Chair of the Board of Directors

1. About the Stedelijk

Het Stedelijk is Enschede’s public education organization and provides the full range of secondary education. With education for more than 4,000 students—from vocational education to gymnasium, including international education and education for newcomers—Het Stedelijk offers every student the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

The nine school locations differ in their educational approaches, target audiences, and cultures, but are united by a single shared mission: to provide students and staff with the opportunity for personal growth. Guided by its core values— openness, individuality, and progress —Het Stedelijk strives to provide high-quality, inclusive, and forward-looking education that centers on equal opportunity, personal development, and social engagement.

The Stedelijk plays an important social role in Enschede and the Twente region. The organization combines a broad range of educational programs with strong regional ties and collaborates closely with municipalities, secondary schools, the business community, civic organizations, and the University of Twente.

In recent years, Het Stedelijk has worked to strengthen the quality of its education, quality assurance, governance, and organizational development. This has laid a solid foundation for the organization’s next phase of development.

2. Strategic Challenges

The new chair of the Executive Board is tasked with building on this foundation in collaboration with staff, the management team, employee representative bodies, and the Supervisory Board. The strategic agenda for the coming years consists of five interrelated development priorities.

Enhancing Quality, Professionalism, and Ownership

The Stedelijk aims to continue developing as a learning organization in which quality, professional growth, and professional responsibility are a given. The chairperson fosters a culture of quality in which ambitions are translated into concrete goals, results are made visible, and professionals collectively take responsibility for student development and the quality of education. In doing so, he or she provides clarity regarding expectations, responsibilities, and priorities, while maintaining professional autonomy and a sense of ownership among staff members.

Aligning Educational Ambitions with Business Management

The social, personnel, and financial challenges in education call for an integrated approach. Educational quality, staff development, finances, facilities, digitization, and operational management must be considered in conjunction with one another. The chairperson is able to align educational ambitions with business discipline and makes strategic decisions that contribute to the continuity and future-readiness of Het Stedelijk. In doing so, he or she keeps an eye on both the short-term and long-term development of the organization.

Strengthening Cooperation and Collective Strength

Het Stedelijk’s strength lies in the diversity of its schools, educational concepts, and target groups. At the same time, there is a need to further strengthen collaboration between schools, support services, and staff, and to make greater use of the knowledge, expertise, and experience available within the organization. The chairperson ensures a balance between allowing each location its own distinct identity and reinforcing the shared direction. He or she encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual connection, so that Het Stedelijk can operate more effectively as a single organization with a shared vision.

Strengthening the Stedelijk’s position in Enschede and Twente

Het Stedelijk plays an important role in the community of Enschede and Twente. In the coming years, the challenge will be to further consolidate and expand this role. The chairperson serves as a visible and credible figurehead for the organization and represents Het Stedelijk in regional and national networks. He or she maintains long-term relationships with municipalities, partnerships, the business community, higher education institutions, and community partners, and is able to translate societal developments into opportunities for students, staff, and the organization.

Ensuring stability, continuity, and steady leadership

To further advance the development that has already begun, the organization needs administrative stability, predictability, and a clear direction. The chair builds on what has been established and brings calm, cohesion, and continuity. He or she maintains a visible presence within the organization, communicates openly and transparently, and builds trust through consistency in actions and decision-making. This creates the foundation for continuing to work toward Het Stedelijk’s ambitions with focus and a shared sense of purpose.

3. About the Executive Board (CvB)

The Executive Board serves as the governing body of Het Stedelijk and bears ultimate responsibility for the institution’s strategic direction, the quality of its education, the continuity of the organization, and its social mission. The chair provides direction for the organization’s development and ensures coherence between education, personnel, operations, facilities, and external positioning.

The chairperson leads the executive team, which consists of the directors of the educational locations, the Director of Education and Development, and the Director of Operations. Together, they form the leadership coalition responsible for the further development of Het Stedelijk. The director creates the conditions within which directors, managers, and teams can take responsibility and contribute optimally to the development of students, staff, and the organization.

The Stedelijk operates according to a management philosophy centered on direction, autonomy, results, accountability, and reflection. The board sets the strategic direction and creates the space for professionals to carry out their work with a sense of ownership and professional expertise. At the same time, results are made transparent, decisions are explained, and everyone learns together from experiences and outcomes.

The chair maintains a constructive relationship with the Supervisory Board, the Joint Employee Participation Council, and other stakeholders within the organization. In addition, the director represents Het Stedelijk in regional and national networks and maintains relationships with municipalities, partnerships, the business community, institutions of higher education, the University of Twente, and other social partners.

4. Profile of the New Chairperson

The Stedelijk is seeking a high-profile, inspiring, and steadfast education executive who combines educational vision with strong administrative skills. A leader who will chart the course for the organization’s next phase of development, instill calm and confidence, and at the same time have the courage to make clear decisions. To successfully carry out this task, we are looking for an executive who meets the following profile:

Knowledge and experience

• academic level of work and thinking;
• extensive experience in administrative or executive leadership within a complex social organization;
• demonstrable affinity for, and preferably extensive experience in, education;
• a clear vision of education and educational development;
• experience with organizational development, cultural development, and change management issues;
• experience with governance, employee participation, and stakeholder management;
• experience with comprehensive management of quality, finance, operations, facilities, and human resources;
• Experience with regional cooperation and complex administrative networks.

Leadership

• combines vision with the ability to execute;
• brings calm, clarity, and focus;
• is willing to make choices and is decisive when circumstances call for it;
• promotes ownership, professional autonomy, and collaboration;
• knows how to get people on board with change;
• clearly articulates expectations and acts consistently;
• brings together different interests without losing sight of the goal.

Personal profile

• is visible, accessible, and approachable;
• communicates clearly, transparently, and authentically;
• exudes natural authority and confidence;
• combines a professional approach with a genuine interest in people;
• possesses administrative acumen and a good sense of proportion;
• understands what's going on in the workplace;
• has an appreciation for the culture and dynamics of Twente and knows how to build lasting relationships within that context;
• believes in the power of public education and social cohesion.

The new chairperson understands that sustainable leadership is achieved by involving people, instilling confidence in them, and at the same time being clear about the direction, expectations, and results.

5. Terms of Employment

The terms of employment are commensurate with the demands of the position and in accordance with WNT pay grade E, which applies to Het Stedelijk.

6. Follow-up Procedure

The Stedelijk is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People.

For more information, please contact Michiel van Kruijsbergen, a partner at Colourful People, at 06-53476733 or m.van.kruijsbergen@colourfulpeople.nl

You can upload your cover letter and resume using the "Apply" button on this page. Please submit your application by August 30, 2026, at the latest.

Job interviews at Het Stedelijk will take place in weeks 38 and 39. The exact times will be added to this profile at a later date.