Interim Chief Executive Officer

Do you believe in a fair and just society? Would you like to contribute your experience, expertise, and network to Critical Mass?

The Critical Mass Foundation creates critical mass for an inclusive society. Through experiential learning and creative methods, we foster dialogue on pressing social issues, thereby raising awareness and encouraging action among individuals, organizations, and systems. We do this through workshops, educational kits, and games for schools and businesses, as well as custom installations and projects for museums and public spaces. Well-known concepts include “Met Andere Ogen ” and “VRIEND&VIJAND in de Klas.”

Critical Mass focuses its programs on three target groups and is organized along those lines: education; businesses and organizations; and public and cultural audiences.

Our organization

The organization is evolving rapidly and growing. This calls for further professionalization, both in day-to-day operations and at the management level. Currently, we are focusing heavily on our positioning and on strengthening our organizational foundation: clear roles, responsibilities, and processes that provide the team with guidance and enhance job satisfaction. We are well on our way to strengthening our financial health, and there is room to make further strategic choices to expand our impact.

We are a small, informal organization with about 10 employees. For our workshops and training sessions, we work with a closely-knit community of about 25 facilitators and trainers, and we have a broad network of creative professionals.

Ultimate responsibility lies with the board. Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the director appointed by the board; these responsibilities are set forth in a set of regulations.

For health reasons, the current director will be on leave until the summer of 2027. Some of her responsibilities have been temporarily assigned to the team, which is handling the substantive and operational aspects with great dedication. An interim executive director has been appointed to serve until the end of this summer.

We are seeking an experienced interim CEO to assume overall responsibility for day-to-day management, with a clear focus on HR and operations, for an average of 32 hours per week.

What will you be doing?

As interim executive director, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Critical Mass and for further strengthening the organization during a period of development and growth. You will ensure continuity, but your role extends well beyond simply overseeing day-to-day operations. You will provide strategic leadership, oversight, and direction.

You’ll quickly familiarize yourself with the organization, get to know the employees, work processes, and partnerships well, and develop a clear picture of where the organization stands and what’s needed to take the next step. With an analytical eye, you’ll examine opportunities, challenges, and risks within the organization. Based on this, you’ll formulate necessary interventions, set priorities, and ensure that improvements are actually implemented.

You are a strong partner in dialogue for both the team and the board. You support the organization in making strategic decisions, ensure alignment between its ambitions, capacity, and financial resources, and make sure that projects, processes, and resources are deployed where they have the greatest impact.

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Development

You will provide direction for the organization’s future development. You will steer the organization’s course, translate strategic objectives into concrete priorities, and support the team in making decisions. You will actively contribute to the organization’s continued professionalization and ensure a good balance between social impact, feasibility, and financial sustainability.

HR and Team Development

You are responsible for personnel policy and managing the team. You invest in a clear organizational structure, well-defined roles and responsibilities, and a professional and safe work environment. You are committed to the development, engagement, and well-being of employees, and you encourage a sense of ownership and collaboration within the team.

Operations and Financial Management

You have ultimate responsibility for the organizational and financial management of the business. You maintain an overview of processes, planning, capacity, and results, and make well-considered financial decisions that contribute to a healthy and future-proof organization. You identify opportunities for improvement, set priorities, and ensure that necessary improvements are implemented. In doing so, you work closely with the team member who coordinates business and operational tasks and with the board’s treasurer.

Fundraising and Sustainable Revenue

You are responsible for developing and implementing an effective fundraising and acquisition strategy. You explore opportunities for new funding sources and partnerships and help strengthen the organization’s financial foundation. You draw on external expertise as needed.

Projects and Prioritization

You will ensure coherence among Critical Mass’s various projects and activities. You will help set priorities, balance ambitions with available resources, and ensure that projects contribute to the organization’s strategic goals. You will serve as a sounding board for project leaders and, where necessary, contribute ideas on substantive and practical issues.

Inclusivity

You safeguard and strengthen Critical Mass’s inclusive approach. You embody inclusion: you are genuinely curious about other perspectives and are inspired by conversations that yield new insights, even if they are sometimes challenging. With an open and reflective attitude, you create space for dialogue, diversity, and growth. In this way, you contribute to an organizational culture in which diverse voices are heard, valued, and harnessed.

External Representation

You will represent Critical Mass to strategic partners, funders, clients, the press, and network contacts. You will serve as a credible ambassador for the organization and actively contribute to strengthening Critical Mass’s position, visibility, and social impact.

We offer

• A self-employed contract for an average of 32 hours per week. Pay is based on the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Arts Education (scale 12 or 13), depending on education and experience. The contract runs through the summer of 2027. The start date is as soon as possible.
• An enthusiastic team that is deeply committed to the cause and passionately dedicated to our mission of building an inclusive society.
• A dedicated and passionate foundation board.
• A nice office in the heart of Utrecht.
• The opportunity to collectively build critical mass for an inclusive society and achieve lasting impact.

Critical Mass strives to build a diverse team of employees with different perspectives and backgrounds. We warmly invite candidates from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and gender identities to apply. Do you feel you’re the ideal candidate, even if you don’t perfectly meet all the criteria listed above? Don’t hesitate to apply anyway—who knows where the conversation might take us.

More information and comments

If you are interested in this position, please send your resume and cover letter to bestuur@criticalmass.nl. If you have any questions, please contact board members Jelmer Uitentuis or Gert-Jan Hanekamp at bestuur@criticalmass.nl. For more information about our work and our projects, please visit www.criticalmass.nl.

Deadline: July 10, 2026