Regional Director, Amsterdam – Special Education

Job Description

You will be responsible for the overall management of a region comprising schools for special education and upper secondary special education, as well as an Outpatient Service. Together with four site directors, you will form the management team for the Amsterdam region. You will also serve on the VierTaal board and work closely with a professional administrative office.

As Regional Director, you will be responsible for realizing VierTaal’s goals in the Amsterdam region. These goals are ambitious: we are working to advance the shift toward inclusive education and strengthen our expertise in Cluster 2. Based on the VierTaal Institutional Plan (VIP), you will provide direction and implement this strategic course at the regional level.

It is important to foster a professional culture in which employees feel valued, understand what the strategic direction means for the schools and the department, maintain the high quality of Cluster 2 expertise, and are encouraged to seek out opportunities for collaboration, both within VierTaal and with the regional education community.

The Amsterdam region has an ambitious and widely supported regional plan, in which the VIP’s strategy has been translated into a regional approach. Neighborhood-focused work, systemic strengthening of mainstream education, and a more even distribution across the city and within mainstream education are concrete examples of this. VierTaal Amsterdam actively collaborates with mainstream education and partners in the education chain on the path toward inclusive education. What this means for education, students, parents, and our professionals is a topic of ongoing discussion.

In summary, your main areas of focus are:

• Optimizing collaboration within the management team, with a focus on inclusion in a changing environment.
• Moving forward with the implementation of the regional plan.
• Further advancing inclusion and establishing sustainable partnerships with mainstream education. To this end, the regional director participates in various administrative networks.
• Ensuring the quality of schools and the services provided by the outpatient service.
• Participating in VierTaal-wide projects, activities, and strategy development; managing one of the sector portfolios (special education, vocational special education, adult education).

Your profile

The new regional director has a well-rounded profile, with strategic acumen and leadership qualities that are well-suited to driving major change, both within the region and at the VierTaal level. In addition, you are familiar with the metropolitan dynamics of Amsterdam, whether in relation to students, parents, and staff or at the administrative level.

To successfully and enjoyably fulfill this challenging role, you should have the following knowledge and experience:

• Extensive and broad leadership experience in the education sector: elementary school, secondary school, special education (for students with intellectual disabilities), vocational education, or higher professional education.
• Experience with change management and successfully leading a transition.
• Experience in administrative networks.

In addition, you recognize yourself in the following personal traits:

• You are organized and steadfast.
• You are a team player and build support.
• You can easily switch between strategic and operational levels.
• You are decisive and assertive, and you bring positive energy.
• You are approachable to staff, parents, the parent-teacher association, students, and partners.

Amsterdam is a diverse region in many ways. We are therefore looking for a candidate who embodies the city’s diversity.

Organization

The VierTaal Foundation provides education and support to students with a language development disorder and hearing impairment (“cluster 2”). At twelve special education (secondary) schools and four outreach services in North Holland, Almere, and The Hague, there is close collaboration to provide education and support in a setting that is as inclusive as possible. The students at VierTaal have a language development disorder (LDD) or are hard of hearing (HoH). VierTaal is known as a pleasant and accessible organization that places a high priority on being a good employer.

You will be part of the VierTaal management team and will work closely with the Executive Board, two fellow regional directors (North Holland and Almere/The Hague), the administrative office manager, the executive secretary, and the business controller.

Amsterdam Region

VierTaal is organized into four regions: Amsterdam, Almere, The Hague, and North Holland. The Amsterdam region includes the Alexander Roozendaal School on Jan Tooropstraat (special needs TOS), the Alexander Roozendaal School on Jan Sluijtersstraat (special needs TOS), the Professor Burgers School (special needs SH), VierTaal College Amsterdam (special needs TOS-SH), and an Amsterdam outreach service (active in elementary, secondary, and vocational education). The region employs approximately 290 staff members (190 FTE) and serves over 1,000 students.

The region is undergoing significant changes. Examples include partnerships with mainstream schools, a new approach to outreach services, and innovative initiatives focused on inclusive learning environments.

Terms of Employment

The VierTaal Foundation is offering a one-year contract with the intention of converting it to a permanent position. The position is classified in pay grade D14 of the collective bargaining agreement for primary education (maximum €8,325 gross per month).

Procedure

For recruitment and selection, the VierTaal Foundation is assisted by the ADJ agency. The process includes a reference check, a verification of credentials, and a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG); an assessment may also be part of the process. You can apply via the application button below or the ADJ website. For this role, you must be registered in the Primary Education School Leaders Register, for example by completing a one-day assessment.

ADJ believes in the power of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. That is why we warmly invite candidates who can contribute to this to apply.

We look forward to receiving your application, including a cover letter and resume, as soon as possible via the application form on the ADJ website.

Tentative schedule:

• Auditions at ADJ: May 25 through June 15.
• Nomination of candidates: June 18.
• First round of interviews: June 23 and 24 (morning).
• Second round of talks: June 29 (morning).
• References, screening, AVW: June 29 and 30.
• Certificate of Good Conduct (issued by VierTaal): July–August.
• Start date: as soon as possible

Contact person

Marieke van Kilsdonk

Email address: marieke@adj.nl | Phone number: +31628830683