Heritage Collection Manager

Application Deadline: September 22

In the exciting role of HEINEKEN Heritage Collection Manager you are responsible for preserving and bringing HEINEKEN’s heritage to life, safeguarding a unique collection of objects, archives and stories while continually finding new and engaging ways to connect them with audiences today. The role combines expert collection management with a passion for storytelling, ensuring HEINEKEN’s history is not only preserved, but actively interpreted, experienced and shared.

Through compelling storytelling, experiences and strategic activations, the Heritage Collection Manager connects HEINEKEN’s past, present and future, helping to inspire audiences and strengthen their connection with HEINEKEN and its brands. In doing so, the role creates value for the HEINEKEN Experience, the wider company and external audiences, while ensuring HEINEKEN’s heritage remains relevant and meaningful for future generations.

Additional Context

The Heineken Experience is made up of the Heineken Experience Tours (+1M visitors/year), Store, Global Events, Internal Events and the Heineken Collection Foundation. This role reports directly to the General Manager Heineken Experience and sits on the board of the Heineken Collection Foundation.

The Heineken Collection Foundation was founded in 2008, in order to preserve the rich history of the Brewing Company Heineken and related brands and present this to the public.  The Foundation acquires, manages, maintains and presents digital archives, library collections, documentation, photographs, films, videos, art and design collections that relate to the founding and genesis of Heineken.

The analog company-historic collection is deposited at Stadsarchief Amsterdam. The analog video and audio collection is (partly) deposited at the Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid in Hilversum.  

Your Key Responsibilities

1. Set direction and strategy for the Heineken Collection, align with General Manager HEX, Collection Board members and EB Heineken Group.
2. Strategic Heritage & Storytelling:

• Act as the guardian and translator of HEINEKEN's heritage, connecting historical insights to current business priorities and future strategy.
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Corporate Affairs and Brand teams to leverage heritage as a source of inspiration, differentiation and authenticity.
• Develop compelling narratives that strengthen HEINEKEN's brands, culture and reputation across internal and external audiences (including OpCo's and VIP's).
• Ensure that HEINEKEN's heritage remains relevant and visible in key strategic initiatives, innovation programmes and commercial activations.

3. Translate the strategy into an operational plan and lead a team of around 5 subordinates on end results and effective contribution to Heineken Collection activities including:

• identifying, acquiring, managing and presenting Heineken Heritage,
• maintaining, preserving and expanding the (digital) archives, library collections, documentation, photographs, films, art and design collections,
• project support in maintenance and restoration of Heineken heritage,
• conducting and supporting historical research
• composing publications
• managing heinekencollection.com
• provide information for research into the history of beer in general and business history of Heineken in particular,
• cooperation with other organisations active in conservation of cultural heritage,
• provide advice related to preserving Heineken Heritage during acquisitions and/or mergers
• organize activations around the collections.

4. Work closely with HEX MT and HEX employees on driving strategy.
5. Heineken Experience:

• Pro-actively initiate exhibitions in the Heineken Experience, in close cooperation with the Development & Activation Manager HEX
• Update existing exhibitions in the Heineken Experience
• Conduct training sessions for (new) Heineken Experience Employees, using the Heineken Collection to expand their knowledge of the rich Heineken history
• Support D&I, Marketing, Sales, Store, Events and Operations teams with storytelling.

6. Networking: Close cooperation with other HEINEKEN entities

• Advise other HEINEKEN entities on sustainable, high quality information management and digital archiving

• Represent the Heineken Collection and expand relationships with similar national and international organisations
• Manage contact with the Heineken Family, the Executive Board and Executive Team.

Who you are

Education: Master Degree, preferably in (Art) History

Experience: 3-5 year experience required in a similar role

Other must-have qualifications:

• People management experience
• Demonstrated experience with archives and filing systems
• Affinity with history and cultural heritage
• Ability to develop creative exhibition concepts and translate them to concrete plans
• Ability to build national and international networks
• Experience in digital information management
• Strong communication & presentation skills

Language: English & Dutch (fluent in speaking, reading & writing required)

What’s in it for you? Let’s uncork!

• A gross annual salary ranging from €84,048.00 to €120,060.00, based on your experience and expertise.

• Performance-driven bonus: a bonus linked to your results, celebrating your achievements and rewarding your contribution to our success.

• Start with a one-year contract, with the chance for a permanent role—we want to keep great talent. 

• Plenty of vacation time: enjoy 20 vacation days per year, plus a flexible budget to add 10 extra days—that’s 6 weeks in total. 

• Work-life balance: take advantage of generous parental leave for both parents, with the added flexibility to work from home up to 2 days per week.

• Stress-free commuting: enjoy easy travel with an NS Business Card for public transport,making your daily commute simple and stress-free.

• Sustainability at heart: join a company committed to making a positive impact—HEINEKEN aims to have CO2-neutral locations by 2030

• Grow with us: we offer endless opportunities for you to learn, grow, and explore new career paths, both locally and globally.

Let’s meet

Are you excited? Applying is simple: send us your updated CV that demonstrates why you’re a perfect match for this role. Want to really stand out? Include a cover letter to set yourself apart. We look forward to receiving your application.

The application deadline for this position is September 22, although we may close the vacany earlier if we receive a sifficient number of qualified applications. After the vacancy closes, we will review all applications and responsed within five business days.