The NPI is a center of excellence specializing in the treatment of personality disorders and is part of Arkin, a major mental health care organization in the Amsterdam region. The NPI employs a total of approximately 250 practitioners and treats around 4,000 people annually. The NPI has five locations in Amsterdam (East, North, and West), Amersfoort, and Utrecht, as well as an online team. Since 2016, the NPI has been accredited as a top clinical institution.

For Arkin, research is one of the tools that helps achieve its goals. Arkin therefore believes it is important to be involved in leading national and international scientific research in order to promote innovation and improve the quality of care. Conducting research also enhances the quality of our core operations and increases our appeal as an employer.

There is a central Research Department that provides support on methodological, legal, and medical-ethical issues, as well as an overarching Arkin Scientific Board. At the decentralized level, there are various Academic Workshops linked to our treatment and expertise centers. These collaborate closely with academic partners, universities, healthcare partners, and research institutes. Our academic workshops consist of several PhD-holding scientist-practitioners, PhD candidates, and other researchers.

What will you be doing?

Together with the NPI’s executive board, you will lead the Academic Workplace for Personality Disorders, set the direction for research lines and themes that are practically relevant and contribute to better personalized care, and play a leading role in the further professionalization of the field. You will build strong research networks, including with other Top Clinical departments, the university, and relevant national and international partners. You are responsible for initiating and monitoring the progress of research projects and supervising PhD candidates. Ongoing research includes randomized studies, open cohort studies, and qualitative research. You will collaborate with the board, the management team, and clinicians to apply scientific knowledge at both the policy and practical levels and to ensure the center’s Top Clinical status. Upon appointment as a professor, the duties will also include teaching and research activities for the Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology at VU University Amsterdam.

Positioning

The senior researcher, together with the NPI’s director of clinical affairs and operations manager, oversees the Academic Clinic for Personality Disorders.

With regard to their work in the academic clinic, the senior researcher reports to the Board of Directors. Once appointed as a professor, he or she will report to the university administration for these hours, in accordance with the arrangements in place within the Department of Clinical Psychology.

Your responsibilities

• Developing and providing functional oversight of innovative lines of research in the field of personality disorders and related syndromic conditions;
• Helping to develop and implement a multi-year research program for the NPI;
• Publishing scholarly articles and contributing to knowledge sharing within the field;
• Securing external funding for research projects;
• Supervising doctoral students, researchers, and GIOS students in their research;
• Maintaining and expanding partnerships with universities and research institutions;
• Supporting healthcare providers in applying scientific insights in their practice;
• Identifying operational aspects such as the deployment of practitioners and the effectiveness of actions;
• The position may be expanded to include a number of treatment hours, to be determined, at one of the NPI locations;
• You are a member of Arkin's Scientific Board.

We offer you:

• A contract for 12 to 16 hours per week to support research at the NPI Academic Workplace and the professorship. This may be supplemented, upon consultation, with a number of treatment hours to be determined;
• A salary in accordance with the CAO-GGZ in FWG 65 (min. €5,027 and max. €6,569 gross based on a 36-hour workweek) and, following appointment as a professor, in accordance with the CAO-GGZ in FWG 75 (min. €6,648 and max. €9,234 gross based on a 36-hour workweek), depending on education and experience;
• Collaboration with a dedicated and multidisciplinary team;
• A strategic and impactful role within an academic mental health care setting;
• The opportunity to bridge the gap between science and practice and contribute to better care for eating disorders.

What do you bring to the table?

• A psychologist with a Ph.D. and a track record of academic excellence, as evidenced by, for example, publications in high-impact scientific journals, citations by other researchers, invitations to give lectures, participation in (grant-awarding) scientific committees, and editorial roles at a journal. You meet the criteria for appointment as a professor;
• You have a knack for fundraising, as evidenced by your success in securing competitive grants;
• You have an affinity for and experience with research into evidence-based psychological treatments and improving their effectiveness through personalization. You have a proven track record of designing and conducting innovative research in these areas;
• You have demonstrable experience and an affinity for research into psychodynamic treatment approaches, in line with the NPI’s treatment philosophy;
• You are a BIG-registered psychologist with a clear scientist-practitioner profile;
• You have a strong national and international network within both mental health care (research) institutions and the academic community;
• You are able to serve as a bridge between science and practice, for example by participating in guideline committees, giving lectures to clinicians, and contributing to continuing education;
• You have demonstrable experience in teaching clinical psychology, particularly in delivering lectures, supervising bachelor’s and master’s theses, and research internships for the research master’s program;
• You are an inspiring mentor with experience in supervising doctoral students and trainee clinical psychologists;
• You are approachable and pleasant to work with;
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills in Dutch and English;
• Work experience at large integrated mental health institutions is preferred, as is work experience in a university setting.

Careers at Arkin

Arkin is the leading mental health care provider in the Randstad region, offering 11 specialties.Together, we are expertsin the fields of psychiatry and addiction treatment. We are committed to fostering the mental resilience of our clients.

Arkin employs approximately 4,000 dedicated, passionate professionals who are not afraid to take risks. They are constantly seeking customized solutions for their clients. Quality is what matters, time and time again. We therefore encourage employees to continue developing their expertise through comprehensive training programs. We also encourage employees to develop innovative ideas and work them out in multidisciplinary teams. At Arkin, we believe that innovation is essential to keeping healthcare affordable and accessible.

Interested? 

Would you like to contribute to groundbreaking research and help take the care of personality disorders to the next level? Apply now using the application button.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. H.L. Van, Director of Clinical Affairs at NPI, atRien.Van@arkin.nl, or Dr. M. Kikkert, Head of Research at Arkin, atMartijn.Kikkert@arkin.nl.

The deadline for comments is October 10.