Manager development

About Fenix

Fenix is the new art museum about migration in Rotterdam. Artists, photographers, chefs and other creative makers share stories that cross borders. Stories about love and farewell, coming home and feeling at home, identity and the search for happiness. At this historic place of departure and arrival, where millions of Europeans once left and people from all over the world arrived, we show that migration is both timeless and personal.

Fenix opened its doors in May 2025 and welcomed more than half a million visitors in its first twelve months. Together with a committed team, we are continuing to build the museum’s future. We see many opportunities to connect individuals and businesses with Fenix, establish new partnerships and develop sustainable sources of income that support our ambitions.

About the role

In 2027, Fenix will establish development as a new function within the organisation. You will have the opportunity to build it from the ground up. How can we build lasting relationships with individuals and organisations? What partnerships can we establish? And how can we ensure these align with our mission and programme? These are the questions you will work on.

You will develop and implement a development strategy that contributes to a sustainable financial foundation for Fenix. In the first few years, your focus will be on building a network of engaged individuals and businesses. Drawing on your own experience, ideas and network, you will develop compelling propositions and turn them into concrete partnerships.

Two key priorities will shape your work in 2027. Working closely with the Marketing & Communications team, you will develop and launch a Friends programme. This will help build a committed community of people who feel a lasting connection to Fenix and act as ambassadors, raising the museum’s profile and appeal. The Friends programme is a long-term investment and lays the foundation for future individual donations.

At the same time, you will focus on generating direct income by establishing new, multi-year corporate partnerships.

You will have considerable freedom to shape the development function as you see fit. You will take the initiative and be responsible for both developing and delivering plans. You will work closely with different teams, bring colleagues on board and ensure that development becomes firmly embedded across the organisation.

As Development Manager, you will report directly to the Business Director. You will also work closely with the Managing Director, including on developing propositions with strong content and maintaining key relationships.

Initially, you will build the development function independently. Depending on results and growth, the team may expand in the future.

What will you do?

• Develop and implement Fenix’s development strategy, focusing on individual engagement and corporate partnerships.
• Build a network of Friends, individual donors, businesses and other relevant contacts, establishing lasting relationships with them.
• Develop, launch and manage a Friends programme, creating opportunities for individual support, including donations and legacies.
• Develop compelling propositions and forms of collaboration, translating these into concrete corporate partnerships.
• Assess potential partnerships for their alignment with Fenix’s mission, financial value and feasibility, while safeguarding the museum’s independence and reputation.
• Take responsibility for financial targets and budgets, monitor results and make adjustments where necessary.
• Work closely with the management team and other departments to embed development within Fenix.

Who are you?

• You are curious, connect easily with people and know how to build and maintain lasting relationships.
• You have substantial, demonstrable experience in development, individual fundraising and/or corporate partnerships, preferably in the cultural or social sector.
• You have experience independently developing and implementing a strategy.
• You take initiative and enjoy building something new.
• You have an entrepreneurial mindset, come up with original ideas and know how to turn commercial opportunities into tangible results.
• You have commercial and financial acumen and can weigh financial opportunities against Fenix’s content-related priorities.
• You are open and approachable, collaborate easily with others and know how to bring colleagues and partners on board.
• You work in a structured, goal-oriented way and have a strong eye for quality.
• You are comfortable adapting to changing circumstances in a young organisation.
• You have a good command of Dutch and English. We want to welcome visitors in many different languages, so if you speak other languages, that’s fantastic!
• You have an affinity with the themes of migration and culture.

What does Fenix offer?

• The opportunity to build Fenix’s development function independently, with plenty of scope for initiative and entrepreneurship.
• An inspiring team working together to build a new museum.
• A gross monthly salary of €5,700–€6,100 for a 40-hour working week, depending on experience.
• Good secondary employment benefits, including a pension scheme and travel allowance.
• Opportunities for training and professional development.
• A healthy, vegetarian lunch at the office.
• An extra day off to mark a personal or cultural celebration.
• Unlimited access to professional guidance and mental health support through OpenUp.

Fenix is building an organisation that reflects Rotterdam’s cultural diversity. Our vacancies are open to everyone, including people with less experience in the cultural sector.

Interested in applying?

Submit your CV and cover letter via the application form by 8 November 2026.

Recruitment process

You will receive confirmation as soon as we receive your application. To give everyone an equal opportunity, we will wait until the application deadline before reviewing applications.

The first interview will take place on 12 or 18 November with Jelmar (Business Director) and Brenda (Head of Talent & Organisation). If there is a good fit, a second interview will follow on 24 November with Jelmar and Anne (Managing Director). The second interview may include a case study related to the role.

Any questions?

Feel free to contact Luca Nikkel at talent@fenix.nl or on +31 6 49364372.