Director for the Leiden Learning and Innovation Centre
Universiteit LeidenJobsCloseBy Editorial Insights
Leiden University is seeking a Director for the Leiden Learning and Innovation Centre (LLInC) to lead a diverse, international team and drive LLInC’s strategic agenda across the faculties. You will align the three LLInC teams, report to the Rector Magnificus, and act as ambassador for partnerships within and beyond the university (LDE, SURF, LERU, Una Europa). The ideal candidate has proven leadership in educational development, governance, and budget management, and excellent Dutch and English communication, with a commitment to inclusive leadership. Apply with a CV and cover letter by February 6, 2026; internal candidates and diversity considerations are favored. Tips: highlight measurable impact, onboarding plans, and how you will advance medium and long term educational policies and cross-team collaboration.
Teaser Text
Leiden University is looking for a Director for the Leiden Learning and Innovation Centre
What you will do
As Director of LLInC, you will:
Lead an international, enthusiastic and diverse team of multi-disciplinary professionals, ensuring the effective implementation of LLInC’s strategic direction. Strengthening LLInC’s position as a collaborative and connecting partner within the university’s educational support and innovation network, fostering cooperation and shared learning across faculties and services.
Work closely with the team leads of LLInC’s three teams to ensure alignment and coherence across their activities, fostering cross-team collaboration, shared ownership, and a unified direction in implementing LLInC’s strategy.
Report directly to the Rector Magnificus, maintaining a close collaboration with the Education Council (consisting of vice-deans of education at the faculties) and other governance bodies. Ensures that LLInC’s activities both reflect and help shape the university’s shared strategic educational vision and goals.
Hold accountability for LLInC’s financial and human resources management in cooperation with the management team. Promote inclusive leadership, professional growth, and a sustainable organisational culture.
Lead and support the team leads and experts in implementing LLInC’s portfolio strategy, ensuring that each team’s activities contribute to a coherent whole. Encourage the exchange of expertise across teams and identify new didactic and technological opportunities that advance educational innovation within Leiden University.
Act as an ambassador and connector for LLInC, representing and promoting its expertise, results, and collaborative approach within Leiden University and in external partnerships (e.g., LDE, SURF, LERU, Una Europa). Strengthen LLInC’s visibility and relationships to ensure its knowledge and services are effectively shared and applied across faculties and networks.
Act as an ambassador for LLInC, representing and promoting its expertise and results within the university and across academic and professional networks. Strengthen LLInC’s visibility and connections to ensure its knowledge and services are effectively shared and applied across faculties and partnerships.
Make an important contribution to accelerating change and innovation in education and education policy within university organisations, working closely with the faculties and other (policy) boards;
Develop medium and long-term educational policies together with the LLInC team, relating and contributing to the university's strategic agenda. The education policy will be characterized by a good and efficient transfer of knowledge and expertise, in order to scale up successful innovative didactic and technical methods;
Oversee the continued implementation and improvement of LLInC’s organisational and business model to ensure the centre operates efficiently and sustainably in fulfilling its mission.
Where you will work
The Leiden Learning & Innovation Centre (LLInC) is the expertise centre of Leiden University dedicated to the continuous support and innovation of academic education across each of the seven faculties. Our central role makes us well connected to the university board, service departments, and other expertise centres, facilitating effective communication and collaboration. Striving to bridge the gap between educational vision and practical implementation, our multidisciplinary team of approximately 40 enthusiastic professionals works closely with lecturers to develop and implement tools and techniques to make learning ever more attractive, innovative, efficient, accessible, and inclusive. Moreover, we continuously research and advise on educational developments (including legal and privacy aspects), identify trends, create and process course evaluations, provide UTQ, CPD, and STQ trainings, and play our part in assisting the university to meet its educational quality assurance goals. Our way of working is collaborative and creative yet also structured. We are not afraid to experiment, challenge boundaries, and prioritise practical solutions which positively impact both society and our university.
What you bring
In this team, we are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need, and draw up a development plan. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:
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You are an inspiring and connecting leader, change agent and innovator with an academic level of thinking. An academic education is highly recommended. Preferably you have experience in the field of educational science, educational innovation and/or academic governance;
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You are result oriented and have a clear vision of the future of technology and education and its impact on society; knowledge of and experience with ICT applications in (higher) education is a plus;
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You have the ability to communicate this vision, and inspire people and organisations inside and outside the university to explore, experiment with and apply relevant innovations in higher education
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You have a talent for initiating and guiding initiatives that present challenges, and for setting up innovative and entrepreneurial projects within a university context and/or in an external environment;
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You have knowledge of, and a feel for, working within the university context and governance structure;
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You know your strengths and development points when it comes to the four leadership competencies of Leiden University — connecting, collaborating, taking responsibility, pushing boundaries — and can use them to strengthen the university;
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You have experience in leadership, project management, finance and acquisition processes; you know how you can build a team;
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You have excellent communication and networking skills, creativity and team spirit;
- You function effortlessly in an international environment, have a good eye for diversity and inclusiveness within the LLInC team and within the university, and have an excellent spoken and written command of both Dutch and English.
What we offer
Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development. You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.We also offer:
- Employment will be in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement of Dutch Universities, initially for a period of one year, with the prospect of permanent employment upon proven suitability and available resources.
- The salary depends on education and work experience and amounts to minimum € 7.403,- (scale 15) and maximum € 10.441,- (scale 16) gross per month for a full-time appointment. The scope of employment is a minimum of 0.8 FTE and a maximum of 1.0 FTE (by mutual agreement).
- A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
- Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
- Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
- Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme;
- If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
- A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop and a mobile telephone.
What we find important
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.Want to apply or find out more?
Information about the vacancy can be obtained from interim director of LLInC at [email protected]Learn more about Leiden University at: http://www.universiteitleiden.nl
For information about the procedure, please contact Marion Sluijs, HR advisor at [email protected]
Apply
You can apply online via the 'Apply' button. Applications bearing the vacancy number and accompanied by a cover letter and CV can be addressed to prof. dr. S. de Rijcke until February 6th, 2026
To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions- In choosing between candidates, in case of equal suitability, preference will be given to internal candidates, women, the occupationally disabled and employees with a migration background.
- A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.
- We ensure that our lecturers have a good level of English competency. Lectures who teach subjects in English have a minimum level of C1 for their English proficiency. We also believe it is important for international staff to have a good level of Dutch: they are expected to have at least C1 level of Dutch proficiency. Other staff who have the prospect of a permanent position are expected to have at least a passive understanding of Dutch.
- Leiden University expects faculty members to obtain the Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO). If the new employee does not yet hold this qualification or its equivalent, they must be willing to obtain it within two years.
- Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this. #LI-Hybrid