Chair to the Board of Systemic Justice

About Systemic Justice

Systemic Justice works to radically transform how the law serves communities fighting racial, social and economic injustice across Europe. We believe that those most impacted by systemic injustice should be at the centre of efforts to dismantle it. We therefore work alongside communities to develop and implement legal strategies that challenge the structures and systems perpetuating inequality and harm. Systemic Justice is Black-founded. Its work sits at the intersection of law, community organising and systems change and is deliberately different from more traditional human rights organisations. The organisation is entering a new phase. It has moved beyond its start-up years, has a new Executive Director and is continuing to develop a governance model that supports both its mission and its organisational maturity.

Governance and the next phase

In 2024, Systemic Justice moved from a single-tier structure to the Dutch two-tier model, with a Management Board and Supervisory Board. The Executive Director is currently the sole member of the Management Board. The Supervisory Board supervises the Management Board and Executive Director, and is responsible for her performance review. At the same time, Systemic Justice does not see governance as a matter of structures and compliance alone. The organisation is deliberately developing ways of working that put its values of anti-oppression, intersectionality and justice into practice. Trust, transparency, mutual feedback, open reflection and collective responsibility are central to that work. The governance model is not regarded as finished; the new Chair will help it develop further, organically and with care. The appointment of the first permanent Chair is therefore an important step. Systemic Justice is looking for someone who can provide strong and independent governance while helping the Board grow into its next phase.

About the role

For the role of Chair of the Supervisory Board, we are looking for someone who:

• Has substantial supervisory experience, combined with a proven ability to chair and lead others;
• Leads from a values-aligned leadership perspective, bringing together different perspectives and creating the conditions for the Board to function effectively as a team;
• Combines independent judgement and courage with openness, curiosity and transparency;
• Has strong facilitation skills and is able to navigate disagreement and conflict constructively;
• Acts as an independent supervisor and trusted counterpart to the Executive Director;
• Shares Systemic Justice’s values of anti-oppression, intersectionality and justice and supports the Board in further developing its governance model in line with these values;
• Brings a global mindset, preferably gained in an NGO, non-profit, multinational or comparable environment, and feels genuinely connected to Systemic Justice’s mission and work;
• Has the time, flexibility and commitment to fulfil the role actively and is willing to become familiar with Dutch non-profit governance where needed.

We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experience of the injustices we work to address, as well as people who examine their unconscious bias and take responsibility for creating diverse, equitable, inclusive work environments. We recognise that people from marginalised communities often hesitate to apply for positions unless they meet all the criteria. We want to emphasise that we are committed to supporting growth and development. If you are excited about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification listed. 

The Chair does not need to be a subject-matter expert, but should be content-sensitive and comfortable engaging with Systemic Justice’s work in human rights, strategic litigation and racial, social and economic justice. The Chair would need to be fluent in speaking and understanding English. Knowledge of Dutch non-profit governance is useful, but candidates from outside the Netherlands are explicitly welcome. Legal or financial expertise may add value to the Board but is not a prerequisite. Where necessary, support will be provided to become familiar with the Dutch framework. The search is pan-European; candidates should be based within CET ± two hours.

Leadership and style

We are looking for a values-aligned leader: someone whose leadership is in support of the organisation, its mission and the collective functioning of the Board rather than personal profile or status.
You combine courage with reflection. You can take a position without needing to dominate the conversation. You listen, ask questions, make differences discussable and know when a decision is needed. You are transparent in how you work and comfortable giving and receiving feedback. You are curious rather than certain, able to work with complexity and willing to examine your own assumptions and biases. You are content-sensitive rather than content-driven. You do not need to be a lawyer or subject-matter expert, but you understand the context in which Systemic Justice operates and feel genuinely connected to its work in human rights, strategic litigation and racial, social and economic justice. 

What we offer

This is an opportunity to contribute to an organisation that is not only seeking systemic change through its work, but is also prepared to examine how governance, accountability and power operate within its own organisation. You will join a committed and internationally oriented Supervisory Board and work closely with an Executive Director leading Systemic Justice into its next phase. The statutory appointment is for three years and may be renewed once. The Supervisory Board meets four times per year, including one in-person meeting alongside the annual team retreat. The average time commitment is one to two days per month, with flexibility required when circumstances demand it. Travel to the annual in-person meeting is supported from within Europe. Expenses are reimbursed and compensation is available within the limits applicable to organisations with ANBI status. 

How to apply

This executive search will be facilitated by Colourful People, an executive search firm in the Netherlands. Please contact Judith Gunneweg, partner at Colourful People: j.gunneweg@colourfulpeople.nl or 
+31 (0)6 51 51 55 67. Please submit your CV and your answers to the questions below by 27^th November, using no more than 1,200 words in total. You may decide how to distribute those words across the questions. A separate motivation letter is not required. Questions to be answered:

1. Why do you want to join Systemic Justice’s Supervisory Board in the role of its Chair?  
2. What would you consider the most important role of a Supervisory Board for an organisation like Systemic Justice and how would you see yourself contributing to that? 
3. If you could change one thing about the current practices in non-profit governance through an anti-oppression lens, what would it be?  

Our work is rooted in our foundational values of anti-oppression, intersectionality, and justice. We invite anyone who does not have lived experience with systems of oppression to reflect on their suitability for this role before applying, and to address this as an introduction to their responses to the above questions if they choose to apply. 

The first round of interviews will take place on Tuesday 12^th January 2027. The best candidates will be invited to the second round of interviews that will take place on Tuesday 19^th January 2027. If you choose to use AI in preparing your application, please indicate briefly how you used it. We are interested in your own thinking, reasoning and perspective.

Systemic Justice is deeply committed to building an organisation and governance structure that reflect the communities with which it works.