches, the language assistance provided by the Taalhuis, and the programs surrounding the online library that make BIJ de Bieb a central hub in the region.

In January 2023, the Brummen & Voorst libraries and the Graafschap libraries merged into a single new organization, and their respective Boards of Trustees were consolidated into a single new Board of Trustees. As of January 1, this Board of Trustees consists of three members, including the chair, and it has therefore been decided to fill three vacancies.

Governance

BIJ de Bieb is led by its Executive Director, Jacqueline Roelofs, who is responsible for strategy, management, operations, and finances. The Supervisory Board has an oversight and supervisory role, particularly with regard to the planning and control cycle and the annual financial statements.

In addition, the Board of Trustees serves as the employer of the executive director and acts as a sounding board and sparring partner. The Board of Trustees of BIJ de Bieb consists of six members with diverse areas of expertise. The goal is to achieve a balanced and diverse composition in terms of age, culture, ethnicity, and gender.The Board of Trustees actively strives to achieve a more diverse and inclusive composition.

The members are accountable to one another and collectively responsible, and they operate in accordance with the principles of the Cultural Governance Code. The term of office is four years, and members may be reappointed once. The Supervisory Board meets approximately six times a year and also consults with the Works Council. The Remuneration Committee holds a progress review and an end-of-year meeting with the Executive Director twice a year. The Audit Committee also advises the Supervisory Board.

The Supervisory Board evaluates its own performance at least once a year. This evaluation is periodically conducted with external guidance. More information about the composition of the Supervisory Board and the organization can be found at:https://www.bijdebieb.nl/over-ons.html

The three profiles

Three profiles have been defined for the coming years to complement the current members and the chair. We are deliberately seeking members with diverse backgrounds to ensure that key competencies are represented multiple times within the Board of Trustees.

• Organization, HR, and Collaboration Profile

This person has knowledge and experience—as a sounding board and, preferably, as a supervisor—in organizational development, transformation, and HR matters. In addition, knowledge of effective collaboration and partnership with stakeholders across the broader social and cultural sectors is desirable.

• Strategic Positioning Profile

This person has knowledge and experience in how a social organization identifies and reaches its target groups, builds connections, fosters community, strengthens social cohesion, and harnesses the energy and talent of its target groups. In addition, knowledge of positioning within a broad and diverse field of stakeholders and partners is desirable.

• Profile: Business, Finance, and Entrepreneurship

This person has knowledge and experience in the business and financial management or oversight of a nonprofit organization and the decisions made within it to achieve its social objectives. Business knowledge of the management and/or renovation of multifunctional facilities is a plus. This role also involves providing guidance on and overseeing the entrepreneurial activities of BIJ de Bieb.

For all profiles, it is considered an asset if candidates contribute to the diversity of the Supervisory Board, for example through a background in the Turkish or Indonesian communities in the region. Some supervisory experience is preferred, but there is also room for younger or less experienced supervisors.

In addition: a demonstrable affinity, based on professional practice or personal experience, with the social missions of BIJ de Bieb: a literate society, participation in the information society, and lifelong learning. The following are also considered an asset: (some) knowledge of community building, a more legal perspective, IT, and innovation in the social sector.

What do you bring to the table?

• A keen interest in the broad scope of library work;

• Experience as a supervisor is preferred, but less experienced supervisors are also encouraged to apply.

• An independent and principled attitude;

• A relevant (regional or national) network and knowledge of the public sector;

• Administrative and/or management experience and skills;

• An understanding of the role of the Board of Trustees as outlined in the Cultural Governance Code, the Diversity and Inclusion Code, and the Fair Practice Code

• A curious and open-minded attitude, with an appreciation for others’ opinions—even when they differ—and for new perspectives;

• Sufficient time and commitment to carry out the duties and responsibilities of a member of the Supervisory Board. Estimated time commitment: approximately 100 hours per year.

BIJ de Bieb is an organization that places great value on diversity and inclusion and strives to reflect the diversity of society within its ranks. This means that it not only welcomes everyone, but also views diversity as a strength. Even if you don’t fully identify with the job description, we warmly invite you to apply.

We offer:

• Involvement with a socially relevant organization that aims to play a central role in society;

• An inspiring environment in which the Board of Trustees oversees the achievement of the organization’s objectives, serves as an employer and sounding board for the executive director, and leverages its networks as an ambassador for BIJ de Bieb;

• A collaborative process with the new Supervisory Board in the spring of 2025 to formulate a values-driven oversight vision as a team.

• Current members perform their duties without compensation. The issue of compensation will be reconsidered. In this regard, the level of compensation should be based on (the maximum amount of) the annual allowance for volunteers.

Procedure

The organization is being assisted 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 or emailw.voordendag@colourfulpeople.nl

To express your interest, please submit your cover letter and resume via the Colourful People website no later thanWednesday, November 27, 2024. Interviews will be held onMonday, December 9 (between 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM) in Zutphen. A reference check is part of the hiring process. Start date as soon as possible, with a target date of January 2025.