Head of Operations
The Literature Museum/Children’s Book Museum is one of the 26 national museums in the Netherlands, and its mission is to make the power of literature and the richness of the Dutch literary heritage visible and tangible. The museum enables as wide an audience as possible to discover, experience, and create literary stories.
Head of Operations
The Literature Museum/Children’s Book Museum is one of the 26 national museums in the Netherlands, and its mission is to make the power of literature and the richness of the Dutch literary heritage visible and tangible. The museum enables as wide an audience as possible to discover, experience, and create literary stories.
The museum fulfills two important social roles. It is the premier location in the Netherlands for preserving the nation’s literary heritage. The museum makes its archives available for research so that new generations can continually discover our literary past. In addition, it is a family museum where visitors meet characters from stories, play literary games, and are challenged to use their imagination. With its exhibitions that spark the imagination and inspiring public activities, the museum contributes to a vibrant reading culture in the Netherlands. In 2023, the museum attracted a record number of approximately 150,000 visitors.
The museum also organizes the selection and presentation of the Netherlands’ most prestigious literary awards (for lifetime achievement). It is well-established within the literary, museum, and educational communities and has numerous partners at the local, national, and international levels.
The museum, which is currently still located in The Hague, will open its doors in Utrecht at the end of 2027. The iconic Magazijn De Zon, located in the heart of Utrecht, will be the museum’s new home.
What will you be doing?
In a dynamic organization of 28 staff members and approximately 60 freelancers/volunteers, you will play a key role in ensuring the museum and its collection function optimally and continue to grow. As Head of Operations, you will lead a team of 8 experienced staff members and ensure seamless operations, overseeing the execution of all activities within the museum, including facilities management, financial administration, and human resources.
You will be joining us at an exciting time, as you become part of the Magazijn De Zon project team, where your expertise will be indispensable to the successful completion of the move. Together with the director, the Head of Collections, and the Head of Public Affairs and Exhibitions—who also serves as deputy director—you will form the management team leading this transformation.
Who are you?
You are a business leader with experience working for cultural and social organizations. An affinity for literature and reading is appreciated. You work on the basis of trust, are flexible, empathetic, and a keen listener. Your drive and ambition contribute to the team’s development while maintaining a pleasant work atmosphere. Together with the museum staff, you are dedicated to the Literature Museum/Children’s Book Museum.
We are looking for an experienced leader with a broad background in similar roles, preferably at a cultural or social organization. You are a strategic thinker with the ability to make an impact at both the operational and tactical levels. You bring a business-minded approach and a solid understanding of finance, IT, and facilities management. You are skilled in preparing and analyzing financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, multi-year forecasts, and liquidity and cash flow statements.
You are efficient, have the ability to implement sustainable changes, and adopt a values-driven management style that prioritizes the museum’s business interests.
What can we offer?
Your work environment will be an inspiring museum with an important social mission and a passionate team. A gross salary between €4,758.46 and €7,094.65 (scale 13); the museum will follow the salary scales of the Central Government Collective Labor Agreement (CAO Rijk) through the end of 2024 and currently still has its own employment conditions policy. The intention is to adopt the Museum Collective Bargaining Agreement (Museum CAO) as of 2025. The museum offers an 8% vacation pay and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. Museum employees are members of the ABP pension fund.
Interested?
Are you excited about the opportunity to join us as Head of Operations? Are you an experienced professional with a passion for literature, a strong results-oriented mindset, and an open, empathetic leadership style who thrives on collaboration? If so, please submit your cover letter and resume in PDF format by July 9 at the latest.
The Literature Museum/Children’s Book Museum is working with the recruitment agency Colourful People for its hiring and selection process. René Burgler, a senior partner at Colourful People, would be happy to provide you with more information about the position and/or the application process. You can contact him by email at r.burgler@colourfulpeople.nl or via WhatsApp at 06 2857 5436.
You can upload your cover letter and resume via the application button.
Please indicate in your application any periods when you will be away on vacation so that we can take this into account during the selection process. After reviewing your application, we will let you know as soon as possible whether you have been invited for an interview. We plan to complete the process in July.
Schedule:
- Week 28: Comment period closes Tuesday, July 9
- Week 28/29: Preliminary interviews at Colourful People
- Week 30, Tuesday, July 23: meetings with the Selection and Advisory Committee at the museum
Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.
