Two members of the Supervisory Board – KIT
Introduction
KIT is a knowledge institute, business location and hospitality venue with a mission: to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable world. From our campus in Amsterdam and through our global partner network, we enable people and communities to bring about positive change.
KIT Institute is an independent knowledge institute. The work of our experts focuses on global health, gender equality and sustainable economic development. The institute offers various education programmes, including a Master’s programme in International Health.
KIT’s landmark building is a sought-after office location. We share our building with a thriving KIT Community of more than 1,000 people working for an inclusive and sustainable world. Part of the building is available for conferences and events provided by our hospitality company KIT Events.
Our campus also houses KIT Hotel, which is currently being renovated, and KIT Live: a stage for art and culture equipped with two dance and music studios, a theatre, a podcast studio, and a café.
SDG House
Since 2017, KIT’s premises have included SDG House, a resident community of more than 70 entrepreneurs, NGOs and other organizations that work towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG House is the hotspot in Amsterdam for sustainability events and entrepreneurship, convening people who share the common purpose of achieving the SDGs through a diverse range of work and activity covering urban development, impact investments, inclusive finance, fair trade, organic product development and more.
Core values
KIT is guided by a set of values that define our relationship with clients, partners, employees and the community in which we operate. They are Sustainability, Inclusiveness, Transparency and Independence.
Sustainability
All decisions and operations are guided by sustainability, meaning development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and therefore takes a long term perspective.
Inclusive
At KIT the social, economic and political inclusion of all people are empowered and promoted. The approach to sustainable development is also founded on the principle of inclusion. The experience shows that in any change process, all actors need to be consulted and included from the outset in order for progress to be sustained.
Transparent
The organization is committed to transparency and actively seeks to exchange all essential information required for successful collaboration, decision-making, and accountability.
Independent
KIT is independent and acts according to their own values and judgement, not coloured by religion, politics, ethnicity or the influence of any group or class.
KIT values diversity of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin and is taking steps to become a more inclusive workplace, taking into account diverse needs and personal circumstances.
Strategy
KIT’s 2021-2024 strategy has been defined on the basis of an updated vision and mission referring to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and projected impact outcomes. A strategy update will be developed by the recently appointed CEO, Mr. Henri van Eeghen, together with his management team.
KIT is in a unique position to maximize impact goals based on the SDG’s, globally through its applied knowledge work and locally via its campus in Amsterdam. The applied knowledge work implies advisory services, education, training, and thought leadership on health, gender, diversity and sustainable economic development. The KIT campus serves as an initiator and host of SDG activities and focusses all its efforts on enhancing knowledge, convening and agenda setting for a sustainable world bridging local issues within the global context. The campus is the place to convene, stay, eat and be inspired and contribute to the mission of the organization, making KIT a truly “Glocal” organization.
With respect to KIT’s knowledge work, one of the priorities is to build a global partnership organization, one comprised of independent but likeminded and strongly connected organizations on all continents, replacing the North-South model of sub-contracting local consultants and partners. Another strategic priority is to leverage KIT’s knowledge to inform policy debates and gain a reputation as a thought leader and think tank on key areas of their expertise. KIT is also investing in upgrading and greening its campus facilities, of which a major renovation of the hotel is the largest investment. As per May 2023 KIT has permanently turned off the gas and removed the boilers from the building, making KIT, Amsterdam’s largest national monument, fossil-free.
Governance
KIT has the statutory form of an association (vereniging) with private and corporate members. The governing bodies of the association are: the Council of Members, the Supervisory Board and the (single-headed) Executive Board (represented by the CEO).
The CEO is accountable to the Supervisory Board.
In addition, there are staff units that often work for both equally important business activities. A number of activities are housed in separate BVs. The workforce consists of 141 employees (approximately 126 FTE) and additionally 27 employees (21 FTE) in the hospitality sector.
