Program Director, Professor of Visual Arts and Design

Your Job at Fontys

We are looking for a program director/academic manager for the Visual Arts and Design Teacher Education (DBKV) program at Fontys Academy of the Arts (FAA). You will lead a team of more than 30 passionate colleagues and, together with them, shape the future development of the program. This involves integrating pedagogical and didactic practices, artistic creation, and social engagement, informed by a historical and global perspective on art.

As the director of a program with more than 180 students, you’ll work closely with program coordinators and fellow academic directors within the broader FAA educational community. You’ll bring clarity, structure, and direction to a complex educational context that includes full-time, part-time, and accelerated part-time programs. At the same time, you’ll foster professional autonomy, collaboration, and professional development.

You have a vision for arts education and understand the dynamics of both in-school and out-of-school visual arts education. You are visible, approachable, and closely involved in the process, and you know how to engage people in the transition to Talent-Oriented Education (TGO)* in a way that fosters connection and consistency. In doing so, you maintain a focus on stability, support, and a healthy balance between innovation and continuity.

You are aware of your role as a role model and can represent the program in various situations, both within and outside the academy. You understand that this position also involves organizational and administrative responsibilities, and you can handle these duties with care and transparency.

• TGO is Fontys’ educational vision, which centers on talent development, ownership of learning, flexibility, practice-oriented and interdisciplinary work, coaching, and personalized learning paths.

Here's How to Make an Impact

• You have experience as a manager and feel comfortable in a complex educational environment.
• You bring clarity, structure, and predictability to processes and collaboration.
• You are able to provide steady leadership while also acting in a people-oriented and collaborative manner.
• You have knowledge of education and educational development in the field of arts education, and an interest in arts education.
• You can collaborate with faculty members, coordinators, student representatives, fellow program directors, and professionals in the field.
• You know how to translate ideas into pedagogical and didactic educational processes that align with contemporary art education and Talent-Oriented Education.
• You understand when guidance is needed and when delegating and fostering a sense of ownership are more important.
• You have an eye for team dynamics, social safety, and professional culture.
• You are meticulous when it comes to communication, planning, organization, and administrative processes.
• You can deal with change without constantly initiating new changes.
• You have a good sense of when you need to coordinate with the team and your manager.
• You have an interest in digitization and modern educational processes.
• You demonstrate loyalty to both FAA and Fontys and contribute to the realization of FAA’s mission and vision.

About our team

You will lead a results-oriented team within the Visual Arts and Design Teacher Education program. Within DBKV, colleagues with diverse areas of expertise—craft, theory, and education—work together to develop art education that is artistically, pedagogically, and socially relevant.

Working at Fontys Academy of the Arts means working in an environment where collaboration, artistic development, critical reflection, and caring for one another are central. At DBKV, we are looking for someone who will help build a professional, transparent, and safe work culture, in which clarity, collaboration, and shared responsibility are important.

As a program director, you know how to constructively navigate the tension between the artistic and the educational, between aspirations and organizational constraints (related to staffing and finances), and between the interests of the program and interests that transcend it.

We believe it is important that selection processes are conducted carefully and transparently. That is why we use predetermined criteria, multiple evaluators, and standardized interview components. We regularly review our procedures to prevent unintended exclusion or bias as much as possible.

Terms of Employment

When you choose Fontys, you’re naturally also choosing excellent primary and secondary benefits and a competitive salary. Here’s a sample of what we offer:

• Salary in pay scale 12 (min. €5,761.13 – max. €7,534.61)
• An 8% vacation bonus and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%
• Employment Status: Temporary (If you already have a permanent position at Fontys, it will remain in effect)
• Approx. 50 days of leave (including holidays)
• Each year, you’ll set performance and development goals with your manager, and there are plenty of opportunities and resources available to help you make the most of your talents and continue to grow.

Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out our webpage and the Higher Professional Education (HBO) Collective Bargaining Agreement 2026

Why work at Fontys?

Fontys believes it is important that all employees and students feel welcome. Diversity enriches our education, our research, and our organization. It also contributes to a sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant society. Because that society is constantly changing, we, as a university of applied sciences, adapt accordingly. With our “For Society 2030” strategy, we are moving toward a talent-focused, research-driven, and agile organization. After all, what leads to progress today may be outdated tomorrow. It’s important that we continuously renew, enrich, and refresh our education. Only in this way can we fulfill our social mission. Together. With you? Read more about Fontys University of Applied Sciences and our vision at Fontys.nl.

Practical Information

We'd like to make things easy for you, and the information below will definitely help you with that.

• Don't wait too long to respond; you have until the deadline.
• Please address your application to: Martyn Smits – Deputy Director of the FAA
• Do you have any questions about the job opening? No problem. Feel free to ask Martyn Smits (T: +31885073669)
• If you have any questions about the procedure, please contact the Fontys Talent Center (HR&O) at 08850 75366.
• Interview dates: starting August 24
• Are we both on board? The start date is as soon as possible.
• Fontys has introduced a mandatory screening process for anyone who will be working at Fontys, in the form of a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG).
• Good to know: Internal employees always have priority in our hiring processes.

The job posting will be removed from the website after the closing date.

We will only consider applications submitted online via the job application form.

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