Business Director

Paradiso is looking for aBusiness Director (32 hours per week)

Paradiso is seeking an experienced, people-oriented, and strategically strong Business Director to join us on September 1 and provide financial and business leadership for our organization. Are you an analytical, collaborative, and decisive leader with a passion for culture and social impact? If so, please read on.

About Paradiso

Paradiso is a leading cultural organization and iconic venue in Amsterdam. Since its founding in 1968, Paradiso has grown into a high-profile cultural hub and an indispensable destination for music, art, and community. Each year, we organize over 1,200 events, ranging from concerts and club nights to talks, festivals, film screenings, and community art.

We have a clear ambition to ensure that our audience and our programming reflect the diversity of the city of Amsterdam. Paradiso aims to be both an internationally renowned venue and a living room for Amsterdam’s youth. We are known for our rich history, but above all, we look to the future: toward experimentation, new music, young artists, nightlife, and social relevance.

Through initiatives such as Parallel, DIP (Tuesdays at Paradiso), Soundworks, and Paradiso Research & Development, we are actively committed to talent development, creative freedom, and a sense of community. At the same time, we are preparing for a large-scale renovation and new construction project under the banner of “100 Years of Paradiso” to ensure that our historic building is ready for the future.

About the role

As Business Director, you are the backbone of Paradiso. You are responsible for financial management, risk management, and developing a future-proof strategy. You do this with an eye for the human dimension and a sense of Paradiso’s unique character. You work closely with the General Director and the Deputy Director (for whom a recruitment process is currently underway), thereby forming a complementary leadership team. You are able to translate creative ideas into realistic plans and ensure stability, structure, and clear guidelines.

You will manage the Finance, IT, Data Management, and Ticketing departments and ensure a safe and inclusive work environment in which these teams can perform at their best. You monitor budgets, analyze financial trends, and make adjustments as needed. In addition, you play a key role in the planning and execution of the large-scale renovation of Paradiso, ensuring the appropriate financial frameworks and risk management.

What will you be doing?

• Developing and monitoring a sustainable financial strategy that supports Paradiso’s goals.
• Managing and inspiring the Finance, IT, Data Management, and Ticketing departments.
• Creating a safe, inclusive, and people-centered work environment.
• Identifying and managing financial and organizational risks.
• Overseeing the 100 Years of Paradiso project: construction budget, operational strategy, financing mix.
• Preparing budgets, annual reports, and financial reports for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board.
• Serve as a sounding board and complementary member of the executive team.

What do you bring to the table?

• Extensive experience in a managerial business and/or financial role; experience with complex (construction) projects is a strong plus.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to structure, guide, and oversee complex processes.
• Decisiveness, reliability, and a work style based on fairness and clarity.
• Human insight and the ability to instill trust, calm, and a sense of security within teams and collaborative efforts.
• An interest in culture; experience in the cultural sector is a plus, but not required.
• A strong understanding of organizational culture; you understand what it takes to operate within an organization with a strong internal culture and know how to approach this with tact, sensitivity, and respect.

What does Paradiso offer?

• A dynamic and unique work environment at an iconic cultural organization.
• Salary range in Scale 9 of the NPF collective bargaining agreement: €5,580 – €8,500 gross for full-time employment (38 hours).
• Attractive employee benefits, such as a company fitness program and free access to most of our programs.
• A good pension plan.
• An inspiring place where you can help shape the future of one of the Netherlands’ leading venues. 

Paradiso adheres to the Fair Practice Code and the Diversity & Inclusion Code. We strive to build a team with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and we encourage anyone who identifies with this to apply.

Interested?

Paradiso is being assisted by Colourful People in this process. If you have any questions about the position or the process, please contact Jantien Plooij at j.plooij@colourfulpeople.nl or 06-17703534. 

You can express your interest by uploading your cover letter and resume by June 1, 2025, via the Colourful People website . Once your application has been successfully uploaded, you will receive a confirmation email. Didn’t receive it? Please contact Jantien Plooij. Confidentiality of your information is, of course, guaranteed. An assessment or talent scan may be part of the process. 

Schedule

The preliminary interviews will take place online in weeks 23 and 24. The interviews with the selection committee will take place on June 27 (first round) and July 3 (second round) 2025. We kindly ask you to save these dates.

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