Education Manager

About the organization

The Wackers Academy offers an inspiring environment where figurative art and modern influences converge. The academy is known for its intensive, practice-oriented art education and helps students develop their creative potential and prepare for a career in the art world. Its goal is to continue the tradition of drawing, painting, and sculpting from life. For over 40 years, classes have been taught in Amsterdam by a diverse team of instructors, consisting of professional artists with expertise and a passion for teaching. Students do not need to take an entrance exam, and everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level.

The Position: What will you be doing?

As an education manager, you play a central role in enhancing the quality of the educational program and its underlying structures. This involves not only developing policies but also being hands-on and rolling up your sleeves to implement solutions. An exciting task awaits you in further professionalizing the educational system, such as setting up a student tracking system, advising on assessment criteria, and further developing the curriculum. Together with the director, you are responsible for ensuring a clear structure and consistency in the educational programs, which align with the learning objectives and the needs of students and teachers. In addition, you will serve as a point of contact and mentor for both students and instructors, maintaining an open and approachable attitude. You will focus on the development of instructors and the team to ensure the quality and continuity of education.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an education manager with experience in adult education and curriculum development, who understands the specific needs of an art academy. The ideal candidate has:

• In-depth educational expertise and experience in developing and implementing educational structures.
• An approachable, visible, and proactive work style, ensuring that students and faculty receive prompt assistance.
• A collaborative approach that fosters cooperation among faculty, students, and staff, along with strong communication skills to ensure clarity regarding processes and expectations. Experience with change management initiatives is a plus.
• An affinity for the art world, without necessarily having an artistic background yourself, which allows you to ask the right questions and provide appropriate support for the creative process.

What we offer

The position is generally for 0.6 FTE, though there is the option to start at 0.8 or even 1 FTE initially to help set up the new processes. This is a one-year contract with the possibility of renewal. The salary depends on experience and ranges from €65,000 to €70,000 based on an annual salary for full-time employment, including vacation pay.

Procedure

The Wackers Academy is working with the executive search firm Colourful People to fill this position. For more information about the role or the application process, please contact Jantien Plooij, partner at Colourful People (06-17703534) or via j.plooij@colourfulpeople.nl. You can express your interest by uploading your cover letter and resume (in PDF format) by January 7, 2025, via the Colourful People website. Once your application has been successfully uploaded, you will receive a confirmation email. Didn’t receive it? Please contact Jantien Plooij. Confidential treatment of your information is, of course, guaranteed.

Schedule

The interviews will be held on January 29 (first round) and February 5 (second round).

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.