Member of the Board of Supervisors

Organization

Werkbedrijf de Binnenbaan B.V. (hereinafter “de Binnenbaan”) supports people for whom finding work is not a given. Based on the belief that everyone should be able to participate in society, de Binnenbaan guides people toward suitable, sustainable, and meaningful work. With the municipalities of Zoetermeer, Leidschendam-Voorburg, and Rijswijk as shareholders and providing services to these municipalities as well as Pijnacker-Nootdorp and Lansingerland, the organization operates at the intersection of social mission, entrepreneurship, and public responsibility. In recent years, De Binnenbaan has evolved into an entrepreneurial social organization in which public interests, labor market development, and regional cooperation are closely intertwined. In doing so, De Binnenbaan collaborates closely with employers, public partners, and regional networks focused on inclusive employment and workforce development. The context in which De Binnenbaan operates is complex and dynamic. Political decision-making, public interests, and entrepreneurship constantly intersect. This requires a Board of Supervisors that not only oversees the organization but also understands what is needed to balance social impact, governance due diligence, and entrepreneurship. The current Supervisory Board consists of three members who will step down over a period of approximately 2.5 years according to a phased retirement schedule. With this first round of recruitment, Binnenbaan is deliberately initiating the phased renewal of the Board as a whole. In doing so, particular attention is being paid to complementarity, diversity, and the future composition of the Supervisory Board.

Opportunities and Challenges

De Binnenbaan is at the start of its next phase of development. The foundation has been laid: the organization has established a recognizable presence in the region and has demonstrated that social entrepreneurship can truly make a social impact. At the same time, the current context calls for further professionalization, innovation, and strong governance. In the coming years, there will be important challenges in the areas of:

• Further developing innovative and sustainable approaches to workforce development and inclusive employment practices;
• Strengthening cooperation with employers, the education sector, the healthcare sector, and regional labor market partners;
• Promoting entrepreneurship and social impact within a public-social context;
• Strengthening social safety, organizational culture, transparency, and a culture of open communication;
• Further professionalizing governance and ensuring clear role definitions within the collaboration between the Supervisory Board, the CEO, and the shareholders;
• Carefully balancing social, political, and business interests.

In the coming years, De Binnenbaan is committed to further advancing sustainable labor participation. This requires regulators who understand that innovation is not just about systems or processes, but rather about new ways of collaborating, employer practices, and creating suitable work environments for people who do not naturally find their place in the labor market. In this regard, the importance of supervisors who understand how social services, employer needs, and labor market development can reinforce one another in an entrepreneurial context is growing. Furthermore, this phase calls for oversight that contributes to stability, trust, and transparency. The organization operates in an environment where diverse interests and perspectives converge, and where governance, culture, and collaboration require constant attention. De Binnenbaan is therefore seeking board members who, through calmness, reflection, and independence, can contribute to the sustainable development of both the organization and its governance.

The role

The new member of the Supervisory Board will play an active role in the further development of the Binnenbaan through a comprehensive oversight function. The Supervisory Board oversees the functioning of the organization and the CEO, reviews the strategic direction and decision-making, and monitors the achievement of objectives and social outcomes. In addition, the Board acts as a sparring partner and advisor to the Executive Director and shareholders. The Board also fulfills the role of employer with respect to the Executive Director. We are specifically seeking a candidate with an affinity for and experience in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, and workforce development within a social context. The new board member understands the dynamics of a social organization with public shareholders and knows how to operate within that framework in an independent, collaborative, and role-conscious manner. You are capable of providing oversight from a broader perspective while simultaneously contributing your own expertise on issues that will be critical to the development of the Binnenbaan in the coming years. This recruitment effort is explicitly not a standalone initiative. In the coming years, opportunities will arise for various supervisory roles within the Board. Therefore, we are not only evaluating the individual candidate but also considering the future complementarity of the Board as a whole. When assessing candidates, we place particular emphasis on the future balance of expertise, perspective, background, and style within the Board of Supervisors. The Supervisory Board operates collegially and on the basis of shared responsibility for the whole. Complementarity in background, perspective, and expertise is of great importance in this regard. The new member is expected to:

• Contributes to issues related to innovation in service delivery, workforce development, and employer collaboration;
• Understands how social impact and business continuity are interconnected;
• It actively focuses on social safety, organizational culture, and an open and safe work environment;
• It endorses the importance of strong employee participation and ensures a constructive, transparent relationship with the works council and careful decision-making;
• Is able to understand complex administrative and political dynamics and operate within them with authority and independence;
• Contributes to the Council’s functioning as a team through composure, reflection, and substantive insight;
• As an ambassador, you can help position the Binnenbaan within regional networks of government, employers, and community partners.

Leadership and Style

We are looking for a supervisor who is curious, reflective, and able to introduce new perspectives through thoughtful questions. Someone who takes the time to understand the issues thoroughly before forming an opinion and who contributes to the discussion with composure, clarity, and independence. The ideal candidate understands the complexity of a social organization with public stakeholders and feels comfortable in an environment where diverse interests, perspectives, and responsibilities converge. You are able to offer constructive criticism without polarizing the discussion and have the ability to strengthen trust and collaboration. You recognize yourself in the following:

• Strong strategic and analytical skills;
• Entrepreneurial and forward-thinking;
• Organizational skills and administrative competence;
• Connecting, without losing its edge;
• Independent and transparent in decision-making;
• Strong communication skills and the ability to bridge different worlds;
• Intrinsically motivated to contribute to inclusive labor participation and social development.

What we're looking for

We are looking for a candidate who has:

• Experience as a director, supervisor, or person with ultimate responsibility within a complex organization;
• Experience with entrepreneurship, business development, innovation, or transition processes within a social or public-private context;
• Experience with labor market development, employer services, social entrepreneurship, or public-private labor market initiatives;
• An interest in the social sector, workforce development, and inclusive employment practices;
• Understanding of governance issues within a public-social context;
• Experience with organizational development, cultural issues, or change processes;
• The ability to carefully balance social, political, and business interests;
• Relevant networks within employer organizations, the education sector, the healthcare sector, or regional labor market initiatives, and has an affinity for the Haaglanden region.

What we offer

A socially relevant supervisory role within an organization that makes a difference every day for people for whom employment is not a given. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the further development of an organization that actively seeks to combine entrepreneurship, inclusion, and social impact. The appointment will be made in accordance with applicable governance agreements and will be for a four-year term, with the possibility of reappointment. De Binnenbaan offers appropriate compensation in line with market rates that reflects the responsibility and social significance of the role.

Application Process

De Binnenbaan is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information, please contact Judith Gunneweg, a partner at Colourful People, directly at j.gunneweg@colourfulpeople.nl or by phone at 06 – 51 51 55 67. You can upload your cover letter and resume using the application button on this page. We would like to receive your application byAugust 14 at the latest. Interviews will take place on Friday,September 25. De Binnenbaan and Colourful People strive for a diverse and inclusive composition of the Supervisory Board. Candidates who, based on their background, perspective, or experience, contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.