PNN Vacancy: General Board Member - Employment conditions in hospitals

Are you passionate about the position of PhD candidates in the Netherlands? Do you want to make an impact at a national level and collaborate with enthusiastic PhD candidates from all over the country? Then this job is for you!

Starting September 2026, the PhD Network Netherlands (PNN) is looking for reinforcement in the form of a general board member with the portfolio Employment Conditions and a focus area of Hospitals.

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Highlights

• Work to improve employment conditions for PhD candidates in hospitals. 
• Represent PhD candidates in discussions with trade unions, graduate schools, and UMCNL. 
• Participate in our national board with engaged and ambitious board members.
• Expand your network and develop valuable skills for your future career.
• Flexible board work alongside your PhD trajectory, with time-for-time compensation (upon consultation).

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What will you do?

As a general board member for Employment Conditions in Hospitals, you will be responsible for a diverse portfolio. Your main responsibility is to ensure that there is sufficient attention for the approximately 4000 UMC PhD candidates (OIOs and physician-researchers) within the PNN board and among other stakeholders. In this role, you will work to improve the employment conditions for UMC PhD candidates, for example by providing input during collective bargaining agreement (cao) negotiations for UMCs. Additionally, you will give 'Know Your Rights' meetings at UMCs, where you will inform PhD candidates about the rights they have based on the cao. You will also answer questions from PhD candidates about their rights via email. 

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For this portfolio, there is a lot of collaboration with other board members who are committed to improving employment conditions for PhD candidates at universities, as well as external, international, and scholarship PhD candidates. Furthermore, you will have a lot of contact with external parties and partners, such as UMCNL and the trade unions CNV and FNV. You will also maintain contact with local graduate schools and lead the National Consultation of UMC PhD Candidates (LOUP), in which local PhD organizations from the 7 Dutch UMCs discuss challenges and improvement ideas. 

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Within PNN, you will also be involved in developing and implementing policies and maintaining and expanding the PNN network. There is also always room to work on a separate project (together with other board members), such as writing opinion pieces or contributing to a research project. 

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Who are we looking for?

• You are a PhD candidate at a Dutch UMC. 
• You are enthusiastic about PNN's mission and want to gain (additional) board experience.
• You are a strong communicator, enjoy working together, and are motivated to improve employment conditions for UMC PhD candidates. 
• You dare to take the lead and know how to inspire people
• You are willing to invest at least 1 year, on average 8-12 hours per week, in PNN. If you have busy research or teaching periods, this time can be adjusted upon consultation: your dissertation always comes first. 
• You are willing to travel regularly for your role. You will regularly attend meetings in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague, and you will be available at least one evening per month for a board meeting in Utrecht or Amsterdam.
• You speak and write Dutch and English fluently.

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What do we offer?

• Collaboration in an enthusiastic and diverse national board.

• An extensive network among PhD candidates and stakeholders around the UMCs of the Netherlands. 
• Plenty of room for your own initiatives and ideas.
• The opportunity to gain policy and governance experience that will help you during and after your PhD.
• Reimbursement for travel expenses incurred due to your board position.
• Possible time compensation in the form of an extension of your PhD trajectory.

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About PNN

The PhD Network Netherlands (PNN) is the national advocacy organization for and by PhD candidates in the Netherlands. We represent PhD candidates at a national level and are therefore a discussion partner for, among others, trade unions, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, universities, and UMCs. In addition, we organize various meetings annually and work closely with Eurodoc (European PhD consultation). At our quadrennial general meetings, our members, the local PhD organizations of all Dutch universities and UMCs, consult with each other.

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Enthusiastic?

Do you have questions or want to know more? Feel free to contact the current board member for hospitals, Aranka van Wesemael, via ziekenhuizen@hetpnn.nl. She would be happy to have a cup of coffee (online/in person) with you to tell you more about this role and how to combine it with your PhD.

If interested, this board position can be combined with the position of treasurer/board member for Finance & Organizational Development.

Applications can be submitted until May 22, 2026, by sending your motivation letter and CV to Maartje Zweers (vice-chair/secretary, secretaris@hetpnn.nl). The job interviews will take place online on June 1 and 3. Between mid-June and early September, you will be trained for this position at a relaxed pace, taking into account holidays and other obligations. From early September, you will take over the tasks from the current portfolio holder. The official inauguration will take place on Friday, September 25, during the general members' meeting.