Vacancy: Head of Interactive/Media/Design (0.5 FTE)

24 March 2026

The Royal Academy of Art, KABK, has a vacancy per 1 September for the position of Head of Interactive/Media/Design (0.5 FTE).
Vacancy number 26-014

What will you do

As the Head of the BA Interactive/Media/Design, with a focus on the management of the department, you function between the educational department with teachers and students, and the organisation of the KABK.

On one hand, you lead the department in developing and supporting a healthy and inspirational environment for both teachers and students. On the other hand, you dedicate time to the managerial processes and contribute to policy development in the KABK, such as periodic educational evaluations, accreditation processes, budget management, and HR tasks such as staff performance appraisals. You communicate your vision and experience in annual plans and reports that are informed and discussed in both the direction of the department of Interactive/Media/Design and the KABK.

Together with the I/M/D teachers, and in close collaboration with the department coordinator, you work to foster an environment for creative and personal development. You are responsible for the development and implementation of the curriculum. Your focus in the department is towards facilitation of processes, both in curriculum development as well as team development. You supervise agreements and contracts with teachers. You are charged with a range of tasks, such as chairing teacher meetings, monitoring the annual workload and task allocations of teachers and chairing meetings of the work field committee.

With an eye for both constructive continuity and the need for innovation, you are to develop, safeguard and connect with the current educational vision, organisational structure and curriculum, especially regarding the monitoring of social safety, inclusion and diversity within the department in order to maintain and further develop a healthy working and learning environment for both students and staff.

On the academy-wide level, you work closely with the deputy director. You collaborate with and within the academic organisation: your direct colleagues are the heads of other departments, with whom you work to strengthen the KABK. Here, processes such as policy development, accreditations and multi-annual faculty planning are part of your responsibilities. Tuesday is management day, which means most internal meetings with other departments are scheduled on Tuesday.

Your profile

Leadership and management

  • You are an experienced and collaborative leader who can guide a diverse team of teachers and support staff in a higher education environment;
  • You create a supportive and inspiring working and learning environment for students and staff, with attention to social safety, inclusion and diversity;
  • You have experience with team leadership, HR processes and staff development, including conducting performance appraisals and supporting professional growth;
  • You are able to oversee organisational processes, manage competing priorities and translate strategic goals into concrete actions for the department;
  • You communicate clearly, listen actively and are able to facilitate constructive dialogue within a team;
  • You combine decisiveness with empathy and have the authority to lead while fostering collegial collaboration.

Educational and organisational vision

  • You have an understanding of contemporary art and design education and the role of experimentation, research and critical reflection in BA-level
    learning environments;
  • You are able to facilitate curriculum development processes together with teachers and translate educational vision into sustainable programme
    structures;
  • You contribute to academy-wide policy development and quality assurance processes such as accreditation, periodic programme evaluations and
    annual planning cycles;
  • You are able to connect departmental developments with broader institutional strategies and developments in higher education;
  • Sector knowledge and networks;
  • You are familiar with developments in interactive media, design and technology, and their relation to contemporary art and society;
  • You understand the dynamics of higher professional education (HBO) in the Netherlands and the European context;
  • You have an active national and/or international professional network relevant to the field and are willing to use this network to strengthen the
    programme and its connections to the professional field.
  • Qualifications and practical requirements
  • You have demonstrated leadership or management experience in a relevant educational, cultural or creative organisation;
  • You hold at least a Master’s degree; a PhD or equivalent professional experience is considered an advantage;
  • You are proficient in English. Knowledge of Dutch is preferred; if necessary, you are willing to follow a Dutch language course after
    appointment;
  • You live in the Netherlands or are willing to relocate.

About the KABK

The Royal Academy of Art (KABK) forms, together with the Royal Conservatoire (KC) the University of the Arts, The Hague. We offer HBO bachelor and master education, as well as preparatory courses. There is an intensive collaboration with Leiden University. The University of the Arts is located at two locations in the center of The Hague.

What we offer

At first, we offer a contract for one year. The salary amounts to a maximum of € 8,020.60 gross per month for a full-time appointment. The position is classified as pay scale 13 under the Collective Agreement for Higher Professional Education (cao Hbo).

Furthermore, we offer a holiday allowance of 8% and a fixed end-of-year bonus of 8.3%; generous holiday leave, part of which is to be taken during school holidays; NS Business Card for commuting if you live > 8 kilometres from work: and good study and development opportunities.

Information & application

More information

If you would like to learn more about the position first, Dr Pavlos Kountouriotis, DeputyDirector, e-mail: p.kountouriotis@kabk.nl, will be pleased to provide you with further information.

How to apply

Please email your CV and a cover letter no later than Tuesday 5th of May 2026 to werving@hdkdenhaag.nl, mentioning vacancy number 26-014.

First round of interviews is scheduled for Monday 18 May and second round for 1 June.

The vacancy is open internally and externally at the same time. Internal candidates have priority in the event of equal suitability.

Within the University of the Arts, we are working to create a community in which diversity and inclusion are the basic principles. We want the uniqueness of each individual to be recognised and welcomed within the school. We therefore invite you to apply and are curious to know who you are.