Two members of the Supervisory Board

Mission, Vision, and Core Activities

Our vision and mission, as described above, guide the ambitions and goals of our Strategic Plan 2023–2027. We have enshrined our beliefs in our core values, which guide everything we strive for: Safe, Connected, Together, Proud.

We see it as our social mission to enable our students to participate fully in society in the areas of education and work, relationships and community life, sports, and culture. This goes beyond providing high-quality education at our schools and ensuring our students have a positive school experience. We want to share our expertise widely throughout Almere and advocate for our students’ interests. Every day, we are focused on their future: helping them find an inclusive place in our society.

Items on the agenda

Tailored solutions are the order of the day for us, which is why we are constantly seeking solutions that address both the educational needs and the care requirements of our students. The issues we address lie at the intersection of healthcare, education, youth services, and urban challenges. In the growing city of Almere, the foundation plays a crucial role in supporting young people with complex needs. This makes Almere Speciaal unique and indispensable in a city with a metropolitan character that is itself constantly evolving, just like the organization itself.

After a period of transition, the organization has entered calmer waters, and we are looking for board members who can help build further stability, substance, and a strong presence in the city, and who can help strengthen our connections with related fields.

Governance

SAS maintains a separation between management and oversight. The director, Brigitta Gadella, acts as the competent authority and is therefore responsible for establishing and implementing policy. The director serves as the point of contact for the internal organization and external stakeholders, such as the ministry, local government, partnerships, supply chain partners, and the Inspectorate. The Supervisory Board operates remotely. It oversees financial health and risk management, as well as the implementation of the strategy and whether the interests of stakeholders are sufficiently safeguarded.

The schools are led by a principal with overall responsibility. The school principals consult frequently with the board member. The foundation manages a single BRIN number for special education across three locations (with sub-BRIN numbers) in Almere.

The Supervisory Board meets four times a year. In addition, there are separate meetings of the subcommittees (audit, quality, and compensation) twice a year, as well as a strategy session, a working visit, and a consultation with the employee participation council.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees

• Oversight and Advisory Role: As a member of the Supervisory Board, you balance objectivity with commitment, and combine oversight with providing guidance and encouragement. You advocate for the organization’s interests while keeping the broader public interest in mind, and act decisively.
• Educational Quality and Specialized Education: The focus is specifically on the quality of education and the challenges within specialized education regarding documentation, monitoring, and accountability within a national context.
• Strategic Insights: You work with broad-based information, form a general assessment of the issues presented to you, and monitor developments in education, youth services, and society
• Organizational Tensions: You are able to look beyond the surface of the information and identify organizational tensions.
• Evaluation and Development: You maintain your own professional expertise and have the Supervisory Board’s performance evaluated.
• Ambassador role: You bring a network relevant to SAS and know how to support the director as needed in representing the organization in an administrative context.

Required qualifications and competencies

• Analytical Skills: You have strong analytical skills and are able to weigh various interests in a comprehensive manner.
• Commitment to your role: You understand your role as a supervisor and are able to evaluate the foundation’s policies and the director’s performance
• Team orientation: You have the ability to provide guidance and supervision as part of a team.
• Knowledge of Education and Youth Services: You have a deep understanding of the dynamics of collaborative school boards and inclusive education
• Social Insights: You understand the issues facing a growing city like Almere and can address the unique challenges this presents.
• Management and Supervisory Experience: Experience in management and supervision in a similar environment is preferred.

Member of the Board of Trustees for Educational Quality

In this role, the focus is on ensuring and improving the quality of our special education programs. You understand the unique challenges associated with special education and can translate these into strategic recommendations.

Member of the Board of Trustees for Youth Services

This profile is intended for a supervisor with experience in youth services, specifically within the context of education. You have in-depth knowledge of the dynamics between youth services and education and can provide guidance on integrating care services within our educational institutions.

Important considerations

• Diversity: In selecting members of the Supervisory Board, we strive for diversity that reflects the pluralism of society
• Integrity: There must be no conflict of interest, whether substantive or personal.

Compensation

The remuneration for membership on the Supervisory Board of the Almere Speciaal Foundation is in line with the recommendations of the VTOI-NVTK and amounts to €4,500 per year.

Interested?

The Almere Speciaal Foundation 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, a partner at Colourful People (06-17703534) or via j.plooij@colourfulpeople.nl.

You can express your interest by uploading a cover letter and resume (in PDF format) by September 26, 2024, using the “Apply” button at the bottom of this page. Once your application has been successfully uploaded, you will receive a confirmation email. Didn’t receive it? Please contact Jantien Plooij. Rest assured that your information will be treated confidentially.

Schedule

The interviews will be held on October 14 (first round) and November 4 (second round) at the SAS office in Almere.