The Gerrit Rietveld Academie is looking for a:
Headteacher Ceramics for 16 hours per week (0.4 fte)
The organisation
The Gerrit Rietveld Academie (GRA) is a small-scale, independent internationally oriented university of applied sciences for visual arts and design. The GRA consists of the Rietveld Academie (Bachelor's education (BA), divided into 14 departments, the Sandberg Institute (Master's education (MA), divided into 7 departments), the Lectorate Art & Spatial Praxis (LASP) and 23 workshops. The academy has around 850 students and 130 course participants. The students come from 55 different countries, making the academy a diverse community.
200 teachers are attached to the entire academy for undergraduate and graduate education, most of whom are also independent artists or designers or have a practice linked to the artistic field as contemplators or theorists. The academy employs 85 staff members who facilitate and support education.
The academy is characterised by research-based and experimental art education, where (head) teachers, workshop staff, students and staff together shape and give substance to education and research. Diversity and inclusion, ecology and sustainability are important priorities of the GRA and therefore guide the actions of the members of the academy community.
Day-to-day management is in the hands of the directors of Bachelor's, Master's and Business Administration supporting the Executive Board (CvB), which is accountable to the Supervisory Board (RvT). Education is supported by a large number of workplaces and staff departments, such as Financial Administration, Student Affairs, IT, Facilities, Public Rietveld and the HRM department.
A cross-section of the community forms the participation council.
The Ceramics Department
The Ceramics Department of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie offers a three-year bachelor's programme that trains students to become independent visual artists and/or designers who can assume a critical position within the field. The ceramics department also offers students the opportunity to gain experience from and beyond the ceramics field and thus explore and transcend the boundaries of the discipline with their sculptural spatial works. The Ceramics Department has a material-related teaching department with its own workshop where practical, substantive and technical skills are developed. Here, a thorough technical introduction to the ceramic process is provided and experience is gained in mould making, casting, turning, glazing and manually building forms, among others. Students are challenged to craftily explore the possibilities of clay and other materials using both traditional and modern techniques. The material knowledge so acquired forms the basis; the emphasis is ultimately on developing an authentic form language in dialogue with the field of contemporary visual art.
There is constant interaction between students, teachers and technicians in the department with regard to experimentation, performance, reflection and concept formation. Knowledge is shared through individual guidance and group discussions. From specific assignments and own initiative, plans arise for which a suitable material translation is sought.
What will you do?
You combine your own vision of the constantly changing developments within art and art education, and the related discourse. You are able to clearly communicate the core values of the department both within the department, at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and outside. You are familiar with the process of 'making' or have close knowledge of how these processes take place. You have organisational insight, keep an overview and dare to experiment, both pedagogically and project-wise. You are able to deliver lessons, meetings and lectures in fluent English.
It is a significant desire from within the department to also teach or carry out other teaching activities within the appointment as headteacher (which is 0.4 FTE). We see this as an essential part of this central role to be in touch with the entire student population. Organising excursions and projects is part of this.
Ceramics is a horizontally managed department (not top-down). The nature of our programme requires a willingness to be present at the academy a lot and to work at flexible hours (attendance at open days, exams, assessments, etc.). You are the visible hub of the department and know how to deal with what comes up daily/weekly while improvising.
In consultation with the management, teachers and students, as head of the department, possibly supported by a departmental assistant, you lead the process of educational development of the department in a way that connects with the professional field and fits within the academy's long-term vision.
Together with the management, you are responsible for further developing and propagating the academy's identity. You also work with fellow heads on the mutual alignment of the GRA's study programmes.
The head of a department at the GRA is also a manager, someone who takes care of and contributes to the development of a team of teachers. So people skills are important. As head, you are also responsible for monitoring your budget and working and acting within the given financial frameworks. You guard against both human and budgetary exhaustion.
You have the competences required for this position, such as: analytical thinking skills, stress-resistance, ability to put things into perspective and decision-making skills. You have demonstrated the ability to deal with conflicting interests and have experience in leading professionals and managing budgets.
In short, you are responsible for the quality of the programme, the care of the students, the staff, the departmental formation and the departmental budget.
What profile do you have?
• Management skills; financial/ formation management, conversation skills, sensitivity skills and situational leadership.
• Leadership of enthusiastic professionals and working as part of a team.
• Specialised knowledge and understanding of developments in the field of visual art and design, based on personal experience in your own professional practice.
• Social, connecting and communicative.
• You can effortlessly link 'making and thinking'.
• Brings along your own network and knows how to use it qualitatively within the education system.
• Knowledge of and insight into developments within higher education.
• Skills in developing, propagating and defending educational policy, viewpoints, new ideas, educational programming.
• Skills in designing and organising educational implementation in accordance with policy, schedule study year and programming.
• Experience with and knowledge of diversity and inclusiveness in relation to the target group.
• Teaching skills, so that you can enthuse, challenge, surprise, give confidence and activate students.
• Command of the Dutch language in comprehension and English in word and writing.
• Preferably a relevant academic education.
• Represents the department in the media, or at external locations.
Employment conditions
• According to the collective labour agreement for higher professional education, the position is graded in scale 13, which has a maximum of € 6,579.22 gross per month based on a full-time appointment (40 hours per week). The scale salary offered is determined on the basis of knowledge and experience.
• Good fringe benefits including holiday allowance (8%), a year-end bonus of 8.3%, a very generous number of holidays, a pension scheme (employer pays 70% of the premium) and development opportunities such as obtaining a master's or didactic degree.
• A one-year contract for 16 hours per week (0.4 fte). This position has a maximum temporary duration of 4 years, with the prospect of a contract for an indefinite period of time in case of proven suitability and in case of a positive board formation.
Apply
This vacancy is a salaried position. For this, it is important that you have a valid residence permit if you are a non-EU national.
This vacancy has been published simultaneously internally and externally. In case of equal suitability, internal candidates have priority over external candidates.
For more information, please contact Marjan Meijlink, HR advisor at marjan.meijlink@rietveldacademie.nl .
Applications accompanied by a motivation letter of maximum 2 pages and a curriculum vitae should be addressed to Ben Zegers, Director Bachelor of Education, at personeelszaken@rietveldacademie.nl. The response deadline closes on Sunday 7 May.
The first round of interviews and second round of interviews will take place in May and June.
Diversity
The Gerrit Rietveld Academie strives for a broader representation of staff, students, partners and programmes that reflects the diversity of the city and the professional field. Anyone wishing to contribute to this is expressly invited to respond.
Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.