The Royal
Tropical Institute (Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen or KIT) is an
independent centre for knowledge and expertise in the field of international
and inter-cultural cooperation housed in a magnificent historic edifice. KIT’s
mission is to further sustainable development, eradication of poverty,
preservation and exchange between cultures and to raise interest and support
for these aims in the Netherlands. KIT has five main sections: Information &
Library Services, Development Policy & Practice, Biomedical Research,
Tropentheater and Tropenmuseum, and three staff departments: Personnel,
Information & Organisation, Finance & Control and Communication,
Hospitality & Facilities. KIT employs around 360 staff in all.
The
Tropenmuseum invites applicants for the position of
TROPENMUSEUM DIRECTOR (full-time - 38 hours a week) to
start 1 January 2012.
The
Tropenmuseum enjoys a reputation at home and abroad as an ethnographic museum.
Using its collection and expertise, the museum promotes knowledge and exchange
between cultures. The museum possesses an extremely rich collection of objects
and photos. Attracting around 200,000 visitors annually, it is one of the
country’s leading museums.
The
Tropenmuseum presents, researches and promotes knowledge and exchange between
cultures. It employs all the tools available to museums: exhibitions,
publications, educational and other activities; it provides an empathetic
experience to a wide and varied audience. The museum offers an innovative
choice of themes and presentation methods, emphasising appreciation for
cultural diversity, taking an active part internationally in culture and
development, and playing an important role in education.
Through
its financial connection to the Ministry of Development Aid, the museum is
closely involved in international cooperation and exchange of expertise.
Key themes
at the Tropenmuseum are:
• Culture
and development;
• Cultural
exchange and identity;
• Colonialism
and decolonisation;
• Contemporary
art and visual culture.
In recent
years, the museum has totally revised its permanent presentation. This is an
ongoing process. Plans for the coming years also emphasise realising new
sources of income, strengthening ties with targeted groups in society and
promoting long-term, mutual international contacts.
In a time
of financial stringency, the new director is tasked with maintaining the
museum’s innovative mission based on the latest expertise, public focus and
sound financial management.
The museum
has around 60 staff members in permanent employment. They are supported by a
range of flex employees and freelancers. The museum comprises five departments;
Administration, Collection, Public & Presentation, Museum Business and
Tropenmuseum Junior. The heads of the departments and the director form the
management team. The Tropenmuseum Director reports and is, as a part of KIT’s
staff, responsible to KIT’s Supervisory Board.
Function Description:
Tropenmuseum Director
·
Is
responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of a long-term
vision for the Tropenmuseum, as well as policy and management of the museum
within KIT;
·
Is
involved in organising funding for the Tropenmuseum within KIT and stimulating
substantial additional sources of income;
·
Ensures
the Tropenmuseum’s position at home and abroad in terms of content, artistic
quality and communication and is involved in acquisition and evaluation of
(new) projects;
·
Leads
the department management team, and indirectly also the Tropenmuseum staff;
·
Promotes
collaboration between the Tropenmuseum and other KIT departments, for example
in (inter-cultural) super-departmental projects.
Function Qualifications:
The new
director’s curriculum vitae and motivation show that the applicant has
attained:
• Academic
levels of work and thinking;
• Evident
relevant experience in a museum environment, preferably internationally
oriented;
• Vision,
capacity for strategic thinking;
• Experience
in building and maintaining contacts in public and private life;
• A
motivational, stimulating and coaching leadership style;
• Well-developed
communicative skills, verbal and written;
• Organisational
sensitivity.
To fulfil the position successfully, the director must
also have the following qualities.
·
Cultural enterprise: you have a vision for the future
of the museum. You think in innovative terms and are sensitive to developments
that may influence museum policy. You position the Tropenmuseum as an
attractive partner for collaborative projects. You are able to realise
additional funding and to persuade financial partners to make long-term
commitments to the museum. You ensure financial continuity through
collaborative projects at home and abroad. You acquired this expertise
preferably through your commercial experience and/or through your experience in
realising sponsorships at home and abroad. You focus on working efficiently.
·
Administrative sensitivity: in contacts with both
administrative bodies and line departments you combine vision, resolve and
persuasive power with understanding and respect for diversity and a belief in
collaboration. You have a clear grasp of political and administrative
mechanisms and know how to obtain advantage. You recognise the risk of
political damage in time and assess successfully the possible effects that your
own policy and/or proposals have on other organisations or departments. You see
how an organisation’s policy areas interconnect. You can connect the day-to-day
running of the museum to future developments, put these into perspective and
can establish support for the Tropenmuseum. In this you take account of the
interests of those concerned both in and outside the museum and manage to
maintain a balance.
·
Decisive leader: you take a clear standpoint in
situations, however vague, and you opt for a direction. You make choices, even
if some factors are insufficiently clear and seem likely to remain so. You
calculate risk consciously.
·
People manager: you know how to deploy your
staff’s qualities effectively and can realise the Tropenmuseum’s objectives
with respect and sensitivity towards people. You are a motivated, inspirational
and coaching leader. You have a natural interest in the professional and
personal development of your staff.
·
Networker: you have a wide, useful network
(international, Dutch, museums, funds, government, EU). You make and maintain
contacts with persons and organisations that are important to the Tropenmuseum.
You deploy these in various areas to obtain support and cooperation, for
collaborative projects and as critical sparring partners.
For more information about this vacancy please contact
Mr J. Donner, Chairman of the KIT Supervisory Board, phone +31 (0)20 5688652.
For additional information please visit our websites: www.tropenmuseum.nl and
www.kit.nl.
Information
about the Tropenmuseum and KIT relating to this vacancy (such as KIT’s annual
report and Tropenmuseum’s business plan) is available on request. To receive
documentation by mail please add a request on the application form.
Applications should be submitted before 30 June 2011. Please use the online
application form accessible via our website: http://www.kit.nl/65152
The
application process may involve a selection assessment. Application panels with
varying members will conduct at least two rounds of interviews. The aim is to
fill the vacancy as of 1 January 2012.
