SARO is seeking two new members for its Board of Trustees. In the metropolitan context of Rotterdam, we are working to provide high-quality, promising, and inclusive education for all children and young people. We are looking for trustees with vision and experience who can effectively link quality, innovation, and social developments. Would you like to contribute to this mission of giving every child every opportunity?
Information about the organization
SARO (Stichting Samen Ambitieus Rotterdams Onderwijs) is an educational organization that, since January 1, 2024, has been providing education to approximately 17,000 students in Rotterdam, spread across more than 50 primary and secondary schools. The foundation was established on January 1, 2024, through the merger of Kind en Onderwijs Rotterdam (PO) and LMC Voortgezet Onderwijs (VO), with the goal of strengthening educational opportunities for children aged 0 to 18 within a single integrated organization.
SARO operates under a professional unit structure that allows schools to maintain their individual character, and is strongly committed to educational quality, equal opportunity, inclusion, and a continuous learning pathway. The schools collaborate in five clusters, each comprising approximately ten schools (elementary and secondary combined), under the leadership of a cluster director.
The organization is led by a two-member Executive Board and supported by five staff departments. The process of harmonizing and improving policies and procedures following the merger is still in full swing. We are actively working to strengthen mutual connections, leadership, and collaboration. Curious to learn more about SARO? You can do so via:We Are SAROandthe 2024 Annual Report. We summarize our core values in the four V’s: Expertise, Responsibility, Trust, and Connection. This forms our DNA and our way of working.
Governance
SARO operates under a professional and transparent governance model with a clear separation between management and oversight. The Executive Board, consisting of Lorenzo Civile (chair) and Jasmijn Kester (vice-chair), is responsible for strategy, development, and the day-to-day management of the organization. The Supervisory Board currently consists of six members, two of whom will step down in July 2026. We are therefore seeking two new members: a chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Education Committee.
The Board oversees policy and implementation, advises the Executive Board, and acts as the employer. The Board provides input from various perspectives, reflecting the views of stakeholders or drawing on insights from other sectors. The Supervisory Board supports the directors by providing them with advice and is focused on encouraging the directors and enhancing their performance based on trust and a critical yet constructive approach.
The organization operates through three committees: an audit committee, an education committee, and a compensation committee. It adheres to the Code of Good Governance for Primary Education. The board is focused on quality, committed to its social mission, and operates on the conviction that good education begins with personal attention and a strong foundation. The Rotterdam spirit is evident in everything we do: ambitious and decisive, always putting the interests of children, young people, and staff first.
Who are we looking for?
Diversity is a key principle for SARO: the Supervisory Board aims to ensure that at least one of the new members has a bicultural background. To ensure that members of SARO’s Supervisory Board perform their duties effectively, we consider the following competencies to be essential:
- A strategic thinker with sharp analytical skills and a keen sense of governance, who sees the big picture and is able to interpret social trends.
- Independent and principled, with sufficient role consistency to maintain a balance between engagement and detachment.
- Connecting and leading with natural authority, working together based on trust, respect, and openness.
- Strong communication skills, with the courage to ask the right questions and bring up sensitive topics.
- Multiculturally aware and socially engaged, with an eye for diversity and the opportunities and challenges facing Rotterdam’s society.
- Ambitious, down-to-earth, and dedicated, with strong roots in the region and the ability to uphold SARO’s core values (the four V’s).
In addition to these general competencies, we expect new members to possess additional skills in their specific field:
Member of the Supervisory Board – Finance and Operations Profile
We are looking for a supervisor with a strong financial background and a broad business perspective. As a member of the audit committee, you will oversee financial continuity, risk management, digitalization, the PDCA cycle, and general business operations. You will serve as a strong strategic partner to the Executive Board.
What do you bring to the table?
- Experience as a CFO or in a comparable senior leadership role within large and complex (nonprofit) organizations.
- In-depth knowledge of financial management, risk management, and business operations, including digital transformation and large-scale IT programs.
- Understanding housing issues (Long-Term Housing Plan) and sustainability.
- The ability to link financial and organizational insights to our social mission and strategic ambitions.
- Experience in oversight, preferably as a member or chair of an audit committee.
- An affinity for the dynamism and diversity of metropolitan life, and an understanding of how these factors impact the workplace.
Member of the Supervisory Board – Education Profile
We are looking for a dedicated supervisor with broad experience in education who, driven by a passion for educational quality and innovation, wants to contribute to equal opportunities for every child. You have an affinity for the metropolitan dynamics of Rotterdam and the diversity that characterizes our city. As a member of our Education Committee, you will oversee educational quality, equal opportunity, and innovation, always from the student’s perspective.
What do you bring to the table?
- Extensive experience in educational development, quality assurance, and innovation in elementary education.
- Strong change management skills: able to translate educational goals into organizational development and quality improvement.
- Insight into current educational topics, including basic skills, digital literacy, citizenship, and inclusive learning environments.
- An interest in urban educational challenges and early childhood education.
- Strategic insight into the connection between educational content, social trends, and the complex landscape in which SARO operates.
Commitment and expectations
The Board of Trustees meets an average of six times a year, conducts a self-evaluation and a management meeting once a year, and meets with the General Parent Council at least twice a year. The committees meet approximately four times a year. In addition, the members make a working visit to schools once a year. The time commitment averages about ten hours per month.
Compensation
Remuneration is determined in accordance with the Supervisory Board’s compensation policy. The remuneration is based on the standards set by the VTOI-NVTK. In addition, the Senior Executives’ Remuneration Act is observed. For this role, this amounts to 19,680 euros per year.
Procedure
The Supervisory Board is working with the executive search firm Colourful People on the recruitment and selection process. For more information about the organization, the Supervisory Board, and the position, please contact Monique Spaansen, a partner at Colourful People (m.spaansen@colourfulpeople.nl). You can express your interest by uploading your cover letter and resume via the application form on the Colourful People websiteby October 27. Interviews with the selection committee are scheduled for the evenings of December 1 and 2, with the goal of having the new supervisors start in January 2026.
