Chair of the Supervisory Board

About theGerrit Rietveld Academy

The Gerrit Rietveld Academy is a small-scale college of fine arts and design with a distinctly international profile. The academy consists of the Rietveld Academy (bachelor’s programs, 13 departments) and the Sandberg Institute (master’s programs, 7 departments), supplemented by three research groups (in the fields of urban space, critical theory, and technological developments, including AI) and 23 workshops. Approximately 850 students and 130 course participants—from over 55 countries—work, learn, and conduct research here alongside (senior) faculty members, workshop specialists, and staff.

The Rietveld Academy is an independent art academy known for its investigative, experimental, and critical approach to art education. Diversity and inclusion, ecology, and sustainability are key priorities for the academy and serve as guiding principles for the academy community. The organization operates under a decentralized management philosophy, in which departments and studios enjoy a certain degree of autonomy. Drawing on practical experience and a deep commitment to society, the academy encourages the exploration, questioning, and imagination of the world.

Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the chair of the single-member Executive Board (EB), who reports to the Supervisory Board. The chair works closely with a management team consisting of three directors: one for bachelor’s programs, one for master’s programs, and one for operations. The EB is supported by a lean administrative staff.

About theSupervisory Board

The Board of Trustees oversees the policies and the execution of the tasks of the Executive Board and also serves in an advisory and sounding-board capacity. The Board of Trustees safeguards the academy’s mission, quality, and social embeddedness and acts in accordance with the Sector Code for Good Governance and Oversight in Higher Professional Education. The Board of Trustees consists of five members with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. Diversity in perspectives, disciplines, and cultural orientation is explicitly sought. One member is appointed upon the recommendation of the Student Council. The atmosphere within the Board of Trustees is open, constructive, and collegial. There is room for both debate and reflection.

The Board of Trustees meets an average of seven times a year. The Board of Trustees also has three committees: the Audit Committee, the Education and Research Committee, and the Compensation Committee, in which various members serve. Members are appointed for a term of four years, with the possibility of reappointment for another four years. 

General Profile of the Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board is composed in such a way that its members can act independently and critically toward one another and the Executive Board. The Supervisory Board strives to ensure sufficient diversity in its composition. The Supervisory Board ensures that its composition is always such that it can properly fulfill its duties.

Each member of the Supervisory Board 

• has an affinity for the visual arts, design, and the unique character of art education at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy;
• has extensive administrative experience and excellent administrative skills;
• has sufficient time and opportunity to attend the meetings of the Supervisory Board (approximately seven per year), to serve on committees, and to participate in other meetings with relevant stakeholders or bodies as needed;
• serves in a personal capacity, performs the duties of the position independently and without interference, and has no direct interests in the college or other colleges.

Due to the expiration of the current chairperson’s maximum term of office, we are seeking a new chairperson for the Supervisory Board (f/m/x) 

Who are we looking for?

The chair plays a key role in ensuring and overseeing good governance, monitoring the strategic direction and the university’s social integration, and also serves as an ambassador for the institution. We are seeking a unifying leader who, as primus inter pares, provides direction, ensures the quality of collective decision-making, and fosters open dialogue within the Board of Trustees and with the Executive Board. Knowledge of or experience in higher (arts) education is highly valued; the distinctive, unique character of arts education at our academy deserves a chairperson who embraces and promotes it. Experience in the public and/or political sphere and a relevant political and/or administrative network are considered significant advantages.

The ideal chairperson:

• Endorses the core values of the Gerrit Rietveld Academy—inclusion, ecology, and sustainability—and is mindful of the impact of technological developments on these values;
• Has extensive administrative and supervisory experience in organizations of a similar size, is well-versed in governance relationships, and is able to strike the right balance between involvement and detachment;
• Has a strong affinity for art, design, and education, and possesses strategic insight with a keen eye for risks and opportunities;
• Combines independence and integrity with the ability to oversee complex processes;
• Has a broad interest in social issues, is familiar with national and regional political and social dynamics, and has a relevant network;
• Possesses excellent communication skills in both Dutch and English and is sensitive to organizational needs;
• Has knowledge of and experience with policy and administrative decision-making processes; * Has sufficient time to effectively fulfill the role of chair;
• Considers pluralism and artistic freedom to be core values and embraces the values of diversity, sustainability, and international cooperation.

How do you spend your time?

The chairperson presides over approximately seven formal meetings of the Supervisory Board with the Executive Board. In addition, the chairperson of the Supervisory Board also chairs the Compensation Committee, a committee that meets approximately twice a year and focuses on the performance and compensation of the Executive Board. Furthermore, the Chair of the Board of Trustees acts as an independent advisor to the Executive Board upon request. In addition to the formal meetings, the presence of the members, including the Chair, at special events at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy is appreciated. Remuneration? The Board meets an average of seven times a year. The chair receives an annual allowance of €7,560, and an additional annual allowance of €1,600 applies for chairing a committee. 

Diversity

The Gerrit Rietveld Academy strives to create a community where diversity of voices, equality, and representation are the norm. We welcome candidates whose backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences can contribute to the richness of our organization. Anyone who identifies with this mission is warmly invited to apply. We also want everyone to feel welcome at our organization. If you have specific wishes or needs regarding accessibility, support, or work culture, please feel free to share them in your application. 

Interested?

The Gerrit Rietveld Academie is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about the Board of Trustees, this position, or the application process, please contact Naima Azough, a partner at Colourful People, at (06-43449717) or n.azough@colourfulpeople.nl. You can express your interest by uploading your cover letter and resume (in PDF format) no later thanFriday, November 21, 2025, via the “Apply” button.

Information about the timeline

• The first round of interviews will take place in the second week of December
• The second round of talks will take place in January 2026

We kindly ask interested candidates to tentatively set aside the dates to be announced shortly.