Amsterdam, Netherlands
Business manager
at Tom Postma Design
Tom Postma Design is hiring a business manager to join its team in Amsterdam.
Tom Postma Design (TPD) is an international design studio based in Amsterdam, specialised in designing permanent and temporary art-related spaces. Our diverse clients include art fairs, museums, cultural institutions, events, galleries and also private individuals. Examples are TEFAF Maastricht and TEFAF New York; Art Basel in Hong Kong and Paris; the Rijksmuseum, Mauritshuis, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Akzo Nobel, ABN AMRO, Mondriaanfonds and various galleries in the Netherlands and abroad. A significant number of our projects are based in Asia.
No matter what scale, our vision remains the same: our designs always serve art and never compete with it. We strive for the optimal presentation of art and art objects in space. The studio was founded in 1998 by Tom Postma – a new generation of creatives is now at the helm, but Tom still plays an important role.
Position requirements
The prospective business manager has demonstrable business, financial and managerial experience, can think collaboratively at a strategic level, is decisive and empathetic, has affinity with art and/or experience in the cultural sector and listens well to the interests and wishes of a creative team and its clients.
TPD is a small team and we expect an all-round, hands-on mentality from all employees, including the business manager.
Role
The business manager ensures a smooth organisation and a pleasant working environment that allows TPD to flourish. The business manager, together with two creative directors, manages the day-to-day operations of the studio, that has a fun and friendly, non-hierarchal, international and hybrid working atmosphere. The business manager takes care of the finances, quotes and contracts, human resources, planning, office lease, internal communication with staff, freelancers and interns, and maintaining and expanding the network of relevant external contacts. The team works together to promote the long-term vision, with the Business Manager focusing on business, financial and personnel policies.
Together with the financial manager, the business manager is responsible for the budget and annual accounts and is accountable to the shareholders. The business manager ensures a professional operation and conducts the evaluation and performance interviews with the team twice a year. The team consists of 15 permanent employees and a number of freelancers, ranging in age from 22 to 68, with diverse backgrounds and nationalities. The working language and communication within TPD is English. TPD has two remote shareholders and an annual budget of about EUR 2 million.
The TPD business manager:
- is representative, enjoys working in a creative environment
- has experience as a manager and is familiar with business processes
- has experience in contract negotiations with customers and preparing quotes, is entrepreneurial and can generate income
- has a network that reflects this experience
- has financial insight and is familiar with laws and regulations
- works in a structured way, is analytical and solution-oriented
- has an inclusive approach and demonstrates excellent social skills
- is a team player, connector, has a facilitating and supportive leadership style
- has proven work experience, ideally in a similar position
- has excellent communication skills
- has a good spoken and written command of Dutch and English
- has an affinity with the visual arts/cultural sector
TPD offers:
- a dynamic, positive and inspiring environment with an enthusiastic team where you can fulfil your ambitions
- state-of-the-art clients and projects at an international, high-quality level
- a design studio with a long history, good reputation and healthy business operations
- a challenging development perspective for both the organisation and yourself
- a commensurate employment package
Procedure
If you recognise yourself in the above profile, please send us a letter of application with a clear motivation statement, including a CV (both in PDF), before 7 September 2022. Please send your application to Floor van der Oord via the apply for job button below quoting ‘business manager vacancy’.
Candidates selected for the first round of interviews will be notified in the second week of September. The interviews are scheduled for the third week of September. After a second interview with the director/shareholder, among others, we will announce our final choice. The business manager should preferably start on 1 November 2022.