Museum Sector Director

What will you be doing?
You will lead an innovative and highly successful family museum (approximately 100 employees and 100 volunteers) with a clear mission and sound financial operations. Based on a substantive vision of the role of a modern museum in society—in line with current social developments—you will further develop the museum’s public programs and shape the related content-driven programming. Through permanent and temporary exhibitions and a wide range of public-oriented activities, both inside and outside the museum, you will highlight the importance of biodiversity and ensure a fantastic visitor experience.

You are responsible for ensuring a cohesive educational program, both at the museum and online, including online resources such as the Wonder Passport and online lesson plans.

It is your responsibility to maintain and grow our high visitor numbers.

You will achieve the commercial objectives of the museum, the restaurant, the gift shop, and the event space rental, and build relationships with a view to securing additional funding, in line with Naturalis’s educational and social mission. You have ultimate responsibility for ensuring sound operations. As the public face of the museum, you know how to engage organizations associated with Naturalis and translate relevant trends and developments into opportunities for Naturalis.

As a member of the Naturalis Management Team, you will play a key role in implementing strategic policies for the entire institute.

Profile and Job Requirements
As a museum professional, you’ll truly thrive at Naturalis. This is a wonderful opportunity for you if, for example, you’ve served as the director of a (smaller) natural history or science museum, or if you’ve been responsible—as a member of executive management in a large organization—for a combination of public engagement, education, (museum) operations, and commercial activities.

The following applies to you:

• experience as a senior manager or director, an inspiring leader who has demonstrated proven success in organizations of comparable size, complexity, and diversity;
• knowledge and experience in a relevant professional setting where you have gained exposure to a mix of public engagement, education, (museum) operations, and business; knowledge of natural history and biodiversity is not required, but it does help you understand what Naturalis is all about;
• a broad scope of responsibilities that allows you, as a member of the Management Team, to contribute to the development of the entire institute, including research policy, IT policy, and collection policy;
• an understanding of social developments relevant to Naturalis and a current and compelling vision of the role of Naturalis and museums in society;
• a modern and compelling vision for museum operations and innovation, with a strong background in management and a keen understanding of financial and commercial matters;
• You have an extensive and relevant network (ranging from local to international), and you understand and embrace Naturalis’s role as a museum and research institute in the national and international arena;
• You recognize the great importance of diversity and inclusion and have a clear vision on these issues;
• You are approachable, diplomatic, reliable, and steadfast—a passionate leader with a people-oriented mindset and a good sense of humor;
• an academic level of work and thinking.

Our Offer
A wonderful position at the heart of our research institute, where you will be responsible for a large family museum and contribute to the development of the institute as a whole. A position of responsibility with a broad scope in a dynamic and fascinating work environment. A sector in constant evolution, home to a wide variety of professionals who are passionate about their work and about biodiversity. The salary ranges from €4,910 to €7,515 gross per month based on a 36-hour workweek (scale 15 of the Museum Collective Bargaining Agreement). In addition, you will receive an 8% vacation allowance and a 3.4% year-end bonus. The employment contract is for 36 hours per week, for a period of one year with the prospect of permanent employment. Naturalis is located in the Bio Science Park in Leiden, near the A44 highway and the train station.

Information and Application
Naturalis is working with the recruitment agency Colourful People for this hiring process. 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 at r.burgler@colourfulpeople.nl or via WhatsApp at 06 2857 5436. You can upload your cover letter and resume (both in PDF format) via the “Apply” button at www.colourfulpeople.nl by May 26, 2022, at the latest.

Week 22 features pre-selection interviews at Colourful People

Interviews will be held at Naturalis in the coming weeks. An assessment is part of the process.

Naturalis adheres to the Cultural Diversity Code. When candidates are equally qualified, preference is given to the candidate who enhances diversity within the team. A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) must be submitted upon employment. An assessment is part of the selection process, as is the collection of references.