Member of the Board of Directors

PCOU Willibrord is seeking a member for the Executive Board (CvB) with a focus on operational management. Together with thechair of the Executive Board, you will ensure high-quality education, an optimal learning environment, and an inclusive culture for both students and staff. You identify with our core values: courage, connection, a focus on development, and responsibility. You will ensure sound operational management—crucial for future-proof education—and, driven by a commitment to society and a broad, strategic vision, contribute to shaping a sustainably strong PCOU Willibrord.

About PCOU Willibrord

PCOU Willibrord is committedto engagement and collaboration, with a focus on creating the best opportunities for growth for every student. We operate in 26 elementary schools, 4 specialized schools, and 14 secondary schools in Utrecht and the surrounding area. Although each school has its own unique character, they share a common vision:

We encourage our students to further develop their social skills and self-awareness through collaboration with others, and to be curious about their own potential and that of others. Our goal is for them to face their future with a strong foundation of knowledge, modern skills, curiosity, and confidence, and to contribute to a society where everyone matters and participates. Based on its Christian foundation, PCOU Willibrord is committed to serving all children and young people. Together, we are dedicated to education that helps students and staff grow. We are committed to equal opportunity, inclusion, and diversity. And to regional collaboration that strengthens education.

Our goals

1. Educational quality and inclusion:

We systematically work on foundational skills (language, math, citizenship, and digital literacy) and strive to set measurable, ambitious goals to ensure the best opportunities for growth for all students. We equip students with the knowledge and skills they need for life so they can lead happy and meaningful lives. Inclusion and social safety are our top priorities.

2. Operations:

Issues within our field, such as the teacher shortage and pressure on housing, require us to work in a data-driven manner, remain focused on our operations, and persistently translate our long-term vision into our budget. We support schools through expertise, economies of scale, and collaboration, with synergy between departments being crucial.

3. Collaboration:

We encourage and facilitate regional and local collaboration between our organization, our schools, community organizations, and government agencies. At PCOU Willibrord, in line with our organizational philosophy, we believe in the strength and competencies of our employees. That is why we shape our policies through equal partnerships among the Board of Directors, school leaders, and O&O managers. This ensures that our policies align with practice, allows us to capitalize on opportunities, and enables us to work together toward high-quality education that offers our students the best opportunities for development. We safeguard this unique collaborative structure, in which short lines of communication are central.

Your role as a member of the Executive Board

You are responsible for the day-to-day operations of PCOU Willibrord, with a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and collaboration. You promote data-driven decision-making, foster synergy between schools and support services, and contribute to a strong organization. As a member of the Executive Board, you will focus primarily on internal operations, but also on fostering collaboration between the various schools and sectors and translating the organizational philosophy into concrete steps in the area of organizational development. The Executive Board member ensures that operations align with strategic objectives and that the organization is prepared for the societal challenges of today and tomorrow, such as the teacher shortage, the impact of inequality of opportunity, and the increasing pressure on housing.

What will you be doing?

• You are responsible for the portfolios of operations, finance, HRM, and facilities.

• You focus on sound business practices, with an emphasis on efficiency and sustainability.

• You promote synergy between schools and central support services.

• You contribute strategic insights on how to address issues such as teacher shortages, attractive career development, inequality of opportunity, and the dynamics of metropolitan areas.

• You promote data-driven, cyclical, and structured work practices to improve educational outcomes and strengthen the organization.

• You will support school leaders and R&D managers in implementing the policy.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a collaborative and servant leader with extensive experience in operational management within complex organizations, preferably in the field of education. He or she is a strategic thinker who can bridge the gap between organizational development and educational innovation, and who ensures stable and efficient operations. A member who is fully committed to the organizational philosophy, who can translate it into concrete structures and appropriate behavior, who connects organizational philosophy and organizational design, and who knows how to bring people along with them. A leader who can think strategically and make the connection between organizational development and educational innovation. You possess development-oriented leadership, administrative sensitivity, and the ability to inspire others.

Our new board member identifies with the following characteristics:

• A servant leader and administrator—an inclusive, warm leader who is curious and attentive to people;

• Extensive experience in change management within complex organizations;

• An entrepreneurial individual with strong implementation skills;

• A high degree of administrative and interpersonal sensitivity with regard to collaboration;

• Accepted for their knowledge, experience, calmness, and structure; sincere and unifying;

• Focused on leading and motivating professionals, it brings out the best in people;

• An understanding of the various educational profiles and current developments in this area is a plus;

• Committed to the greater good; able to adapt flexibly while maintaining one’s role across the various levels of the organization;

• Combines the power of vulnerability with decisiveness.

What do we offer?

With its combination of elementary, secondary, and special education, PCOU Willibrord is a wonderful organization to work for. Here, you’ll find dedicated colleagues who are committed to bringing out the best in children through their care for one another and their surroundings. Compensation is in accordance with the Top Income Standards Act, with a four-year appointment and the possibility of renewal.

Interested?

PCOU Willibrord is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about the position, please contact Naima Azough, a partner at Colourful People. Naima Azough can be reached at 06-43449717 or via n.azough@colourfulpeople.nl. You can express your interest by clicking the application button below to upload your cover letter and resume (in PDF format) no later than November 15, 2024.

Schedule:

• Please submit your application for this position bySunday, November 17, 2024, viathe Colourful People website.

• The first round of discussions is scheduled forDecember 6, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• The second round of talks is scheduled forDecember 11, 2024

• The meeting to discuss employment terms is scheduled forDecember 20 at 1:00 p.m.

A background check is part of the process. An additional assessment may be part of the process.

At PCOU Willibrord, we embrace the power of diversity and strive to create an inclusive culture where everyone feels at home. We believe that our differences make us stronger and contribute to a better education for all our students.