1.0 FTE

Start date: To be discussed Amsterdam

De Kleine Nicolaas is a public primary school located in Amsterdam-Zuid, where children grow into curious, self-aware global citizens. With around 210 students and a committed team of 20 colleagues, we provide high-quality education in a small-scale, personal environment. There is a positive dynamic: we are flexible, work together, and dedicate ourselves daily to the happiness and growth of our students. We are a team that supports each other and collectively contributes to the development of our school.

Our school is situated in the heart of the city, within walking distance of Vondelpark, the Schinkelbuurt, and Museumplein. We believe that learning occurs not only within the school walls. Therefore, we connect our education with the world around us. Sustainability, nature, and citizenship are integral parts of our curriculum.

In the coming years, De Kleine Nicolaas will enter a remarkable phase. In 2028, the school will move to a new, sustainable building on the Havenstraatterrein. This will create opportunities for further growth, the development into a child center, and new educational possibilities. The plan is already in place, and we are currently in the initial phase of construction. For this role, we are looking for a director who will provide direction for this development alongside the team.

Working as a director at De Kleine Nicolaas

As a director, you will lead a professional team that works enthusiastically towards quality public education. You will build upon a solid foundation while guiding the school into its next phase. You have ambitions and ideas to increase student enrollment and further enhance the quality of education. Engagement, enthusiasm, and decisiveness are essential.

As our new director, you will bring calm to the organization by being reliable, visible, and accessible. You maintain an overview and set a clear course while being an integral part of the team and actively working to maintain connections.

What makes this role special is the combination of daily school leadership and a strategic development task. You will be responsible for educational quality and play an important role in preparing for the move to the new building and the further growth of De Kleine Nicolaas into a child center.

Where you will make a difference

Educational quality and development

• You have a long-term vision for educational quality, keeping an eye on what is already in place. Your focus is on building upon and securing the current foundation while safeguarding pedagogical quality.
• You translate data and developments into clear choices for the school.
• You monitor the quality of education through lesson visits and conversations with the team.

Personality

• You are involved in daily practice, have a passion for education, and a heart for working with children.
• You have an open and listening attitude towards students, the team, and parents.
• You are social, engaged, and understanding.
• You are assertive when needed and possess a healthy dose of humor and resilience.

Leadership and team development

• You create a safe and professional culture where collaboration is central.
• You provide structure and responsibility where necessary and radiate stability.
• You recognize the talents within the team and give staff the confidence to further develop these.
• You are open and transparent but also dare to have the 'difficult conversations'.

Growth and strategic development

• You are financially literate and can act strategically and effectively.
• You lead the preparation for the move to the new school building.
• You guide the further growth of the school.
• You strengthen the position of De Kleine Nicolaas in Amsterdam-Zuid.
• You are an active networker who seeks collaboration with external partners, the neighborhood, and the municipality.

What you bring

• You hold at least a completed HBO-level education.
• You possess a qualification as a school leader or are in training for this.
• You preferably have some leadership experience within (primary) education.
• You are strong in educational content and have an affinity for quality development.
• You combine strategic insight with a practical approach.
• You gain energy from change and know how to involve people in it.

What we offer you

• We value job satisfaction and professional development highly, allowing you as a director to focus fully on providing quality and inspiring education.
• A unique director's position within a school with a strong foundation and a special development task.
• The opportunity to guide the further development towards a new school building in 2028.
• A warm, professional, and engaged team of 20 colleagues.
• Collaboration with fellow directors within OOadA.
• Support from a professional administrative office in HR, finance, quality, and policy.
• Room for professional development.
• Employment conditions and grading according to the CAO PO, scale D12.

Apply here

We look forward to meeting you and are curious about how you can further strengthen De Kleine Nicolaas. You can respond until September 19, 2026.

Interviews will take place on

September 24 from 2 PM (first interview round); October 1 from 1 PM (second interview round).

For more information about the vacancy, please contact Marloes Schaëfer at m.schaefer@ooada.nl.

For more information about the school, visit our website.

You can apply via the button below.