The 'Caring Universities' project is a collaboration between 9 Dutch universities and colleges, including Maastricht University, Leiden University, Utrecht University, Vrije Universiteit, Erasmus University Rotterdam, InHolland University of Applied Sciences, Avans University of Applied Sciences, and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. Our goal is to map, prevent, and improve students' mental health issues with online therapy based on scientific research. This project is part of the global 'World Mental Health International College Student initiative'.

We are looking for a temporary researcher (11 months) to replace a colleague who is going on maternity and parental leave. As a researcher, you will mainly contribute to keeping our project platform and website up-to-date. Additionally, you will work on optimizing the user experience of our online platform by designing and improving visual elements. You will work closely with developers, oversee the planning of technical updates, and coordinate with the project leader, project manager, and the central team.

Within the project, we work in teams with several colleagues performing tasks in various areas. Therefore, in this role, we also expect a contribution to various supportive tasks within the project.

Your tasks

• Assisting in the development and technical implementation of new online self-help programs, including integrating texts, illustrations, and scientific questionnaires.
• Performing acceptance tests and extensive technical testing of new programs.
• Monitoring the platform's functionality after going live and ensuring the proper operation of features such as data storage, e-coaching, and sending questionnaires and reminders.
• Liaising with our developers to plan and implement technical updates.
• Overseeing the project planning for technical updates.
• Coordinating tasks with the project leader, project manager, and the central team.
• Support tasks related to design, communication, data management, and project management.

• Completed university education (WO) in psychology, interaction/media/UX design, or a comparable field.
• Knowledge and experience with programming, professional use of online platforms, and website management.
• Experience with web design and/or graphic design is a plus.
• Excellent organizational skills for effective planning, prioritization, and execution of projects.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in a dynamic (team) environment and handle changing priorities.

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 3.226,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 5.090,00 (Scale 10) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• hybrid working enables a good work-life balance
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
• contribution to commuting expenses

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences
Developing knowledge for an active, healthy and meaningful life: that is our mission at the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences at VU Amsterdam. We maintain a broad focus on the fields of behaviour and health. Our teaching and research programmes are devoted to current developments in society. From healthy aging to e-health, and from training top athletes to social media as a teaching tool. We combine three academic disciplines: psychology, movement sciences and education. A multidisciplinary approach allows us to arrive at a better understanding of human behaviour and movement. Our aims are to help people live healthier lives, learn better and function better.

Are you interested in joining Behavioural and Movement Sciences? You are the kind of person who feels at home working in an ambitious faculty, with an informal atmosphere and short lines of communication. We offer you all the space you need for personal development. Together with your 630 colleagues, you will take care of about 4,200 students.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely. - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of the VU. The VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.