Two members of the Board of Trustees

Hotelschool The Hague (HTH) was founded in 1929, making it one of the oldest independent hotel schools in the world. Recognized as one of the world's top hospitality management institutions, HTH has earned a reputation for delivering outstanding education and pioneering research. The institution operates across two campuses in The Hague and Amsterdam, serving more than 2,500 students, including a vibrant international community representing 60 nationalities, and employs over 250 staff members. Globally, many HTH alumni are in pivotal roles within the hospitality sector.

HTH is a dynamic, international Hospitality Business School. It is entrepreneurial, business-oriented, and quality-driven. The faculty is professional, experienced, and international, and colleagues work together in small, cohesive teams. HTH specializes in hospitality business education and research, shaping future leaders to navigate and innovate within the global hospitality landscape. Its diverse programs include a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management, an accelerated two-and-a-half-year Bachelor of Arts program, a comprehensive 13-month MBA in International Hospitality Management, and a one-year Master of Arts focusing on Leading Hotel Transformation.

Two Vacancies on the Board of Trustees

As the terms of two current members come to an end, Hotelschool The Hague is seeking to appoint two new members to its Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees (BoT) plays a central role safeguarding HTH’s long-term interests and those of its stakeholders. The key responsibilities of the Board are to appoint, employ, and advise the Board of Directors (BoD), and to provide supervision in policymaking.

The Board of Trustees consists of six members who collectively bring a broad and balanced range of experience and expertise across hospitality, higher vocational education, research, finance, digitalisation and HR.

Members are appointed for a four-year term, with the possibility of a reappointment. The duties and powers are defined in the Statutes of the Foundation and the Board of Trustees Regulations. Together with the Netherlands Higher Education and Research Act (Wet op het Hoger Onderwijs en Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) and the Good Governance Code for the Universities of Applied Sciences (HBO), these documents form a coherent framework.

The following three committees operate within the Board of Trustees:

• The Audit Committee advises on internal risk management, control systems, HTH’s financial operational management and information security.
• The Education and Research Committee advises on the quality of HTH’s core business: education and research.
• The Remuneration Committee advises on the Board of Trustees’ role as employer and on the remuneration of both the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors.

These committees prepare the decision-making by the Board of Trustees in their respective areas and ensure the necessary expertise is available.

Desired background

The composition of the Board of Trustees should reflect a balance of expertise, experience, and personal qualities. In addition to meeting eligibility requirements and demonstrating broad expertise, the Board should comprise individuals who bring complementary skills and work effectively as a team. The composition should also reflect diversity in age, background, and international experience. Based on this profile, the Co-Determination Council (CDC) is entitled to nominate a candidate for membership of the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees must collectively demonstrate:

• Affinity and expertise in the hospitality industry (with at least one member having senior leadership experience in the hotel industry).
• Expertise in the areas of didactics, educational theory, teaching methodology (including quality assurance), research, and knowledge valorization.
• Financial, governance and legal expertise.
• Expertise in HRM (including talent development).
• Expertise in marketing & communications, and public affairs.
• Expertise and experience with IT and GDPR.
• Leadership experience in large, international professional organizations.
• A broad professional network that enhances the Board’s effectiveness.
• Awareness of national and global social developments.

The Board of Trustees is seeking:

• A candidate with a strong financial background and expertise in governance, risk management, and control systems. This individual should be willing to engage at both strategic and operational levels and will serve as Chair of the Audit Committee. Experience in higher education and European funding is a plus. The candidate is also willing to serve on the board of Stichting Beheer.
• A candidate with a strong academic profile and significant executive and governance experience in higher vocational education. This person should have a deep understanding of educational quality and institutional governance, a broad strategic network, and a sharp vision for the future of higher education. International experience in education is an advantage. This member will join, or potentially chair, the Education & Research Committee.

Basic Requirements:

• Endorses the goals and principles of Hotelschool The Hague and contributes to realizing its vision, mission, and strategic objectives.
• Realistically assesses opportunities and risks associated with HTH’s activities.
• Has experience managing large professional organizations and/or serving as a strategic adviser.
• Possesses general knowledge of IT and GDPR.
• Has an excellent command of the English language, both spoken and written.
• Maintains a relevant network that benefits the Board of Trustees and HTH.
• Critically evaluates own contribution as supervisor.
• Is socially active and sufficiently available to fulfil the position effectively.
• Understands national and international societal developments.
• Has knowledge of, and experience in, supervisory roles.

Competencies:

• Constructive and critical - able to absorb, question, and evaluate knowledge and information without prejudice.
• Wise – withholds opinion initially, listens carefully, and acquires insight before forming a judgement.
• High Emotional Intelligence (EQ) – senses atmosphere and relationships, and instinctively knows how to respond.
• Collaborative – understands that achieving common goals is key to long-term success.
• Integrity-driven - demonstrates irreproachable conduct and a strong moral compass; admits mistakes and acts without a hidden agenda.
• Analytically strong – capable of approaching challenges in a structured way, gathers relevant information, and reaches sound judgements.
• Practical and solution-oriented - focused on achieving workable, real-world outcomes.
• Mediative – able to handle and resolve conflicts neutrally and respectfully, fostering constructive outcomes.

Conditions of employment

The remuneration of the members of the Board of Trustees is set in accordance with the Dutch Standards for Remuneration Act (WNT-2, Wet normering topinkomens).