Director and CEO (m/f/d) of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation
The Bauhaus Dessau Foundation is an artistic-scientific Foundation with the mission of preserving and passing on the ideas and themes of the Bauhaus. The Foundation’s work is historically reflexive and simultaneously investigates the present-day relevance and contemporary potentials that may be derived from the Bauhaus legacy for the twenty-first century. The Bauhaus in Dessau was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1996.
In addition to the Foundation Council and the Advisory Board, the CEO is the governing body of the Foundation. The CEO conducts the current business of the Foundation in accordance with the purpose of the Foundation, implements the decisions of the Foundation Council and represents the Foundation in and out of court. The state of Saxony-Anhalt, the Federal Republic of Germany and the City of Dessau-Roßlau are represented on the Foundation Council. The Foundation has about 70 employees. The CEO is also shareholder of the Bauhaus Kooperation Berlin Dessau Weimar gGmbH.
Following the successful Bauhaus Centenary with the opening of the new Bauhaus Museum Dessau in 2019, the new director is in charge of the responsible management as well as the further strategic development and orientation of the Foundation, initially for the next five years.
Strengthening the profile of the new Bauhaus Museum Dessau in the regional, national and international museum landscape is a key focus. In doing so, the new museum is to be further developed as a cultural venue in the city, in relation to the historic Bauhaus buildings. Furthermore, the connections between the collection, research and education are to be strengthened. Further key aspects are the preparation of activities for the 100th anniversary of the iconic Bauhaus Building in Dessau in 2025 with a comprehensive range of topics, as well as the strengthening of the research profile of the Foundation as a platform for contemporary design discourse. Active participation in urban development and socio-political events in Dessau is desirable.
The candidate should be able to lead the Bauhaus Dessau responsibly and creatively, represent it convincingly in public, work constructively with a range of different partners and continue to position the Bauhaus Dessau in an outstanding manner locally, nationally and internationally.
We are looking for a candidate who fulfils the following requirements to fill the advertised position:
- Academic degree with a relevant doctorate in the fields of architecture, art history or cultural studies or in comparable fields of study
- Professional expertise in the fields of art history, history of architecture and design, museum and exhibition management
- Several years of proven professional experience in academic or curatorial work on the Bauhaus and its contexts or comparable professional experience
- Preferably knowledge of HR management acquired through professional experience
experience in public relations or cultural education - German and English are prerequisites
- Residence in Dessau-Roßlau or in the region
Also desirable are:
- Relevant experience in the management and representation of cultural or academic institutions at home or abroad
- Experience in the acquisition of third-party funding
- Knowledge of budget management
- The candidate is asked to provide a short concept paper on the strategic development of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation with the application.
A contract is concluded for an initial period of five years. An extension is possible in accordance with the charter of the Foundation. The Foundation Council will make a decision on the extension of the contract one year before it expires. The non-tariff remuneration is based on the salary of a corresponding civil servant in grade B 5 of the salary law of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The employment relationship is subject to the provisions applicable to the civil service in the State of Saxony-Anhalt.
Please send your application with the usual documents, including references and your strategic concept of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation (max. 5 MB, PDF) by 31 January 2021 to the
