Operational manager

The OPEN Foundation is a small and growing NGO based in the Netherlands, which has been dedicated to stimulating multidisciplinary research into psychedelics since 2007. OPEN is a non-profit NGO focused on fostering collaboration in research and clinical practice; the organization of scientific events (symposia, conferences, expert meetings), and increasingly on steering research and therapeutic applications of psychedelics in a direction that promotes safe, sustainable, and beneficial access.

We are currently looking to hire an operational manager. This is a great opportunity to become involved and immersed in the growing field of psychedelic research. This is a part-time position (starting at 16 hours per week), that will allow you to work from home. Our team is primarily based in Amsterdam, but we have team members hailing from all over Europe. We focus on organizing physical events in the Netherlands, although we increasingly organize online events too. As such, our strong preference is for a candidate who is based in the Netherlands, and ideally speaks Dutch.

As operational manager, you will work together closely with the executive director. You will be responsible for managing a group of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers from different cultural and academic backgrounds. As operational manager you manage the different teams, checking in with teams and team members regularly; bringing onboard new volunteers; organizing meetings; and reporting back to the director. In addition, you will be responsible for improving an organizational and team structure that facilitates working collaboratively and remotely. Experience managing teams (of volunteers) is a requirement, and experience organizing events is recommended.

As operational manager, you will:

• Work together closely with the executive director, setting the course and direction of our activities, in line with the mission and vision of OPEN;
• Help lead a team of enthusiastic volunteers;
• Develop a structure that promotes and empowers teams to be proactive and become independent;
• Facilitate the organization of (online) events, including journal clubs, webinars and workshops, together with the director and team;
• Manage and appoint team leads, organizing regular meetings with team leads;
• Screen and interview new volunteers, and introduce them to the organization; 
• Create an organizational structure that will enable online collaboration across teams and volunteers, and roll this out across the organization;
• Generally be flexible to work where and when you want, while making sure the director, teams and members can reach you easily.

Our ideal candidate: 

• Has a strong affinity with scientific research and is up-to-date about recent developments in psychedelic research and therapy;
• Has demonstrable work experience in managing teams, ideally with volunteers;
• Is very well-organized and works in structured manner;
• Able to keep the overview of activities, members, and teams in a dynamic and ever-changing organization;
• Is approachable, responsive, and has excellent communication skills;
• Can motivate, empower and encourage team members; 
• Takes action proactively and independently where needed;
• Is thoughtful and thorough when deciding on a course of action
• Can separate the wheat from the chaff and will share important issues with the director, while dealing with the daily operations of teams.

How to apply?

Initially you will get a one-year contract (with six months trial period) for 16 hours a week (0.4 fte) with the possibility of extension. Depending on age and experience, starting salary for this position is €3.437 - €3.792.

Please send a brief motivation and CV to joost AT openfoundation.nl before 15 April 2021. Candidates will be informed before 30 April. Online interviews will be planned in the first week of May.