Member of the Supervisory Board with a financial background

With De Kindertelefoon, children can talk about ANYTHING.

The organization

For 43 years, De Kindertelefoon has been talking to children and young people aged 8 to 18. From various locations, we offer a listening ear via chat and phone for any question and help children move forward—from first love to neglect and everything in between. On average, we handle 1,000 to 1,500 calls per day.

The volunteers at De Kindertelefoon are available free of charge 365 days a year from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. In addition, through our forum, we provide a safe space where young people can share their experiences, help one another, and offer advice. Since April 2021, we’ve also had a helpline for young adults: the “Everything Okay?” Support Line. Over 30,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 have already reached out to our specially trained volunteers.

The approximately 750 volunteers receive professional training. About 50 people work at De Kindertelefoon, training and supervising volunteers, developing policies, and supporting the organization.

Kindertelefoon aims to respond effectively to children’s (changing) needs and to serve as a strong advocate for children’s voices.

Member of the Supervisory Board with a financial background, and also a member of the Audit Committee

Due to the upcoming departure of one of the members of the Supervisory Board, we are seeking a successor who has experience as a supervisor, a strong background in financial administration—preferably with a degree in accounting—and an interest in or affinity with the mission of De Kindertelefoon.

We expect the new member to have an interest in and affinity for social entrepreneurship focused on children and young people, to be able and willing to contribute to strategic planning, and to be willing and able to maintain a degree of detachment from day-to-day operations. Of course, you are also willing to share your knowledge and experience, particularly in your area of financial and administrative expertise! Kindertelefoon is funded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport, so experience with public funding and the foundation as a legal entity is a plus.

You bring a broad understanding of and interest in social issues, and you keep a close eye on social developments. As a member of the audit committee, you are also available and accessible outside of meetings, if necessary, for consultation with the director, the external administrative office, the accountant, and colleagues on the audit committee. The Board of Trustees meets five times a year, and the audit committee additionally meets four times a year with the director of the Foundation.

The Board of Trustees’ vision is based on a balance between oversight and control on the one hand, and trust within a safe environment on the other; it focuses on connection and brings out the best in people. Naturally, you endorse this vision of the Board of Trustees of De Kindertelefoon and promote it.

You are receptive to feedback from within the organization and are curious about all levels of the organization. You foster a reflective and learning-oriented culture, value the achievements of De Kindertelefoon, and demonstrate this to the board, staff, volunteers, and the outside world.

We are looking for a colleague who possesses the following skills:

• analytical and critical thinking skills at the university level
• general administrative skills
• balance between governance and guidance, between detachment and engagement
• the ability and willingness to assist the director by offering advice and serving as a sounding board, and to evaluate the foundation’s policies and the director’s performance
• the ability to provide guidance and oversight as part of a team
• able to contribute to the Supervisory Board in an inspiring manner, with a focus on collaboration and connection, while still offering constructive criticism without jeopardizing the relationship
• a sense of responsibility and an independent attitude
• a broad social perspective
• organizational sensitivity and empathy

The procedure

Kindertelefoon is working with the recruitment firm Colourful People for its hiring and selection process. Mr. René F. Burgler, a 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 at 06 2857 5436.

You can upload a cover letter and resume via www.colourfulpeople.nl by June 4, 2023. The preliminary interviews at Colourful People will take place in week 23. The interviews at De Kindertelefoon will take place in June. We aim to make an appointment effective October 2023.

The Supervisory Board currently has six members (two men and four women) and strives for balanced representation in terms of gender, age, background, knowledge, and experience. The departing member is a man. The Supervisory Board operates in accordance with the principles of the Healthcare Governance Code and serves on a volunteer basis.

General information about the Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board is the body that oversees the management of De Kindertelefoon and acts as the employer of the director. It also reviews decision-making and provides both solicited and unsolicited advice to the director. The Supervisory Board serves as a sounding board for the director and, where required by the articles of incorporation, approves decisions.

The Supervisory Board serves as an external ambassador. The skill of a good Supervisory Board lies in striking a balance between distance and closeness, between oversight and acting as a sounding board, between personal involvement and administrative detachment, and between taking a firm stance and remaining accessible. The areas subject to oversight include:

• development, implementation, and evaluation of the strategy, the organization, and its performance
• the director's performance
• dealing with significant external developments
• financial management
• relationships with key stakeholders and external reputation

The Supervisory Board of De Kindertelefoon works with an audit committee and a compensation committee. The members of the Supervisory Board complement one another, both in terms of expertise and approach. They engage with one another in a constructively critical manner and are committed to making a collective contribution.

Finally, this Supervisory Board is looking for people who are open-minded, have a warm personality, and are genuinely proud to be part of an organization like De Kindertelefoon. Naturally, there must be no conflict of interest, whether professional or personal.

For more information about De Kindertelefoon, visit www.kindertelefoon.nl and www.allesoke.nl

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