We strive for a world free from injustice, exclusion and violence, founded upon the fundamental equality of all people, where solidarity and humanity transcend borders, and with care for our fragile planet and future generations. We are convinced that this better world is possible. For although opposing forces are persistent, we also know that progress is driven by people, communities and movements that do not give up. Those who refuse to accept the status quo. This conviction inspires our activism and our perseverance in the fight for equality and justice. We protect what is of value, empower people to improve their own lives, and work towards systemic changes that lead to a more equal, fair, green and secure future. In doing so, step by step, we are charting a course towards a better world.

 

 

Oxfam Novib is looking for a new Executive Director to lead our fight for equality and make change happen.

Oxfam Novib stands at the heart of a world in which international solidarity, human rights, climate justice, and development cooperation are being debated more sharply than has long been the case. In the past few years, Oxfam Novib has grown into a strong voice in the national debate, in response to international crises in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, and Palestine. Campaigns and public actions such as Gaza, Not In My Name, and the Red Line protests have positioned Oxfam Novib as a social and moral actor in the Netherlands, while its advocacy on fair taxation, climate justice, and fair value chains — including cocoa — shows the breadth of its long-standing work for systemic change.

In light of the upcoming departure of Executive Director Michiel Servaes, Oxfam Novib is looking for an Executive Director who can connect the 300 employees in the Netherlands and the 530 employees abroad to fight inequality and make change happen. After the investments that have been made in the organization's strategic course and internal culture, the organization is strong and stable, and the new Executive Director will build further on this basis.

 

 

The organization

Oxfam Novib is an organization with a strong constituency of Dutch supporters and 70 years of experience in international cooperation. We finance, co-create and collaborate with partners, activists and humanitarians around the world – to improve people’s lives, and demand deep and systemic changes for a more EQUAL, GREEN, FAIR and SAFE future.

The world is changing rapidly around us and pressure on rights, the rule of law, social cohesion and civic space is increasing. Meanwhile, the gap between rich and poor is widening, the climate crisis is hitting hard, and our efforts to advance a progressive agenda are in danger of being overshadowed by a need to defend positions and values that for years we thought we could take for granted. In a complex external environment with reduced financial stability, we aim to deepen and diversify our donor base and create programs that connect with civil society, movements and activists. In order to support our programs, partners and advocacy activities, our operational priorities are to increase financial sustainability, streamline quality operations and drive innovation and technical transformation. We have made significant progress on increasing the organization's efficiency and simplifying our processes, and we are also undertaking a major modernization of our internal systems to improve our work and leadership.

Oxfam Novib aspires to be the leading Dutch platform in the global fight for equality and justice. In the Netherlands we are building on the rich DNA of (Oxfam) Novib with new and urgent positioning. We speak out, we show up on the streets and in the media, and we stand firmly with other activists, defending their rights and freedoms. Since 2020, our approach has evolved from a more diplomatic towards a more activist attitude, aligning our campaigns and communications more closely with Dutch contexts and issues. We, together with others, want to create systemic change and change the debate, policies or behaviors of Dutch political, economic or social actors. Our activism has many shapes and forms, from hidden nudges to being loud and outspoken, as it is designed to intervene at multiple levels.

We are part of the Oxfam confederation that is active in 90 countries to bring a strong and united voice to the world stage. Given the changes in the world, the need for Oxfam as a diversified network that combines local legitimacy with global effectiveness has only become greater. This entails continued strong relationships within the Oxfam confederation and remaining a driving force in the repositioning of Oxfam towards becoming a more activist INGO and promoting the decolonization agenda, including the equal distribution of roles and resources.

Internally, we walk the talk on the values we promote in the outside world. The inspiring journey that Oxfam Novib embarked on in 2020 to redefine our organization’s culture, where every employee feels safe, inspired and empowered, has yielded significant achievements. We continue to build on this basis and foster an enabling and inspiring workplace where employees can develop and flourish and feel connected to the mission and activities of Oxfam Novib and the wider Oxfam confederation.

