Head of Bureau Collecties

Bureau Collecties: Five Subdepartments

As Head of Bureau Collecties, you will lead and guide several specialized subdepartments: Registrar’s Office, Beheer & Behoud CC NL Amersfoort, Collectiebeheer & Logistiek, Aanwinstenteam, and Beeld & Registratie. You will be ultimately responsible for the department’s operations and will promote collaboration between people, processes, and disciplines. You will ensure smooth day-to-day operations and safeguard the coherence between the subdepartments. You are familiar with the museum sector and have the experience to understand what is needed. You bring proven leadership skills and the ability to connect and align people.

You will directly manage the heads of these subdepartments, as well as a team of three staff members. Bureau Collecties consists of approximately 60 employees. You understand what is needed, are able to set clear boundaries, create space where possible, and intervene when necessary. You work in a structured way and take a pragmatic approach to the challenges that come your way.

Your key responsibilities include:

• further developing a vision for the department’s broad scope, ensuring effective policy implementation, and translating this into strategy, multi-year plans, and concrete actions;
• setting clear priorities and ensuring ongoing alignment within your own department and with other departments;
• leading cross-departmental projects and optimizing work processes;
• representing your department within the Rijksmuseum;
• fostering a professional work environment and ensuring good working conditions.

Working for the Rijksmuseum

Bureau Collecties is part of the Collections sector and forms a vital foundation of the museum’s operations. We ensure that the collection is in the right condition, in the right place, and supported with the right information - ready for presentation, research, loans, and publication.

Your management team will consist of the heads of the subdepartments - teams where expertise and collaboration go hand in hand. You will be responsible for setting the overall direction.

Bureau Collecties works closely with the other departments within the Collections sector: Beeldende Kunst, Geschiedenis, Rijksprentenkabinet, Tentoonstellingen, Research Services, and Conservation & Science.

You will report to the General Director.

What will you contribute?

We are curious to learn more about who you are. Your joining is of great importance to the Rijksmuseum.

We are looking for someone who leads with conviction and is willing to take on a coordinating role, who is strong in managing professionals and maintaining an overview across multiple subdepartments simultaneously. You know how to provide both space and direction and are confident in making decisions, with simplicity as a guiding principle. You communicate easily with other departments and ensure good collaboration, even when interests differ. You play a connecting role in this.

Additionally, you have experience with:

• collection management in a museum context is a strong advantage;
• managing projects and experience with process optimization;
• leading professional teams;
• organizational development and policy implementation.

Finally, you have a good command of both Dutch and English.

What will you get in return?

You will be given the chance to work in – and behind the scenes of – a leading, internationally oriented museum, together with dedicated specialists. In addition, we offer:

• A gross monthly salary of €5.909 to €8.986 based on a 36-hour workweek (scale 15 of the museum collective labor agreement);
• 8% holiday allowance and a 3.4% year-end bonus;
• A one-year contract for 36 hours per week, with the intention to extend;
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs from 5 km (up to a maximum of €345 per month). Costs for parking your bicycle in a guarded bike facility at the station are also fully reimbursed;
• After your probation period, you will receive a Museumkaart granting unlimited access to 450 museums in the Netherlands and beyond. You are always welcome at the Rijksmuseum (during opening hours) with one free guest;
• Participation in various events and sports activities, such as the Rijksrun.

Enthusiastic?

We warmly welcome applications from all interested candidates. Do you need additional support during the application process? Please let us know - we’re happy to assist you. This is how the application process will be managed:

1. Once we receive your CV and motivation letter, we’ll get to work on your application.

2. Do we see a match? Then we’ll gladly schedule a first interview. This conversation will take place on Tuesday, 16 September. We’re eager to learn more about who you are, your experience, and what appeals to you about this position.

3. If the first interview goes well, we’ll invite you for a second interview on Thursday, 25 September.

4. If both sides are enthusiastic, we’ll extend an offer.

*An assessment will be part of the selection procedure and will take place in week 40.

Do you have any content-related questions? Cecile van der Harten (Hoofd Beeld & Registratie) will be happy to answer them via C.vander.Harten@rijksmuseum.nl.

Do you have questions about the process? Puck Bastiaansen  (Recruitment Business Partner) will gladly assist you via recruitment@rijksmuseum.nl.

Please note: we only consider applications submitted via the Rijksmuseum website. Unfortunately, applications sent by email cannot be processed.