Postdoctoral Researcher Organizing for a Sustainable Healthcare Workforce

Introduction

Health systems around the world are facing significant challenges driven by shifting demographics, rapid technological advancements, economic transitions like the rise of flexible labor markets and threatening geopolitical tensions that impact the governance and organization of health systems. These forces are reshaping how healthcare is delivered and managed. At the same time, healthcare remains the cornerstone of the welfare state and of thriving societies and economies. Healthy, resilient populations are vital for national competitiveness and well-being. In this context, contemporary healthcare systems and organizations, face huge challenges alongside growing uncertainties, requiring bold, innovative solutions.

At the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) we are at the forefront of addressing these challenges. With a stellar reputation for transdisciplinary research and societal impact, ESHPM invests in the development of the transdisciplinary research theme on Sustainable HealthCare workforce. This research theme explores the evolving nature of work and workers in healthcare within real-world settings and in the face of contemporary challenges.

Job description

Key topics

The postdoctoral researcher will play a pivotal role in advancing our research agenda, which includes but is not limited to the following topics:

• The future of healthcare work and the role of technology (including AI, robotics, digitalization).
• Evolving labor markets, productivity, performance, recruitment and retention strategies.
• Well-being at work, organization of work and the commoditization of care.
• Crisis-driven care innovation and adaptation.

You will work alongside a diverse group of senior and junior researchers from disciplines such as sociology, health economics, health law, ethics, and organization studies. This two-year position offers the opportunity to conduct impactful research, contribute to academic publications, support local and international network building, and participate in the development of research grant proposals.

The postdoctoral researcher will be supervised by Associate Professor Yiannis Kyratsis (Chair in Sustainable Healthcare Workforce) and Professor Iris Wallenburg (Professor of Sociology of Care).

Role Duties and Responsibilities

As a core member of our team, you will:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research projects aligned with the theme’s focus areas.
• Assist in or co-lead the development and submission of research grant proposals.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with academic and professional stakeholders.
• Present research findings at global conferences and contribute to leading academic journals.
• Participate in the development of teaching offerings related to the research theme.
• Thesis supervision of master students related to the topic.
• Help organize seminars, workshops, and other activities to foster community engagement.

You will work closely with a core group comprising: the theme leads, two Assistant Professors, and two full-time PhD students, collaborating regularly to shape and advance the theme’s research goals.

Job requirements

We welcome applications from researchers with a PhD (or nearing completion) in fields such as health sociology, health economics, organization and management studies, public administration, or science & technology studies.

Knowledge & Experience

• Expertise in topics such as human resource management in healthcare, healthcare workforce dynamics, human-technology interaction, work productivity and performance, digital technology integration, healthcare professionalism, governance and organizational transformation.
• Experience in healthcare settings, such as primary care, hospitals, or community care.
• Proven research skills (qualitative or mixed methods) and a strong academic publication record.
• Experience in writing and submitting research grants.
• Experience working in collaborative, interdisciplinary, or international research environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in Dutch is an advantage.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a team.

Why Join Us?

As part of our vibrant research community, you will contribute to work that transcends academic theory to deliver real-world impact on the healthcare workforce.

If you are an ambitious and enthusiastic researcher passionate about shaping the future of healthcare work and workforce sustainability, we encourage you to apply.

Employment conditions and benefits

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The preferred start date is 1 /15 April 2025 and you will be based at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM). This position is for 0.8 fte - 1 fte. The salary is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of € 4.537 to a maximum of € 6.209 gross per month Scale 11 on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is offered for a period of 2 year and can be extended if suitability is proven and if (financial and/or organizational) circumstances remain the same.

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

-        Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!

-        Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.

-        Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.

-        Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.

-        Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).

-        Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Employer

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

The Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) is a leading institute based in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, specializing in healthcare policy and management across disciplines like economics, law, socio-medical sciences, organization science, and public administration. Located in the Bayle Building at Erasmus University Rotterdam and closely associated with Erasmus Medical Centre, ESHPM educates about 1,600 students and employs around 200 faculty members. focusing on internationalization and multidisciplinary research.

Group

The Sustainable Healthcare Workforce group is part of the sections Health Services Management & Organisation (HSMO) and Health Care Governance (HCG)

Department

n.a.

Additional information

Informal enquiries about this post should be made to: kyratsis@eshpm.eur.nl or wallenburg@eshpm.eur.nl

Applying

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and CV, before the vacancy closing date.

The interviews with shortlisted candidates will be conducted in the w/c 3rd of March 2025.

You can find more information about the EUR on our website www.eur.nl. 

We look forward to receiving your application.

Persons of all gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, citizenships, or any other aspect are welcome to apply and join the EUR community.