Board Member: Chair Person

Board member: Chair

Burning Man The Netherlands (BMNL) is looking for a new board member. Specifically we are looking for an enthusiastic, dedicated, and experienced Chairperson with great networking and leadership skills.

BMNL is a 100% affiliate of Burning Man Projects (US). Currently, the board consists of four members, all volunteer (unpaid) positions. The current board members are: Hans Wegman (treasurer), Rene Meeuwessen (general board member), Molly Stevens (secretary) and Marian Goodell (general board member). Our interim Chair is Alvaro Caballero.

What will you do?

As Chair, you will act as the glue between the board, the Burning Man community, Burning Man Dutch Regional Contacts (RC), Burning Man Project, and the media. You know how to be visible and approachable. Your entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t mean you have an answer to everything, but you are always willing to help out.

Provide leadership

The overarching role of the Chairperson is to provide facilitative leadership. You must be an effective strategist, a good networker, and a team builder. You guide the Board in adhering to bylaws or drawing up policy plans when needed. You collaborate with your fellow Board members to support the vision and achieve the goals of BMNL. In addition to leadership within the Board, you participate in and support other BMNL initiatives and activities, including sitting on committees (e.g., the Strategy Committee) or event production committees. 

Represent the organisation

The Chairperson may be called upon to represent BMNL and Burning Man. You are looked upon as the face of Burning Man, as a spokesperson. Examples include functions, meetings or public relations. You are expected to be knowledgeable about BMNL and the Dutch Burning Man community. 

Ensure the Board functions properly

Chairing is a key role, and the Chairperson must ensure that the Board functions properly. This includes making sure that each meeting is planned effectively, conducted according to the constitution, there is full participation during meetings, that all relevant matters are discussed and that effective decisions are made and carried out in an orderly, efficient manner. The Chairperson makes the most of all board members, building and leading the team. This also involves regularly reviewing board member performance and coordinating the process for selecting new board members when needed.

Serve as an Information Conduit 

You serve as an information point for the Board, Burning Man Project, Burning Man RCs, the community, and the media. You seek and share relevant information to serve and support BMNL and the community. This aspect of your role is shared with the BMNL Secretary and other board members. You collaborate with the Board and community members (e.g. event leads, committee members) where appropriate to ensure that reports (e.g. annual reports, post-event debriefing reports) are complete, understandable, and published on time. You guide the board’s collaboration with the Dutch Burning Man communications team to engage and inform the community.

Who are you?

First of all, you feel truly connected with the BMNL community and the 10 principles. You would love to contribute your time, passion and enthusiasm! Further, you are a true social connector who loves speaking in public and are able to navigate and resolve conflict with goal of building a strong and connected community.

To be successful in this role, you will have:    

• Previous management or leadership experience, including within volunteer participatory organizations
• Solid previous experience in a board position, ideally for at least 2 years
• Chairperson experience is preferred but not a requirement
• A history with Burning Man, including having attended/participated in big burns and regional events. At these events, you have gathered experience in a volunteer capacity, for example event planning, running theme camps, creating art, rangering, or civic engagement activities
• Connection to the Dutch Burning Man community  
• Established connections with other local communities or spheres/sectors in cultural industries are also desired, for example arts, events, public service, or community building and volunteering
• Excellent communication skills, including B2 to C1 level English and Dutch language skills
• A consensus mindset with demonstrated team building  
• Excellent mediation, conflict resolution, or restorative justice skills
• You know the 10 principles by heart and have ambitious ideas to support and nourish BMNL, including specific projects concerning education, arts, or civic engagement

What’s in it for you?

As with all positions within BMNL, this is a volunteer position. However, being a Board Member will open doors for you! And you get to be influential in the growth and success of the Burning Man community in the Netherlands. 

Yes, I want to do this!

Great! We are looking forward to your application. Please apply via the apply button on this website and submit your resume and cover letter. But also a picture and description for the community input form. 

Procedure

BMNL has a standardized process for selecting new board members, and we follow our Selection Committee Toolkit document to ensure a fair and transparent process. This document is publicly viewable here. Briefly, we assemble a selection committee who screens all applications (CV and motivation letter) and determines which applicants will be selected for interviews. A first round of interviews takes place with all candidates.

Candidates who attend the first round of interviews are then introduced to the community and community input is gathered via an online questionnaire. A shortlist of 2-3 candidates are then selected for a second, more in-depth interview. On completion of the second interview round, the committee submits their recommendation to the Board. The Board may then conduct a third interview before a final decision is made. 

If you have any questions please reach out to erin.macri@burningman.org.

Estimated timeline (subject to change)

• 18 November: call opened for 3 weeks
• 8 December: call closes
• 16 - 22 December: Round 1 interviews of selected candidates
• 22 December - 19 January: Community input gathered
• 27 January - 2 February: Round 2 of shortlisted candidates
• 10 February Recommendation submitted to the Board, Final Candidate introducted to the Board
• 17 - 23 February: Newly appointed Chair Person announced to community