The members of the Supervisory Board are:
- Mr. Paul Strengers – chairperson (until 28 June 2024)
- Mrs. Tanja Nagel – member (chairperson as per 28 June 2024)
- Mr. Philip Jan Flach – member, member audit committee (until 28 June 2024)
- Mr. Jacques Kwak – member, chair audit committee
- Mrs. Linda Broekhuizen – member, vice-chair
Collective profile – Chair and Members of the Supervisory Board
The aim for KIT’s Supervisory Board is to work on the basis of a representative overview of the organization’s objectives, activities and stakeholders based on relevant knowledge and experience in:
- Finance, banking, accounting, financial controlling and/or impact investing
- Good governance, supervision, legal knowledge
- Impact, ESG, sustainability
- Health/medical experience, economic development, agribusiness
- Scientific (practice-oriented) research, knowledge institution, academic, (international) education
- International network: knowledge institute
- Advisory, consultancy, training, marketing, positioning
- International business (preferably also North/South experience)
- Real estate
- Hospitality
- Network in the Netherlands: campus
- Change management, leadership, management, organization
- Affinity with fund raising (institutional, philanthropic, foundations)
- Understanding and overseeing the stakeholder landscape (national and international): municipality, residents, tenants, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Organizations, iNGOs, funding, institutional clients, universities, SDGs, business community, etc.
About the vacancies
Currently we have several vacancies in the Supervisory Board and one member will resign later this year, according to his retirement schedule. Partners at Work will start with the search for new members. It is important that new members at the Supervisory Board endorse the objectives and the values of KIT and feel a strong affinity with the social relevance of KIT’s mission. Specifically, knowledge on social entrepreneurship, sustainability, UN SDG’s and inclusiveness is preferred.
Considering the strategic development of the organization, we specifically search for candidates who jointly bring (several of) the following criteria based on background, knowledge and experience:
- international experience in the academic world (global south), leadership experience in the applied / scientific knowledge world, preferably in health and gender and somebody with broad exposure to an international context and network. A candidate with a non-Dutch national background, coming from one of the countries the KIT is active in is preferred. Working within collaborative structures with other institutes based on various continents would be an advantage;
- broad international (change) management experience in one of the key area’s KIT is active in;
- a network in the city of Amsterdam/ the Netherlands;
- knowledge and/or experience in managing socially driven (event) locations;
- preference would be given to at least one younger supervisory board member;
- a candidate with a migration background;
- experience in finance and/or accounting, capable and available to join the audit committee.
Furthermore the following characteristics apply for the new members:
- demonstrable affinity/experience with the mission, vision, and field of work of the KIT;
- endorsement of the core values of the KIT: sustainability, inclusivity, transparency, and independence;
- experience with/understanding of the (strategic) role of the Supervisory Board;
- team player, transparent, enthusiastic, open communication;
- focus on inclusive people management;
- no (potential) conflicts of interest with KIT’s activities or organization;
- proficient in both Dutch and English language.
A member of the Supervisory Board is appointed for a period of five years and eligible for reappointment for another five years. The Supervisory Board convenes at least four times a year or more, as necessary.
This is an unpaid position, (travel) expenses will be reimbursed.
Additional information
KIT Royal Tropical Institute aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. Inclusivity of talent and diversity of people and perspectives are considered as valuable resources that contribute to the mission. KIT provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect, which makes them unique.
About the procedure
KIT is guided in this search and selection procedure by Nicole Boevé and Karen Kragt of Partners at Work. They will conduct initial in-depth interviews with potentially suitable candidates. Subsequently, the most suitable candidates are invited for the selection interview(s). Selected candidates will then be invited for various introductory meetings with other stakeholders, such as representatives of the Works Council and the Members' Council. Reference verification can be part of the selection.
Please show your interest in this position and upload your CV and motivation via the button 'SOLLICITEER'.
Latest response date: 31st May.
For further information, please contact Nicole Boevé or Karen Kragt: + 31 35 – 548 0760 or send an email to: n.boeve@partnersatwork.nl or k.kragt@partnersatwork.nl
