Chair of the Supervisory Board

Gooi+ Library: A Home for the Community

With branches in Bussum, Huizen, Laren, Muiden, and Loosdrecht, among other locations, Gooi+ Library is firmly rooted in the region. As a public institution, we play a key role in promoting literacy, equal opportunity, and (digital) self-reliance. Our service area covers multiple municipalities. We operate according to the “third place” principle: the library as a third place alongside work and home, where people can develop, meet, and contribute to the community. With more than 70 employees and over 250 volunteers, we are an agile organization that simultaneously faces major decisions regarding collaboration, facilities, governance, and leadership succession. 

Governance: Building a Strong Board

The Supervisory Board of Bibliotheek Gooi+ consists of six members and is responsible for overseeing the organization’s policies and operations, acting as the employer of the executive director, and providing input on strategic decisions. The board is professional, critically constructive, and committed to transparency, collaboration, and diversity. Over the past year, we have worked on a significant professionalization effort, including a new handbook, clearly defined portfolios, and a more consistent meeting schedule. 

Three standing committees have been established within the Supervisory Board: a compensation committee, an audit committee, and a committee that contributes ideas on innovation (such as developments related to the “third place” project). For the coming years, the board faces a clear challenge: to consistently oversee operations, promote good employment practices, and serve as a stable partner in an organization where innovation, housing issues, and administrative collaboration converge. 

The chairperson we are looking for

As chair of the supervisory board, you provide direction, offer structure, and maintain a balance between engagement and administrative detachment. You serve as the link between the board and the executive director, facilitate a professional interplay between oversight and management, and contribute to a positive, critical, and open environment. You are visible, available, and engaged, and you have a keen eye for governance, collaboration, and the broader social impact of our organization. We are looking for a chairperson who maintains composure, brings energy, and guides the team of supervisors in their continued development. Someone who knows how to give space to an enthusiastic executive director without blurring the lines of responsibility. 

Core qualities:

• Management experience: You have experience serving as a supervisor on a supervisory board or similar body, preferably in the public or social sector. You are familiar with governance principles and know how to guide the team in applying them. Experience as a chairperson is preferred but not required.
• People-oriented leadership: You are approachable and a team player. You operate on the basis of trust, but are also able to step in when necessary.
• Political and administrative acumen: You have a good understanding of the dynamics between organizations and municipalities, and can effectively navigate the interplay between policy, administration, and implementation.
• Experience with change and transition: You know what it takes to provide stability and direction during periods of strategic reorientation, such as the transition to a third place and potential administrative collaboration or merger.
• Availability and proximity: You are willing to be present in the region, invest time in informal coordination, and serve as a visible figurehead when necessary. 

The Board of Trustees as a whole complies with:

• Diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and experience.
• Connection to the local area (Gooi and Vecht region).
• Openness, integrity, and mutual trust.
• Balancing a clear sense of role with the ability to adapt to the organization. 

Important considerations

• Diversity: Gooi+ Library strives to ensure that the Board is as diverse as possible in terms of cultural background, gender, age, and expertise.
• Integrity: Independence and the avoidance of conflicts of interest are a given.
• Compensation: The position of chair is unpaid, but it is not a voluntary role: we are looking for someone who is actively committed to the role. 

Interested?

Gooi+ Library is being supported in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about the role or the process, please contact Jantien Plooij, a partner at Colourful People (06-17703534 or j.plooij@colourfulpeople.nl).  

You can express your interest by submitting a cover letter and resume (in PDF format) no later than May 5, 2025, via the Colourful People website . Your information will, of course, be treated confidentially. 

Schedule

The preliminary interviews will take place online in week 19, and the interview round will be held on May 16, 2025. Please keep this date open. 

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