Director for a conference and accommodation center

Do you have experience leading teams through a transition? Do you approach this from a shared and supported vision of the future? Are you also open-minded and do you see opportunities? Do you enjoy making new connections with potential partners and clients? And are entrepreneurial spirit and drive in your DNA? Then definitely read on! In this exciting job, you'll have the opportunity to prepare the Training Center in Malle for the future.

Job description:

With pleasure. The Training Centre is now a vibrant place for education, meetings, and stays in the heart of the Kempen region. In 2024, we welcomed 41,913 visitors through 422 reservations. We are firmly rooted in our strong foundation: adult groups, youth groups, and companies all use our facilities, catering, and (where desired) overnight accommodations. Groups of up to 200 people can stay with us. Our supplementary services also make us unique: our audiovisual lending service processes 1,959 reservations annually for 49,309 devices, and through our talent classes, we reach 25 schools and 1,261 students annually.

At the same time, the site is undergoing significant development. With the new reception building and the first phase of the master plan, we are charting a clear course: sustainable, innovative, and entrepreneurial. Furthermore, additional conference and meeting facilities have been added, making the Training Centre even more attractive as a venue for conferences, training days, and multi-day events. The further development aligns with the policy guidelines of the Antwerp Province administrative agreement 2025–2030.

These investments give us additional scope to look ahead. We want to strengthen our services and broaden them to new target groups and sectors (such as MICE, recreation, and tourism), while continuing to build on what currently works well for education, youth work, and associations.

As director, you'll lead the transition : you'll strengthen our foundation, create space for innovation, and empower people to embrace change. You'll set strategic directions and build bridges —between colleagues, teams, partners, and the various sectors.

You will lead an organization with approximately 50 employees. You will work alongside an advisor as your right-hand man and three coordinators who oversee the operational teams. You will report to the head of the Recreation and Tourism department and collaborate closely with management and colleagues from other provincial departments.

Would you like to know more?

Great! Your job description summarized in 3 pillars:

Strategy, innovation and change

• You develop a shared vision for the future of the Training Center and translate this into strategic, tactical, and operational plans, with continued attention to continuity for our current client groups.
• You lead change processes and innovation initiatives that respond to social trends, customer needs and policy priorities.
• You identify new customer segments and market developments (e.g. MICE, recreation, leisure) and test the opportunities for feasibility and impact on current operations.
• You maintain the balance between strengthening the existing offering and expanding into new sectors.
• You detect opportunities and contribute to customer-oriented concepts and partnerships.

Management and daily organization

• You are ultimately responsible for the day-to-day operations of the center, including communication, personnel management, logistics, infrastructure, catering, planning, ICT, etc.
• You monitor the quality of service provision and encourage process improvements to ensure customer satisfaction.
• You position the Training Center in internal and external networks and represent the center in relevant consultation structures.
• You manage budgets and resources efficiently and with a focus on the future.

Motivational leadership

• You provide direction, motivate employees, and create a culture of autonomy, connectedness, and competence. The ABC + Z leadership model of the province of Antwerp is your compass.
• You will coach and support the three coordinators in their roles and work closely with the advisor who supports you in policy preparation, reporting, and organization-wide files.

Profile

A driven leader who thinks ahead and is customer-focused, and who mobilizes people, processes, and projects. Someone who feels at home in a context with many stakeholders and provides direction with decisiveness and empathy.

• You have a master's degree (or a bachelor's degree & passed the capacity test) and at least 5 years of experience in a management role.
• Strong people management skills.

Demonstrable experience with change processes, preferably in a leading role.

An affinity with several of the relevant sectors (education, youth, tourism, events, socio-cultural associations, recreation, MICE, etc.) is a plus.

Basic insight into budgets and financial management.

And also:

Leadership : you consciously focus on the talents and strengths of your team and create a context in which employees work together in a motivated manner towards the organization's objectives.

Organizational sensitivity : you quickly understand the processes, interests and dynamics within an organization and know how to respond to them tactfully.

Ability to change : you drive innovation, anticipate social and organizational developments, and translate ideas into concrete actions.

Customer focus : you start from the needs of customers and translate these into high-quality and efficient services.

Communication : you communicate clearly and convincingly, listen actively and know how to connect people.

Building networks and bridges : you develop and maintain sustainable relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Organizational skills : you maintain an overview, work pragmatically and ensure that things move forward.