Co-chair of Europeana Foundation Advisory Board (reference EFAB2024-01)

Become part of the Europeana Foundation’s Advisory Board and take on the role of Co-chair

Role Overview
Are you passionate about digital cultural heritage for the public good? Do you have expertise and a visionary outlook? If so, we invite you to become part of our Advisory Board and take on the role of Co-chair. In this moment of tremendous change in culture and digitality, and at an important juncture for the Europeana Foundation, this role offers the opportunity to learn, but also to influence the direction of the Foundation. You will take part in a dynamic, diverse and remarkable board — helping the Foundation achieve its mission of supporting the digital transformation of the EU’s cultural heritage sector and putting Europe’s rich cultural heritage to good use.
This Advisory Board member and Co-chair role is an unpaid, not-for-profit sector board-service position.
The Europeana Foundation is committed to principles of diversity, inclusivity, nondiscriminatory practice and equal opportunity for all applicants. We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and experiences.

About Us
The Europeana Foundation is an independent, non-profit value- and mission-driven organisation. The Foundation, together with the Europeana Aggregators’ Forum and the Europeana Network Association, form the Europeana Initiative. As part of the Europeana Initiative, the Foundation is tasked by the European Commission to steward the common European data space for cultural heritage leading a consortium of 18 partners. The Foundation also contributes to other digital initiatives that put cultural heritage to good use in the world. While the world is undergoing rapid and system-wide transformations: a climate crisis, socio and geopolitical challenges and the most recent wave of a digital revolution, we believe that digital cultural heritage and therefore the Europeana Foundation has a significant role to play - both as a contributor to and as an enabler of Europe’s ‘Triple transformation’ with green, social and digital interconnected dimensions.

About Our Governance
The Europeana Foundation is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and has over 60 dedicated staff members representing 20+ different nationalities. The Foundation is steered by a Board of Directors overseen by a Supervisory Board of 7 experts from cultural and scientific heritage organisations across Europe. The organisation is led by the General Director. The Supervisory Board and the General Director are complemented and supported by an Advisory Board.

About Our Advisory Board
The Europeana Foundation’s Advisory Board provides the Supervisory Board and the General Director with advice on vision, strategy, innovation and risk management. The Advisory Board provides non-binding advice without the formal governance and legal obligations of governing boards.

The working methods and ethos of our Advisory Board
The Europeana Foundation and the Advisory Board want to do meaningful, consequential work. The board specialises in sense making and the development of strategic insight, providing voices and perspectives, synthesis and analysis on hard problems. It strives to give “unique” advice that is not available to the Foundation through other means. It assembles a set of worldviews and expertise with the intent to help the Foundation and the Europeana Initiative to make decisions leading towards a long-term future. The most valuable role for the Advisory Board is to give the Foundation clarity on a range of topics and help to crystalise important ideas and concepts.

Co-chair Role Overview
While both the Chair and Co-chair hold leadership positions within the Advisory Board, the Board Chair takes on a more central leadership role with the Co-chair sharing the leadership responsibilities. The Chair and Co-chair leverage their collective strengths and collaborate to guide the board. The position is supported by the Head of Member State Relations and Governance of the Foundation.

Key responsibilities of Co-chair

• The Co-chair shares board leadership responsibilities to provide direction to the board, oversee board activities, and support the board.

• The Co-chair takes responsibilities based on own individual strengths.

• The Co-chair safeguards diverse perspectives and expertise within the board, making sure no one is overlooked.

• The Co-chair may take turns leading meetings or collaborate to facilitate discussions.

• The Co-chair might provide the Foundation with additional opportunities for representation and networking through own network or community.

Desired Qualifications for Co-chair

• Experience of leadership in executive or advisory roles, ideally within relevant sectors is an advantage

• Domain knowledge: culture, heritage, digitalisation, digitality, and/or digital transformation trends

• Strong communication skills, with the willingness to learn and adapt to different audiences

• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively manage relationships with diverse boards

• Strategic thinking and the ability to envision long-term opportunities and challenges

This is a volunteer uncompensated position. Remuneration of the members of the Advisory Board is restricted to a travel expense allowance or a minimum attendance fee when attending Europeana Foundation meetings and events.

Advisory Board Member Role Overview

Europeana Foundation Advisory Board members:

• Are passionately committed to the advancement of digital cultural heritage for the public good

• Bring diverse expertise, backgrounds and perspectives on digital cultural heritage to the table

• Feel strongly connected to the Foundation’s mission and vision

• Commit time and engagement to the work of the board

• Have networks relevant to the work of the Foundation

• Are ambassadors and advocates of our work and act in the best interests of the Foundation and its stakeholders

• Offer visionary and strategic insights and advise on the development of the Foundation's mission, vision and strategic direction

• Are actively engaged and committed to the mission and goals of the board showing ethical integrity and diligence in their interactions and contributions

• Collaborate with each other as a cohesive team leveraging their collective intelligence, knowledge and expertise

• Challenge conventional thinking, and explore creative solutions to complex problems

The Advisory Board members attend up to 3 online and 1 on-site meetings per year, and participate in the activities and the work of the board actively and conscientiously.

The initial term will be for four years with the possibility for renewal for a second term.

Learn more about Europeana Foundation’s mission and vision, boards, and statutes, governance rules and policies.

The initial term will be for four years with the possibility for renewal for a second term.
Learn more about Europeana Foundation’s mission and vision, boards, and statutes, governance rules and policies.

How to apply

If you are interested in taking part in our Advisory Board and assuming the role of Co-chair, please submit your curriculum vitae and a brief motivation letter to board-applications@europeana.eu, quoting the reference EFAB2024-01 and title for the specific position of Advisory Board Co-chair. Please note, applications submitted through LinkedIn will not be considered for this position.

This vacancy advertisement will remain open until the position is filled. We encourage qualified applicants to submit their applications promptly as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions, please email your questions to board-applications@europeana.eu.

Europeana Foundation’s Boards Recruitment Committee will review applications and invite candidates for an interview.