Head of Audience & Education

About the role 

The Head of Audience & Education is responsible for the strategic and operational management of the Rijksmuseum’s Audience & Education department. The department consists of several teams: Audience, Education, Workshops, Guided Programs, and Academic Programs. The shared goal is to connect people, art, and history by touching people’s hearts and minds with our collection and stories. 

What makes this role special

As Head of Audience & Education, you will lead a team of more than 70 experienced and passionate colleagues in your daily efforts to engage people of all ages—both intellectually and emotionally—through our collection. You are the strategic and substantive figurehead of the department, both internally and externally. You serve as a bridge between people and the organization, translating signals from society into policy and programming, thereby contributing to social development. 
You will develop and oversee the department’s long-term strategy and translate the public vision into coherent policy and programming. In doing so, you will ensure balance and coherence between permanent and temporary public and educational programs and link these, where possible, to exhibitions and events. You are also responsible for the in-depth and educational programming at the Teekenschool, the Rijksmuseum’s educational center.
You establish clear frameworks for audience segmentation and audience development and ensure that quality, accessibility, and inclusion are upheld as guiding principles. 

The Rijksmuseum belongs to and is for everyone. You enhance the significance of art and history not only within the museum’s walls but also beyond them. You drive audience reach and engagement based on data, audience analyses, and societal trends, and promote a data-driven approach within the department. You will systematically monitor and evaluate the impact of public engagement and educational activities to continuously improve our offerings.

You explore new opportunities in the areas of education and public outreach and are able to further develop existing strengths. In doing so, you consistently maintain a balance between quality, scalability, and social impact.

You are responsible for the financial sustainability of our public engagement and education activities. You make informed decisions based on business cases and impact analyses and ensure the efficient allocation of resources. In addition, you develop and maintain strategic partnerships and position the Rijksmuseum as a leading authority in the fields of public engagement and education.

Our ideal candidate

You are strategic, innovative, and a team player. As a leader, you are a true team player: you provide direction and trust, encourage ownership, and know how to inspire people to take steps together toward the future. You have experience in organizations within the cultural sector, arts education, or a related field, and you move seamlessly between strategy and operations. With clear frameworks, energy, and creativity, you work with the team on innovation and sustainable development.

• Possesses an academic level of work and thinking;

• Has demonstrable experience in a leadership role in (cultural) education, preferably in the museum sector. 

• Is an inspiring and unifying leader within a highly competent team with proven experience in managing professionals;

• Has a relevant (international) network and is able to connect new contacts to the museum;

• Thinks strategically and is able to set the course within a complex organization;

• Has excellent communication skills and is able to naturally inspire others;

• Can switch between strategic and operational roles and is able to make an impact at both levels;

• Has a keen sense of social trends and knows how to translate them into opportunities for the museum;

• Ensures the department's financial sustainability; 

• Is approachable, professional, and engaging; 

What we offer

At the Rijksmuseum, you’ll have the opportunity to work at a leading museum where art, history, and society come together. 

We offer:

• A challenging and versatile role that makes a difference;

• A team of experienced and dedicated professionals;

• A dynamic work environment where collaboration and innovation are key;

• A one-year contract for 36 hours per week, with the intention of extending it;

• A salary in accordance with the Museum Collective Bargaining Agreement, scale 15 (up to €8,986 for a 36-hour workweek);

• 8% vacation pay and 3.4% year-end bonus;

• Full reimbursement of public transportation costs for trips of 5 km or more (up to €345);

• A museum annual pass for unlimited access to more than 450 museums in the Netherlands;

• The option to work remotely and a budget for setting up a home office.

The Rijksmuseum is being assisted in this process by Colourful People. If you have any questions, please contact Henna Seedorf (h.seedorf@colourfulpeople.nl). Applications can be submitted via the Colourful People websiteno later than January 3, 2026. The preliminary interviews are scheduled for January 6 and 7. The^firstand^secondrounds of interviews will take place on January 15 and January 22, respectively. An assessment is part of the process.