 

Your position & responsibilities

Oxfam Novib has a collegial Board of Directors of which the Executive Director is the chairperson. The Board of Directors further consists of the Director of Programs, Director of Engagement and Director of Finance & Operations. The Executive Director has overall responsibility for the integrated leadership and management of the organization and for the effectiveness of the Board of Directors as a collective. The Executive Director safeguards and promotes balance and cohesion within the leadership team. The directors collaborate closely and work on a basis of constructive teamwork and jointly formulate and implement the organization's strategic course.

The Executive Director has a vision for the future of development cooperation and the role of civil society organizations therein, the courage to take on the challenge, and the integrity to live up to high expectations. The Executive Director is results-oriented, is a sharp negotiator, and at the same time a bridge builder. 
It goes without saying that the new Executive Director is a person of integrity and acts in accordance with Oxfam Novib's norms and values.

The Executive Director continues to externally position Oxfam Novib as an influential and critical voice in the public and political debates regarding inequality, climate, gender, international law and human rights in the Netherlands and beyond. The Executive Director is driven and understands the art of relationship management with our external stakeholders, such as donors, governments, (international) partners and activists, and our supporter base. 

The Executive Director inspires and motivates the organization and has ultimate responsibility for developing and executing the strategy. While the high-level strategic course for the organization runs until 2030, the current multi-year phase will wrap up in early 2027. Therefore, the Executive Director will lead the signing-off of the next multi-year phase to bring the organization to its strategic objectives between 2027 and 2030. Furthermore, the Executive Director has an important role in championing the internal culture trajectory. 

Oxfam Novib is an important part of the Oxfam Confederation. Within Oxfam International, a leadership role is expected of Oxfam Novib. Since 2025, the confederation has embarked on a process of adjusting to the new financial and strategic reality in the development cooperation and humanitarian sector, which continues in 2026. The new Executive Director will be closely engaged with the outcomes and implementation. Effective governance and de-colonialism within the confederation requires decisiveness to set things in motion, but also empathy for the wishes and challenges of other Oxfam offices. The new Executive Director will quickly establish a position within the confederation and combine strategic leadership of the confederation with goal-oriented choices for Oxfam Novib.
 

Profile: A public and moral leader for international justice
Oxfam Novib is looking for an Executive Director who can speak with authority and conviction on international solidarity, human rights, climate justice and equality. A leader who will continue Oxfam Novib’s activist course, build bridges in a polarised public debate, and guide the organisation with clarity, courage and empathy through a new phase of political, financial and international change.
 

The successful candidate is expected to have acquired a large number of the background and experience elements listed below.

1. Values, culture and leadership

• You have an inclusive, empowering, collaborative and empathetic leadership style that is deeply aligned with Oxfam’s values, feminist principles and decolonial ambitions. You do not only speak about equality, inclusion and power-sharing, but translate these principles into daily leadership, decision-making and organizational culture.
• You are able to build trust, create psychological safety, listen actively to staff and partners, and communicate transparently about difficult choices. You combine humility and self-awareness with decisiveness, courage and the ability to guide an organization through uncertainty.
• You have demonstrable experience in strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion, preferably in a complex organization or multi-stakeholder environment. You understand that inclusive leadership is not only about representation, but also about how power, voice, responsibility and resources are distributed.

 

2. Public role and positioning in Dutch civil society

• You are able to further strengthen Oxfam Novib’s position as an influential, critical and mobilizing voice in the Netherlands. You can steer and inspire public debate on international solidarity, inequality, climate justice, gender justice, humanitarian crises, civic space, international law and human rights.
• You feel comfortable in the media and in public and political debate. You can speak with moral clarity, but also with credibility, nuance and connection. You understand how to engage with government, parliament, donors, civil society, activists, movements, the private sector and the wider Dutch public.
• You are committed to continuing Oxfam Novib’s activist course and know how to build broad public support for it. You can connect public visibility with supporter engagement, fundraising and long-term societal influence, without losing sight of Oxfam’s values and mission.
• You have a strong understanding of Dutch society and the Dutch social, historical, political and administrative context. You are fluent in English and Dutch, and able to “read between the lines” in Dutch public, political and media debates.

