Development Manager

About Stadsschouwburg Utrecht

Stadsschouwburg Utrecht is the vibrant theatrical heart of Utrecht and the surrounding area. We present a wide range of national and international performances across all genres. We also organize special projects, often in collaboration with other venues, festivals, and companies in Utrecht. In addition, our historic building is available for rent.   

We have two theater halls (the Main Hall and the Blue Hall), a café (Mevr. Dudok), and a theater restaurant (Zindering). We welcome more than 200,000 visitors annually. We work closely with the Dutch performing arts community, and with Utrecht-based companies, festivals, and institutions in particular. We also support local Utrecht artists and are strongly committed to education and talent development. We believe it is important that everyone feels welcome. Sustainability, equality, reciprocity, and complementarity are central to this. 

We believe that talent can develop in many ways. You have gained experience in fundraising, sponsorship, and networking. If you gained this experience in a different sector, that’s also of interest to us. 

What will you be doing: 

As Development Manager, you will build upon existing initiatives at the Stadsschouwburg Utrecht. You will further develop existing strategic plans and implement them. You will continue to expand the Stadsschouwburg Foundation, a network of corporate partners. You will also focus on individual donors, an area where there is still significant room for development and growth. You will identify fundraising opportunities and coordinate these efforts. Under the leadership of the Deputy Director and Manager of Operations and Development, you will lead the development team and continue to build it out. 

Your role as Development Manager 

• You will be responsible for further developing the development division at the Stadsschouwburg Utrecht. There is plenty of room for you to make your mark.
• You will play a key role in developing, implementing, and optimizing strategies for sponsorship, private donors, and fundraising.
• You will be responsible for independently building and maintaining relationships with sponsors, individual donors, and foundations.
• You will help develop recruitment campaigns, events, and communications.
• You will maintain an overview of administrative and contractual tasks and will also carry out some of the contractual duties that arise from them. To do this, you will use our CRM system and continue to develop it.
• You will work with various teams within the organization to set up recruitment campaigns and coordinate the related activities. 
• You will mentor and coach others on the team so that everyone can grow in their roles. Over time, you will be able to further expand the team.   

Who are you? 

• You enjoy expanding our network of partners. You have at least 3–5 years of experience in relationship management or sponsorship. Knowledge of fundraising is a plus but not required. 
• You know how to build relationships with people, whether they are sponsors, individual donors, or foundations. You do this in your own creative way.
•  You are able to maintain a clear overview, manage priorities, and work with precision.
•  You enjoy engaging people and inspiring them with a story. With your creative writing and choice of words, you know how to strike the right chord.
• You are ambitious, organized, have a good grasp of the big picture, and are eager to grow into a management role with a team that you will help build. 
• Ideally, you live in or around Utrecht, or have some other connection to the city.  

We invite you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements exactly. 

What do we offer?

We offer a versatile and varied role in a pleasant work environment with close-knit colleagues and a small team. In every department, we strive to foster diversity and create a space where you can be yourself.

There is room to experiment, learn, and grow. We offer an inspiring workplace where you can contribute to an inclusive performing arts community.

You will be offered a fixed-term employment contract (one year) with the option to extend. You will receive a competitive salary commensurate with your knowledge and experience, in pay scale 7 of the Dutch Performing Arts Collective Labor Agreement (€3,175.19 – €4,456.67 for a 36-hour workweek).

In addition, there are attractive benefits, such as:

• A travel expense policy;
• The ability to set your own workdays and hours;
• Everyone at our company has equal opportunities to grow and develop. 
• We provide equal access to training and professional development. 
• You are entitled to at least 25 vacation days per year, plus the hours for national holidays, so you can decide for yourself whether or not you want to take the day off on a holiday.
• You can attend many performances for free, and you can bring a guest.   

Ready to make a difference?

We believe that talent develops in many different ways.That’s whywe use a questionnaire instead of a standard cover letter. This questionnaire helps us understand your ideas, vision, and motivation. 

Are you unsure whether you meet all the requirements, but do you think you’re the perfect fit for us? We invite you to apply, even if you don’t meet every single requirement. 

Application Process

You can apply until May 14, 2025, using the application form on our website; see thislink.

Would you like to learn more first? Please contact Alice Gubler at [a.gubler@ssbu.nl]. 

We encourage anyone who sees this as an opportunity to apply, regardless of your background.

You will receive a response by phone or email within 7 days of the job posting’s closing date. Interviews are scheduled for May 20 and May 23, 2025. Finally, there will be a discussion regarding the terms of employment.

An assessment may be part of the selection process. This will help us get to know your personality and communication style better. 

Sales calls are not appreciated.

We value diversity 

The power of theater brings people together. We place great value on diversity at all levels of the organization, and all colleagues are equal members of the theater team. We welcome everyone; we’re curious about your talent and how you can make a difference for our organization. We’re looking for new colleagues who want to contribute to an inclusive Stadsschouwburg Utrecht. You’re welcome here!