Senior Legal Counsel - Manager

Due to retirement, a position will become available starting in September 2023 for 

Senior Legal Counsel - Manager (24–32 hours per week) 

The situation: 

The PVP Foundation is undergoing significant changes, partly because its funding source, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, is strongly committed to legal protection and opportunities for self-determination for people who are (or may be) subject to mandatory care.  

The first review of the Wvggz (and Wzd) was recently conducted. As a result, various legislative amendments are currently being prepared.  

The PVP Foundation is actively preparing for the future and evolving by fostering greater self-organization among both PVP practitioners across the country and staff at the national office in Utrecht. Agility, a willingness to learn, and a client- and solution-oriented mindset are key to this process.  

The position: 

As a senior legal counsel, you will lead the legal team and serve as the organization’s “legal conscience.” You are responsible for the organization’s legal direction and the quality of its legal work. This gives you a key role, including when it comes to the external perception, positioning, and influence of the PVP Foundation: within and around the Wvggz chain, but also more broadly in the field of (psychiatric) patient rights. 

You will serve as a substantive advisor and sounding board for the Executive Director and represent the PVP Foundation in relevant external forums. You will also be responsible for contributing to—and thereby raising the profile of—the PVP Foundation’s expertise in professional (legal) literature and at industry conferences.  

The legal team consists of a lawyer, a legal trainer, and a legal assistant. A functional collaboration has been established with several professional practice groups through a legal study group. You will monitor and interpret relevant legal developments—such as legislative reviews, legal literature, and case law—and, together with the legal team, apply your knowledge and expertise to the professional practice groups and their clients.  

You are ultimately responsible for the legal training and continuing education of employees and for ensuring they maintain the appropriate level of knowledge. You are also ultimately responsible for the legal training of new employees who complete the internal post-HBO program in professional legal practice during their first year of employment, and therefore work closely with the legal trainer. 

You will share responsibility for implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and policies. Drawing on your legal expertise and leadership role, you will be part of the Tactical Consultation Group, which includes the leaders of all functional areas, and the Strategic Management Team, consisting of the managers, the HR manager, and the director/CEO. This position may be combined with the role of deputy director. 

What we are asking for: 

• You are a university-trained lawyer, preferably with a background in health law, and naturally have a thorough understanding of the relevant laws and regulations governing (psychiatric) patient rights, specifically the Wvggz, Wgbo, and Wkkgz. Your area of expertise also includes related fields such as forensic law and/or tort law.   
• You have a good sense of administrative dynamics and the various interests at play.  
• You work at the intersection of theory and practice. You can put yourself in the shoes of those involved in the organization’s core operations: providing advice and assistance to clients and reporting shortcomings. Above all, however, the client’s legal standing is always your starting point.  
• You inspire the people you work with. They see you as a knowledgeable colleague who contributes ideas with a focus on solutions and progress.   
• You have experience in communicating legal information, both in writing and orally. 
• You have experience writing legal texts and, preferably, experience with publishing as well. 
• You are able and willing to work with dedicated and discerning professionals. 

What we offer: 

• An independent role within a mission-driven organization where you’ll have an impact not only on the organization itself but also on the field of mandatory care. 
• Working at the intersection of theory and the diverse, ever-changing realities of daily practice. 
• Be part of a collaborative and informal organization where highly trained specialists work every day to protect the legal rights of mental health clients. 
• Hybrid work, where you work in Utrecht at least one day a week. 
• The option to work part-time and set your own schedule.  
• Competitive benefits in accordance with the GGZ Collective Bargaining Agreement, including an end-of-year bonus of 8.33%. 
• The position is classified in job group 70 of the GGZ collective bargaining agreement (min. €5,054 – max. €6,973 gross/month based on a 36-hour workweek). Salary is determined based on relevant work experience. 

Interested? 

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to sollicitatie@pvp.nl. If you would like to know more about the position, please contact Sigrid Attema (Director), at 06-82983971, or Jennelien Nielsen (HR Manager), at 06-52368121. The first round of interviews will take place on May 30, June 1, or June 8 at our office in Utrecht at the end of the day. 

For more information about the PVP Foundation, please visit our website at www.pvp.nl. 

We do not appreciate unsolicited sales calls in response to this ad.