 

3. Internal leadership and organizational development

• You have experience leading a complex organization, network or multi-stakeholder environment with different interests, cultures and power dynamics. You can lead through a challenging external context marked by conflict, financial uncertainty, polarization, shrinking civic space and humanitarian crises.
• As chair of a collegial Board of Directors, you are able to create clarity, strengthen cooperation, and ensure effective decision-making. You can connect Programs, Engagement and Finance & Operations, and help the Board of Directors operate as a complementary leadership team.
• You are able to translate vision into strategic choices for the next phase of Oxfam Novib’s development.
• You understand the importance of financial sustainability, organizational focus, operational quality, innovation and technical transformation. You can inspire people, but also make difficult decisions when needed.

 

4. Role in the Oxfam Confederation and international partnerships

• You bring an international perspective and have experience working with partners, organizations or movements across different countries and contexts. You understand the changing role of international NGOs, the pressure on development cooperation, and the importance of localization, decolonization and equitable partnerships.
• You can quickly build a credible position within the Oxfam Confederation. You are able to contribute to the confederation’s transformation with both decisiveness and empathy: setting things in motion while understanding the interests, needs and challenges of other Oxfam affiliates, country offices and partners.
• You can represent Oxfam Novib internationally where needed, while also making space for country colleagues, partners and Global South voices. You understand that Oxfam Novib’s international role should strengthen, not overshadow, the legitimacy and leadership of partners and movements.

 

5. Networks, funding and stakeholder engagement

• You bring, or are able to build quickly, relevant networks in the policy, political and donor spheres. You understand how public legitimacy, political influence, institutional funding, private fundraising and movement-building reinforce each other.
• You are able to engage with activists and grassroots movements in a credible and respectful way, and understand their importance for Oxfam Novib’s mandate and identity. At the same time, you can open doors in policy, government, donor and institutional environments, and use that access to advance Oxfam’s mission.

 

6. Personal integrity and practical requirements

• You have a demonstrable affinity with the work, mission and values of Oxfam Novib. You bring strong communication skills, personal integrity, sound judgment and the ability to operate under public scrutiny.
• You are willing to travel when needed and to represent Oxfam Novib in the Netherlands, within the Oxfam Confederation and in relevant international settings.

 

What do we offer?

Oxfam Novib is determined to offer you a motivating workplace. We believe that people flourish in a working environment where the values of equality, empowerment, solidarity, inclusiveness, accountability and courage are central. Oxfam Novib offers a competitive and fair employment package, which we can justify to our donors. The salary of director positions within Oxfam Novib is based on the guidelines of Goede Doelen Nederland. The gross salary for this full-time position is appropriate to the severity of the position. Directors are appointed first for a term of four years, which then can be extended twice.

 

Interested?

Oxfam Novib is assisted in this procedure by executive search agency Colourful People. For more information about Oxfam Novib, the position or the procedure, please contact Rick Verhoeven, senior partner at Colourful People (06 267 067 57). You can express your interest by uploading your letter and CV via the 'solliciteer' button on this webpage no later than 23-08-2026. Interviews with Oxfam Novib's selection committee are scheduled in the week of 39. 

Equality is the common thread in our work, both internally and externally. We recognize that our team of colleagues can become even more diverse, and that only with a diverse team can we gain a broad perspective on the world. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who is interested to apply. Our aim is to create an environment where colleagues feel welcome and diversity is embraced and celebrated. Our aim is to build a team that offers a rich variety of perspectives, enabling us to achieve an inclusive and inspiring work environment.