Role description Cluster Manager

Summary
Description of the Cluster Manager's objectives, tasks, and responsibilities. The description is dated May 2025 and will be refined in the fall of 2025 (if necessary).

The Cluster Manager (CM) plays a key role in the transition to Agile Teams at Fontys ICT. The role combines people management and operational management in an integrated leadership role. The CM leads multiple self-organizing teams, encourages team autonomy and shared leadership, ensures the quality of education, and translates strategic goals into concrete implementation at the team level. Extra attention is paid to guiding employees through change, building healthy and self-organizing agile teams,

Team leadership & facilitation

• Leading self-organizing teams; encouraging shared leadership;
• Actively supporting team formation and team development (including team building);
• Promoting the professionalisation of teams and individual employees.

People management

• Conducting individual and team development interviews;
• Providing guidance on allocation and case management (absenteeism, performance);
• Being available for allocation, evaluations, and performance reviews;
• Advising on replacement issues.

Operational management

• Coordinating cross-team collaboration and coordination;
• Advising on study programmes and educational innovation;
• Responsibility for team and educational evaluations;
• Monitoring the educational quality process and seeking alignment with research groups and partners in the professional field.

Strategic connection

• Connecting team goals with Fontys-broad developments and frameworks;
• Providing input for policy through consultation structures (XLT–LT);
• Aligning with location policy and contributing to, among other things, the open house policy.

Location management

• Participating in location consultations and collaborating with other CMs;
• Monitoring and managing allocation hours, resources, and the education budget.

Authorities

• Final responsibility for team allocation, implementation, and quality;
• Mandate to make decisions about staff allocation and resources (including the education budget and allocation hours);
• Advisory role in education development and team formation;
• Representing the cluster in consultations (internal and external);
• Assigning roles within the team (in consultation with the team).

Internal:

• Team members and team coordinators
• Other cluster managers
• (X)LT members
• Location team, professors, and managing director
• HR, Planning & Control, Educational Quality
• Expertise groups

External:

• Partners in the professional field
• Fontys-broad forums and consultation structures
• Those involved in open days and communication