About the Museum

Drift Museum Amsterdam is a new private museum founded by Studio DRIFT artists Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, together with entrepreneur Eduard Zanen. The museum presents internationally acclaimed works alongside never-before-seen installations, offering an transforming visitor experience.

We are currently preparing for our opening. This is a unique opportunity to join the team from the very beginning and help build a new cultural institution. As part of a small and ambitious team, you will play an active role in shaping our operations, culture and visitor experience from day one.

Purpose of the Role

The Duty Manager is responsible for the daily operational management of Drift Museum during opening hours. This includes ensuring safety, hospitality, and a high-quality, inclusive visitor experience. The Duty Manager acts as the first point of contact for emergencies and operational issues and coordinates all on-site staff and logistics to ensure smooth and professional museum operations.

As Drift Museum is a newly established cultural landmark, we are looking for a flexible, proactive and hands-on professional who enjoys working in a dynamic start-up environment. Beyond daily operations, the Duty Manager will play an active role in building and shaping the visitor operations team, supporting recruitment, onboarding and training, and contributing to a successful museum opening. We encourage our Duty Managers to take initiative, apply their individual strengths and expertise, and contribute beyond their core responsibilities where needed, bringing their individual strengths and expertise to support a successful museum opening and the development of a world-class visitor experience.

Key Responsibilities

Operational oversight

• Supervise day-to-day museum operations, including opening and closing procedures.
  
• Liaise with the Technical Team to report artwork malfunctions according to established protocols.
  
• Identify and resolve operational issues, including safety concerns and emergencies.
  
• Monitor cleanliness and maintenance of museum spaces.

Leadership & coordination

• Lead and supervise floor and front desk staff, ensuring a safe and motivational workplace.
  
• Brief teams at the start of each shift and allocate staff to optimize operations.
  
• Motivate team members to meet daily performance goals and provide real-time feedback.
  
• Foster positive work culture through recognition and celebrating milestones.
  
• Collaborate with the Director of Operations to address performance issues and contribute to staff evaluations.
  

Visitor experience

• Ensure a high standard of visitor service across ticketing, guest relations, group visits, and special events.
  
• Respond to inquiries, complaints, and incidents in a professional manner.
  
• Manage visitor flow and ensure compliance with house rules.
  
• Promote engagement with exhibitions through storytelling and personal interaction.
  
• Serve as host in the VIP lounge when required.
  

Safety & emergency response

• Implement and enforce health, safety, and emergency response protocols.
  
• Act as lead contact during emergencies, coordinating with security and external emergency services.
  
• Organize and facilitate safety and protocol training for team members.
  

Reporting & evaluation

• Prepare daily reports on performance, visitor attendance, incidents, and operational updates.
  
• Responsible for POS opening and closing procedures.
  
• Provide actionable feedback to management on operational issues.
  
• Contribute input for performance reviews and operational improvement plans.
  

Tasks & Activities

• Conduct shift briefings and allocate staff positions.
  
• Supervise ticketing and POS processes.
  
• Handle complaints, incidents, and emergencies according to protocols.
  
• Report daily visitor numbers, incidents, and operational issues to the Director of Operations.
  
• Maintain accurate documentation of safety checks and incidents.
  

Authority

• Independent decision-making in daily operations, shift planning, and staff allocation.
  
• Authority in visitor service and incident management during shifts.
  
• Safety and emergency leadership responsibilities on-site.
  

Requirements

Education & experience

• MBO+ / HBO-level education or equivalent work experience.
  
• Minimum 3 years of experience in leadership or service management, preferably in culture, hospitality, or events.
  

Knowledge & skills

• Experienced operations professional who thrives in a dynamic start-up environment.
• Flexible, proactive and hands-on, with the confidence to take initiative and solve operational challenges independently.
• Proven experience managing day-to-day operations on the floor and leading visitor-facing teams.
• Strong organizational, communication and leadership skills.
• Positive, solution-oriented attitude, with the ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure.
• Visitor-focused mindset with a genuine passion for hospitality and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• Enjoys working collaboratively in an international, energetic and growing team, helping to build a new museum from the ground up.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.
• In possession of, or willing to obtain, Emergency Response (BHV) certification.

Special Conditions

• Flexible working hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
  
• Responsibility for safety and emergency response during shifts.
  
• On-site leadership role requiring visible presence on the floor.

What We Offer

• A unique opportunity to join Drift Museum during its opening phase and help bring one of Amsterdam's most exciting new cultural destinations to life.
• A meaningful role where you will help create memorable visitor experiences and contribute to the successful opening of the museum.
• A full-time position (40 hours per week) with an initial 12-month contract and the ambition to build a long-term team together.
• A competitive salary and benefits package, including holiday allowance and opportunities for professional development.
• The chance to grow with the museum, take on new responsibilities and develop your skills in a dynamic and evolving organization.
• An international, collaborative and supportive team where your ideas, initiative and contribution are genuinely valued.
• The opportunity to work closely with colleagues from across the museum and help shape the visitor experience from day one.
• Regular team events, exclusive previews and the chance to be part of the creative community behind Drift Museum.