Site Manager/Operations Manager at Circus Odesa

About the Rainbow Group

The Rainbow Group supports Amsterdam residents in vulnerable situations. We do this in partnership with them and with hundreds of volunteers. Our projects and programs focus on connection, empowerment, recovery, and self-determination.

About Circus Odesa

In Beatrixpark, right next to a monastery that serves as a shelter for Ukrainian refugees, stands a beautiful (former) chapel. Here, De Regenboog Groep has opened a new venue called Circus Odesa. Circus Odesa will be an entrepreneurial meeting place for Ukrainian refugees, combining a daytime café, event space rentals, socio-cultural initiatives, and events. We offer work experience placements there for both Ukrainians who would benefit from them and other Amsterdammers who are distanced from the labor market. The concept for Circus Odesa consists of a market hall model, with a central space for food and beverage services and surrounding areas for initiatives from the Ukrainian community, events, courses, and venue rentals. Circus Odesa involves the neighborhood, volunteers, local entrepreneurs, and businesses in the Zuidas in its programming. We launched just over a month ago with a coffee kiosk, a Ukrainian mini-market, and the rental of the Etage. We’re building on this foundation. As Site Manager/Operations Manager, you’ll directly supervise four colleagues; in this startup phase, you’ll be responsible for the food and beverage operations, rentals, and the monthly programming of activities and (rental) events. Together with your team, you will ensure that Circus Odesa develops, step by step, into an inviting place where hospitality, quality, and connection come together. You will lead—and work closely with—the colleagues responsible for the Ukrainian reception centers, and you will report to the Program Coordinator for Work & Activation.

What will you be doing?

You will ensure that:

• you play a central role, as an assistant site manager, in the day-to-day operations of the site
• you monitor the concept and take timely action to ensure we stay on track
• under your inspiring leadership, your colleagues can continue to grow
• all Circus Odesa users can enjoy using the venue and feel welcome
• you monitor the budget, handle day-to-day management, and resolve facility-related issues
• Circus Odesa guarantees high-quality support for participants who gain work experience with us
• To achieve the above, you will maintain an overview, set priorities, and create and monitor the schedule
• you work closely with colleagues from other departments

What do you bring to the table?

This is important to us:

You don’t let a busy restaurant or a packed schedule get to you; in fact, it’s precisely in these fast-paced situations that you’re able to adapt quickly, keep a clear overview, and focus on finding solutions. This energizes you and fills you with enthusiasm. With a genuine passion for your work, you’re able to convey your positive attitude to colleagues, participants, guests, and tenants alike.

We also hope you have the following items on hand:

• HBO-level work or thinking ability;
• Work experience as, for example, a hospitality manager or social entrepreneur
• You are proactive and actively seek out opportunities for collaboration
• You see opportunities in social entrepreneurship and translate the plan for Circus Odesa into concrete actions
• You think in terms of possibilities, are solution-oriented, creative, and adapt flexibly to change
• You maintain an overview, lead in a supportive manner, but don’t hesitate to take charge when necessary
• You’re a connector: you bring artists, local residents, startups, and community initiatives together
• You are sensitive to differences in background and culture and know how to handle them with care and respect.
• Experience working with people with mental health issues, substance abuse problems, or homelessness is a plus
• Working evenings, weekends, and holidays is no problem for you;
• Proficiency in Dutch and English. Proficiency in Ukrainian or Russian is a plus

What do we offer you?

• A meaningful role in an entrepreneurial and dedicated organization
• A dynamic and challenging work environment that encourages creativity and initiative
• A gross salary of at least €3,560 and at most €4,716 (FWG 50) based on a 36-hour workweek
• The opportunity to make a difference for a diverse group of Amsterdammers, including Ukrainian refugees and fellow residents for whom finding work is not a given
• Terms of employment in accordance with the GGZ collective bargaining agreement
• In addition to 8.33% vacation pay, an end-of-year bonus of 8.33%
• Travel expense reimbursement and career development opportunities
• A 7-month contract with the possibility of extension or a permanent position

Interested?

Has reading this job posting sparked your interest? If so, please apply—we’d love to learn more about you and what you have to offer. Please submit your application, including your resume and cover letter (which may take a different form besides a letter, such as a video), by Wednesday, June 10, at 9:00 a.m., with the subject line “Location Manager/Operations Manager Circus Odesa,” to sollicitatie@deregenboog.org, addressed to Els van Koeverden. Interviews are likely to take place on June 17 and 18, 2026. Do you need any specific accommodations during the application process? Please let us know!

At De Regenboog Groep, we are working to create a city where there is a place for everyone. Different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives enrich our work, which is why we are consciously and actively building a diverse team and an inclusive organization.

If you don’t think you fully meet the requirements but believe you can make a valuable contribution with your expertise, we strongly encourage you to apply.