The Prince Claus Fund is seeking a Director with international experience and management skills, who has extensive knowledge of culture and development. A clear vision in these areas is expected, but also the ambition and entrepreneurship to further develop this specific network organisation, and provide professional and responsible financial management. Knowledge of the Dutch social and political context in which the organisation is situated is also required. The candidate should also be able to serve as an excellent representative of the organisation: the candidate should possess exceptional interpersonal skills in order to effectively collaborate with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Applications should be addressed to the Chairman of the Board and submitted by 23 May 2015 to Adrienne Schneider.
The organisation
Culture, in the vision of the Prince Claus Fund, is a basic need in the development of people and society. The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development actively supports international cultural co-operation with qualified partners in areas where it is really needed, primarily in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Fund fights for preservation of culture and supports sustainable cultural processes. In addition, it initiates activities to increase awareness of the importance of culture and development in daily life. The Fund, in the spirit of Prince Claus, acts in the belief that people are not developed but they develop themselves. The Prince Claus Fund is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Postcode Lottery.
The Prince Claus Fund office is in Amsterdam and has its own exhibition space as well as an extensive documentation centre. There are approximately 20 employees (15 FTE) at the Fund. As an international network organisation, The Fund’s main languages are English and Dutch, but French and Spanish are also heard frequently because of the Fund’s global network.
Job description
As Director you will be responsible for directing the daily operations of the Fund. You will develop the long-term vision of the Fund and maintain active working relationships with its partners and network. You will represent the Fund and take responsibility for adequate external communications and publicity, as well as function as the point of contact for relevant institutions and funders.
Knowledge and expertise in managing financial affairs is indispensable, as the Fund must be able to clearly justify its spending. You will be responsible for fundraising and maintaining contact with sponsors in particular.
You will ensure that the organisation is run professionally (including budget, annual reports, year plan, financial management, contracts, personnel, planning, procurement, housing, preparation and report of Board meetings).
As a creative initiator you will contribute independently to the further development and expansion of the Fund. Strengthening the international network and ensuring regular publicity in leading international media, as well as in local media in the Fund’s target countries, will be among your focuses. As Director, you will be enthusiastic and able to actively share the vision of the Fund to inspire those within and outside the organisation. You will monitor operations and ensure that the Fund maintains high quality standards in all its activities and also preserves its innovative and independent position.
As Director, you are a policy consultant and adviser to the Board and the Advisory Council and ensure the implementation of the Board’s decisions. You are the liaison between the government, agency and society in achieving the Prince Claus Fund’s objectives.
The candidate
You have a strong, demonstrable interest in and knowledge of both culture and development and you have a vision of how these fields relate to one another. You have experience in leading, and in carrying the overall responsibility for, a small professional (part project) organisation.
You put ideas into action and have a strong vision. You develop new initiatives independently, establish new connections and inspire and stimulate others. Above all you have great communication skills and you demonstrate tact and integrity in the performance of your duties, while also possessing a powerful and persuasive personality. You are able to function equally well in both difficult social situations and in high-level social situations.
You are used to working in an international environment and have an open mind to values, cultures and customs in the countries where the Fund operates. At the same time you have in-depth knowledge of the Dutch political and social context and administrative culture. You have the ability to find the right balance and appropriate conduct to co-operate with a Board that acts at a distance from daily operations.
You possess excellent language skills in English and Dutch, both in speaking and writing. Command of additional languages is an advantage.
As an experienced manager you are able to competently manage the spending of funds and also ensure good accountability and governance of those expenditures. You have a basic understanding of financial information systems, modern communications and developments in the fields of PR and automation.
Conditions and remuneration
As Director, you will have a unique professional function that enables you to further develop your personal qualities and experience, and to apply them in an organisation with high quality standards and an established reputation, executing a unique and interesting mission.
With a high degree of autonomy, but under governance and with the support of an expert Board, you will take the lead to manage and represent the Fund. This position offers you the opportunity to establish and maintain diverse national and international contacts on many levels, for example, through visits to projects and network partners abroad. You will be in contact with a wide variety of people from different levels of organisations and society. The financial compensation and benefits package offered for this role will be commensurate with experience and industry norms.
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 