As a Supervisory Board member, you will play a key role in overseeing VSO Netherlands’s governance and management. The Supervisory Board bring skills and expertise in the following areas:

  •  Global commercial experience.
  • Communications, marketing, reputational management, and social media.
  • Digital, data analytics and insight.
  • IT/digital planning and implementation including cybersecurity.
  • International development experience.
  • Financial direction, oversight, and compliance.

VSO NL’s future strategy will focus on several elements including increasing its public profile, supporting global fundraising capacity, building alliances through global engagement, and creating new (corporate) partnerships. VSO Netherlands currently has 25 employees working in various global teams.

The Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board (Raad van Toezicht) of VSO Netherlands has a supervisory role on policy and performance of the organisation and can give advice on all subjects. The Supervisory Board consists of a Chair and 4 members. They meet at least 4 times a year and at least once a year they meet with the staff representation (PVT).

VSO Netherlands is seeking to appoint 1 capable individual to join the current Supervisory Board, adding value to the organization in terms of expertise, network and profile. Join us as a Supervisory Board Member and help us work towards our vision of a world without poverty.

To complement the current composition of the Supervisory Board the new Supervisory Board Member should have strong skills, experience (over 10 years) and knowledge in at least one of the areas below:

  1. Organisational Development – Finance; VSO is going through a process of change and in all its operations, seeks to maintain a high level of financial management and control. We seek to engage a board member with specific expertise in organisational development and especially financial management who can add to the work on financial management and interaction with the director and accountant. This board member will also be a member of VSO Netherlands’ audit committee.
  2. Fundraising and Marketing; Public fundraising and increasing our brand profile is a continuous goal for VSO Netherlands. VSO seeks to engage a board member with expertise in this field who can supervise this part of the work in particular and add to its future development.

Responsibilities of the board

  • Provide mentorship and guidance to VSO Netherlands and specifically its co-directors on the development of strategies
  • Support networking and fundraising at a strategic and practical level
  • Contribute actively to the Supervisory Board Member role in giving strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
  • Ensure that VSO complies with its memorandum and articles of association, charity law, company law and other relevant legislation and regulations
  • Safeguard the reputation and values of VSO
  • Ensure the effective and efficient administration of VSO and its financial stability
  • Appoint the chief executive and monitor her or his performance
  • Use any specific knowledge, experience, expertise or perspective to help the board reach sound decisions
  • Serve on sub-committees of the Board

Supervisory Board Member Specification

The Supervisory Board consists of persons whom are expected to feel committed to development cooperation and poverty reduction. Supervisory Board Members should possess understanding or experience of operating within a board in a charitable, public or private sector organisation.
They should also demonstrate:

  • A commitment to VSO’s mission, values and objectives
  • An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of a Supervisory Board
  • A proven track record of integrity, sound judgement and effective decision making
  • A track record of commitment to promoting equality and diversity
  • Experience of building and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders and colleagues to achieve organisational objectives

Profile

In view of the mission and methods of VSO Netherlands, the Supervisory Board should also be represented by members with the following competencies/attributes:

  • Knowledge of strategic management.
  • Financial literacy.
  • Knowledge of development cooperation and a relevant network.
  • Knowledge of fundraising in the Dutch context focused on a wider public.
  • Knowledge of business processes.

In addition, each Member has the following competencies/attributes:

  • A relevant network to support VSO with access to business partners.
  • A business and practical approach that meets the professionalism and commercialisation of VSO and the development sector.
  • Decisive and the ability to work well in a team.
  • Diplomatic.
  • Supervisory experience in the field of development cooperation or a related sector.
  • International experience or work experience in a multicultural environment (preferably Anglo-Saxon).
  • Knowledge of the Dutch charity market and the ability to translate this into policy advices for VSO.
  • Having a helicopter view to be able to manage adequately.
  • Prepared to invest time and energy to benefit VSO.

About the role

In addition to the opportunity of sharing your knowledge we offer you a role in an ambitious, result oriented and international development organisation.
This is a voluntary position, travel costs within the Netherlands can be reimbursed.
Time commitment is around 6 hours per month with at least four face-to-face Board meetings a year which are usually held in VSO’s office in Utrecht, with other meetings held online. Supervisory Board Members are appointed for 4 years and can be re-elected for a second term.

VSO values diversity in our workforce and leadership. Supervisory Board members are expected to abide to VSO ‘s Code of Conduct, and report any potential conflicts of interest.

About the selection procedure

If you are interested in this role please send your application letter (max. 1 page) and CV to Anita van Dijk at personeelszaken@vso.nl before the 17th of May, mentioning Vacancy Supervisory Board Member – Fundraising and Marketing or Organisational Development –Finance.
Interviews with the selection committee, consisting of current Board Members and the Co-directors of VSO Netherlands, will take place in the week of the 27th of May.
The current Board aims to appoint the 1 new Supervisory Board Member in the 3rd quarter of 2024.
For more information about this vacancy you can contact Merijn de Jong of Irene Sleven. Co-directors of VSO Netherlands, at m.dejong@vso.nl or i.sleven@vso.nl

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Fotocredits: Paul Wambugu