Audience & Presentation Manager

Boerhaave National Museum

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, housed in the historic former St. Caecilia almshouse in Leiden, is a treasure trove of science and medicine. With a collection that spans five centuries of scientific and medical progress and as the winner of the 2019 European Museum of the Year Award, the museum is renowned for its unique exhibitions and educational programs. Our collection includes icons such as Antoni van Leeuwenhoek’s microscope and the first Pfizer vaccine administered in the Netherlands, making the museum both a window into the past and a mirror to the future.

We are located in Leiden, the city with the largest Life Sciences cluster in the Netherlands. It is therefore a logical step to want to engage a broad public in the rapid developments in the Life Sciences & Health sector. To that end, we want to expand the museum with a new wing that we call the Life Sciences & Health Pavilion. In the pavilion, an exhibition invites people to reflect on their own life stories: how can I stay healthy longer and perhaps even live longer? And how can the life sciences and innovative medicine help me achieve that?

With ambitious plans for the period 2025–2028, Rijksmuseum Boerhaave is taking steps to further strengthen its mission. The development of the Life Science & Health Pavilion offers a unique opportunity to make current scientific insights accessible to the public, while an inclusive exhibition program and a renewed digital strategy make science understandable and accessible to a broad audience.

The Role

As Public & Presentation Manager, you are the driving force behind a museum experience that brings together science, history, and current events. You will develop and implement a multifaceted exhibition policy and educational programs that reinforce our mission by connecting science and social issues. In this role, you will shape the “Podium for the Future” strategy by collaborating with scientific and societal partners to develop the content and public programming for the new Life Science & Health Pavilion. This pavilion will not only tell new stories but also welcome new audiences and foster collaborations with scientific partners.

You will create an inclusive and diverse visitor experience in which visitors can see themselves reflected and find inspiration. You will achieve this by developing a strategic marketing and digital strategy that makes the museum accessible through a revamped website, video content, social media, and a multi-year podcast series, transforming the museum from a physical space into a digital platform for science. You will also ensure that these plans become a reality by submitting grant applications to cultural funding organizations. Finally, you will support and motivate your team to work together to create an optimal visitor experience.

For more information, please see the2025–2028 Activity Plan

Role in the Organization

You will report to the Executive Director and be part of the management team. Together with your fellow managers, you will help shape the museum’s overall vision and strategy and lead the Exhibitions, Education, Marketing & Communications, and Hospitality teams. You will also contribute to fundraising efforts.

Who are we looking for?

Do you have a passion for culture, science, and public engagement? Would you like to be the platform through which Rijksmuseum Boerhaave makes science accessible to people of all ages? If so, we’d love to meet you. We’re looking for an experienced manager with:

• Demonstrable experience in the cultural sector, preferably in a museum setting.
• A strategic and innovative mindset focused on collaboration and inclusion.
• Strong communication skills and an affinity for digital communication.
• At least five years of managerial experience and a university-level standard of work and thinking.

What we offer

At Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, you’ll have the opportunity to work in a stimulating and inspiring environment where every day is different. You’ll collaborate with passionate professionals on projects that truly make a difference. We offer an attractive benefits package, including a competitive salary, generous vacation time, and plenty of opportunities for professional development. The position is classified under job group 14 of the Museum Collective Bargaining Agreement, based on a 36-hour workweek.

Working at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave means being part of a wonderful organization where you can make a real difference. You’ll work in a fantastic environment—a national museum housed in a historic building in the museum city of Leiden. You’ll be part of the management team and help shape the museum’s strategic direction.

Interested?

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave works with the recruitment agency Colourful People for its hiring and selection processes. René Burgler, a senior 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 by email (r.burgler@colourfulpeople.nl) or via WhatsApp at 06 2857 5436Please send us your cover letter and resume in PDF format as soon as possible, but no later than December 3, via the 'Apply' button www.colourfulpeople.nl. In your letter, we’d like you to discuss your motivation for working in the cultural sector, your professional pride and achievements, the value of your practical experience, and how you plan to apply it at the museum. We look forward to discovering how you can make a difference!

At Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, we strive to be a museum where everyone feels represented and welcome. Through our passion for science, we help people from all walks of life discover how valuable science is to everyday life. In addition to our diverse visitors, we as a museum also recognize the added value of a diverse and inclusive organization. Do you see yourself in this job description? Regardless of your gender, age, cultural background, who you love, or what you believe: we warmly invite you to apply!

We are aiming to complete the process in December. The interviews at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave will take place on Monday, December 16.