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28 Jan – 7 Feb 2027

Managing Director

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) presents a leading film festival and year-round programme. We support new and adventurous filmmaking talent, also beyond the screening room, through initiatives such as CineMart, the Hubert Bals Fund, Rotterdam Lab and other industry activities.

Each year in January, IFFR brings together emerging and established filmmakers and artists from around the world for an inspiring programme of independent films, talks, education activities, exhibitions, performances, installations, immersive media and more. IFFR attracts around 300,000 admissions to films and events each year.

The Supervisory Board of IFFR is looking for an exceptional Managing Director to join its Board of Directors, working in peer collaboration with the Festival Director, Vanja Kaludjercic.

About the role

IFFR is led by a Festival Director and Managing Director, who together form the Board of Directors and report directly to the Supervisory Board. They work in peer collaboration, with complementary areas of primary responsibility. The Festival Director is primarily responsible for IFFR’s artistic direction, content strategy and artistic and cultural positioning. The Managing Director is primarily responsible for IFFR’s organisational, financial and institutional growth and sustainability.

Together, the Board of Directors safeguards IFFR’s mission, values, multi-year strategy, reputation and overall development. The Directors jointly establish strategic priorities, the overall scale and direction of the organisation, and lead the Executive Team strategically. Within this shared framework, each Director has clear decision-making authority and accountability for their respective portfolio.

  • Key responsibilities

    In the first two years, priorities are the 2029+ policy plan preparation, the strengthening of funding and business growth, and the further development of the operating model. 

    • Leadership, policy and strategy: translating the mission and multi-year strategy into objectives, priorities and annual plans, together with the Festival Director and the Executive Team. Leading organisational development and growth, and ensuring the Executive Team works effectively as one leadership team.
    • Financial sustainability and business development: primary responsibility for financial strategy, budgeting, financial control, risk management and long-term financial sustainability. Leading a multi-year revenue and partnership strategy, with the Funding & Business Growth team accountable for its results.
    • Organisation and operations: responsibility for the organisational structure, the operating model and ways of working. Developing a cost-effective, sustainable operating model, with the Operations team accountable for delivery.
    • People and culture: responsibility for the People & Culture department strategy and the employment framework. Ensuring IFFR has the leadership and culture to deliver its strategy. Primary Board-level counterpart for employee representation.
    • Audiences and communities: end responsibility for audience strategy, brand development and self-generated revenue, aligned with Funding & Business Growth as one commercial agenda.
    • Governance and accountability: ensuring compliance, overseeing risk and legal affairs, and reporting to the Supervisory Board. Executive responsibility for environmental sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. 
    • External representation: representing IFFR nationally and internationally and building trusted relationships with public authorities, funders and partners. Ensuring, together with the Festival Director, that IFFR’s artistic and institutional positioning reinforce each other.

  • Who are we looking for?

    The Managing Director is an experienced institutional leader with a strong track record in financial and organisational leadership and demonstrable experience of leading organisations through a rapidly changing cultural and industry landscape. The role requires substantial knowledge and experience of the Dutch cultural and/or public-sector landscape. This knowledge may also have been gained in the festival sector outside the public domain. The role further requires the ability to operate credibly with government, municipalities, public funders, governance bodies, businesses, media and other institutional stakeholders. Capacity to build stakeholder networks and trust is essential, with good Rotterdam connections highly preferable. Professional fluency in Dutch and English is required.

    The successful candidate combines strategic thinking with implementation capability and has experience in organisational development, strengthening the operating model, financial sustainability and/or revenue development. They are a strong people leader, comfortable galvanising senior teams through new ways of working, and able to work constructively and confidently in equal partnership with the Festival Director.

    Affinity with international film, arts and culture is essential; direct artistic or programming experience is not required.

  • What do we offer?

    • A full-time role (38 hours, 5 days) in the centre of Rotterdam;
    • Salary in line with the fair pay guidelines of the Ketentafel Filmfestivals. Grading follows the Functiehandboek Referentiefuncties Filmfestivals by Berenschot and aligns with the salary scales of the CAO Theatre & Dance; 
    • Full reimbursement of commuting by public transport;
    • 8% holiday allowance, 25 days of paid leave and a choice of 10 of the 11 national holidays. One of these can be swapped for a holiday from another culture or religion;
    • A collective pension scheme. IFFR pays a contribution that increases with age (age-related scale). The employee contribution is fixed at 7.68% of the pension basis;
    • A seat at the table of one of Europe’s leading film festivals. The team is international and the working language is English.

Application procedure

  1. Apply: CV and motivation letter can be submitted via the link below until Sunday 18 October 2026.
  2. First round: Friday 23 October 2026. Candidates are asked to keep this day free. Interviews are held with Vanja Kaludjercic (Festival Director), Korrie Louwes (Chair of the Supervisory Board) and other members of the Supervisory Board.
  3. Follow-up interviews: expected between 30 October and 5 November 2026, also with the Staff Representation and the Executive Team.

Questions? Contact Korrie Louwes at korrie.louwes@gmail.com.

Inclusivity at IFFR

IFFR strives for a diverse team: a true reflection of the city of Rotterdam, where everyone is welcome, regardless of their ethnicity, economic or cultural background, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status and whether or not they have a disability. We welcome applications from all who are interested in gaining experience in our organisation.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.