Executive director M HKA

Role and authority

The Executive Director is ultimately accountable for general and business management and for M HKA’s organisational, financial, human resources and operational capacity. He or she translates the strategic direction into a coherent and feasible organisation and ensures alignment between resources, people, processes, infrastructure and implementation.

The Executive Director acts within the policy, funding and budgetary framework approved by the governing body. Within the established delegation framework, he or she leads the general, business and organisational operations, takes the necessary decisions and is accountable to the governing body. The mandate is exercised through inspiring and participatory leadership: the director takes responsibility, facilitates dialogue and constructive challenge, and involves staff, partners, communities and external experts in the organisation’s development.

Shared executive responsibility

The Executive Director and the Artistic Director share responsibility for the leadership and development of M HKA, each from their distinct but equal mandate. The Artistic Director oversees the artistic direction, collection, programme, research, public-facing content and artistic positioning. The Executive Director safeguards the institution’s organisational capacity. Decisions with both artistic and business or organisational implications are prepared and taken jointly, in accordance with clear mandates established by the governing body.

Together, both directors safeguard the coherence between artistic ambition, public mission and institutional sustainability and represent M HKA from the perspective of their complementary responsibilities.

Core responsibilities

• Developing a new policy plan for the 2029–2033 period in collaboration with the Artistic Director;
• translating the strategic direction into multi-year plans, budgets, processes, teams and implementation frameworks;
• developing and monitoring the organization, work processes, planning, crossdepartmental project work and internal decision-making;
• directing financial policy, budgeting, reporting, legal obligations, governance and risk management;
• directing human resources policy, organizational development and the business, organizational and support functions;
• integrally overseeing and adjusting infrastructure, ICT, production, visitor services and administrative processes;
• maintaining relations with government, the governing body, funders, partners and other institutional stakeholders;
• developing cultural entrepreneurship in line with the museum’s mission, with attention to new forms of collaboration, knowledge sharing, partnerships and the sustainable deployment of people, resources and infrastructure;
• coordinating the business and organizational aspects of a future infrastructure project, in collaboration with external experts and advisers;
• further developing fundraising and communications, with a focus on audience reach, societal embeddedness, relationship management and sustainable supplementary income;
• in collaboration with the Artistic Director, the team and partners, representing and positioning M HKA locally and internationally;
• in collaboration with the Artistic Director, building and strengthening relationships with private foundations and public authorities;
• in collaboration with the Artistic Director, making M HKA visible and communicating its mission convincingly to external audiences.

Education, knowledge and experience

• Education and experience: Holds at least a master’s degree or has equivalent experience. Management training is an asset.
• Leadership in complex organizations: At least five years of experience in general, business or strategic leadership within an organization with at least 30 FTEs (to be specified in the CV). Experience in the cultural, public or social sector, or in a
  knowledge-intensive context, is highly desirable. Experience with complex transition processes is an asset.
• Operations and organizational development: Demonstrable experience in financial policy, budget management, human resources policy and operational management, as well as in guiding transitions in roles, responsibilities, work processes, consultation structures and leadership culture.
• Cultural entrepreneurship: Experience in fundraising, sponsorship, partnership development, audience strategy or the valorization of knowledge and infrastructure. The candidate translates opportunities into viable revenue models and sustainable
  relationships, while respecting the public mission, substantive integrity and organizational capacity.
• Museum context: Understands the distinctive nature of a contemporary art museum. An artistic profile is not required, but the candidate endorses M HKA’s artistic mission and can translate it into organizational, financial and human resources conditions.
• Language skills: Communicates excellently, both orally and in writing, in Dutch and English. Knowledge of French is a clear asset, as is knowledge of other languages relevant to the museum’s international network.

Competencies

• Collaborative leadership: The Executive Director provides clear direction, inspires and builds trust. He or she connects people, ideas, disciplines and perspectives across the organization.
• Strategy, analysis and implementation: The candidate combines strategic insight with analytical ability and execution capacity. He or she analyses complex organizational, financial and institutional issues, distinguishes priorities from secondary matters, explores scenarios and translates decisions into concrete agreements, planning, budgets and follow-up.
• Decisiveness: The candidate makes choices, sets priorities and conducts difficult conversations in a transparent, professional and respectful manner, with due regard for roles and responsibilities.
• Communication: The candidate explains complex business, financial and organizational information clearly to the governing body, staff, public authorities and partners. The Executive Director supports the Artistic Director in external communications and in representing M HKA as an organization, while respecting the Artistic Director’s ultimate artistic responsibility.
• People and organizational culture: The candidate builds trust, encourages feedback, clarifies responsibilities and contributes to an open, safe and accountable working environment.
• Team-oriented leadership and collaboration: The candidate empowers others, facilitates collaboration and forms a close and equal executive team with the Artistic Director, constructively turning differences into joint decisions. The candidate regards complementarity as a strength.
• Innovative thinking and development: The candidate identifies opportunities for innovation in the organization, operations, partnerships and income development. He or she thinks beyond existing routines, develops feasible initiatives and consistently links innovation to M HKA’s public mission, artistic integrity and organizational capacity.
• Governance and public authorities: Understanding of governance, government relations, subsidy frameworks, legal obligations and governance reporting, and the ability to operate professionally across the governing body, public authorities, staff, partners and external stakeholders.

Practical information

Candidates must submit their application via the designated application link.
Applications must be submitted no later than 1 November 2026. Applications are submitted via M HKA’s recruitment platform: M HKA Jobs with CV, cover letter and vision statement.  A reserve list of successful candidates will be established. This reserve list will remain valid for a period of one year.

More information on the procedure and requirements can be found in the attached information booklet.