About us
Profundo provides action-oriented research, advice, and capacity building for civil society and public organisations.
We research with a purpose
Our core activity is research. With an open mind, we endeavour to deepen our understanding and identify and analyse all relevant facts. We see it as our role to unravel the knots, analyse the patterns, expose the vested interests, and identify the opportunities for change. This helps our clients and partners to exert influence where it is most effective.
Organisation
Since January 2026, all Profundo's activities have been continued by Profundo Research Foundation. We are a mission-driven non-profit organisation, employing 21 staff from 11 countries. Most of us are based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Profundo was established in 2000 by its present director, Jan Willem van Gelder.
We aim to make a practical contribution to a sustainable world and social justice.
Team
Profundo has a diverse, multidisciplinary team of experts from various professional and cultural backgrounds. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members for more information.
Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct outlines how Profundo strives to conduct its research activities with high accuracy, integrity, and independence. It lays out our operational standards, ethical guidelines, and quality standards for clients, partners, donors, and the wider community.
While it cannot address every possible situation, it provides guidelines and defines the underlying values that help us assess situations effectively and act in alignment with our principles.
Whistleblowing
We encourage anyone to submit a report if they suspect a potential violation of the guidelines in this Code of Conduct by any person working for or with Profundo. Reports can be submitted through the Get in touch form at the bottom of this page.
"Profundo means profound in Spanish and some other languages. Generating profound knowledge to support those with very limited power, be it underpaid workers, local communities, or the natural world, has been the main driver for me to found Profundo. With our research we support the civil society and public organisations that fight for their rights, to understand which mechanisms defend the status quo and to find opportunities for a just and sustainable change."
Jan Willem van Gelder, Founder and director
Supervisory board
Since January 2026, Profundo continued its activities as a non-profit foundation. At the moment, we are establishing a five-member Supervisory board that will oversee whether the Foundation is well-managed and that will provide solicited and unsolicited advice to the director. Soon, we will announce the members of our Supervisory Board here.
We hope someday you will join us
Working at Profundo will offer you the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable and socially just world, by providing action-oriented research, advice, and capacity building for civil society and public organisations.
You can respond to one of our vacancies, which will be published here, or you can send us an open application. As Profundo is an equal opportunity employer, we especially encourage people from a minority background to apply.
Working at Profundo means joining a multi-disciplinary team of over 20 professionals with different cultural backgrounds from 12 different countries. All colleagues are highly motivated to work on social change. Their various backgrounds contribute to profound and comprehensive research results and recommendations for our clients.
We have a horizontal organisational structure allowing everybody to bring in ideas and to be involved in the development of our organisation. Our culture is open, democratic, respectful and informal. Profundo is striving for a diverse and inclusive workplace, in among ways other by providing:
flexible working hours and the right to switch public holidays;
the opportunity to work most of your time from home, making it easier to combine your work life with your private life;
a friendly office close to the Amsterdam Sloterdijk train station;
a resting room at the office which can be used for personal or quiet activities requiring privacy (meditation, praying, etc.);
a healthy vegetarian lunch twice a week at the office for free, which can be adjusted to accommodate different dietary preferences (Halal, Kosher, allergies, a.o.);
a lot of attention for the health and safety of our staff, including regular massages;
a gender mainstreaming taskforce that is working on constant improvement of gender equality and inclusion policies on the work floor and in research;
an international team which usually communicates in English.
Profundo is a fun and challenging workplace that engages in impactful work. One of the things I love about working here is the opportunity to interact with colleagues from different parts of the world. I truly enjoy the international nature of our work and the people around me.
Chithira Rajeevan
Policy Researcher
I enjoy working at Profundo. What I like most about my job, is that we help NGOs to inform their positions, their decision-making process, and their public campaigns through world-class research. When rooted in science and supported by evidence, the great work that the NGOs are doing is bound to receive the attention it truly deserves – both from the policymakers and our societies.
Pavel Boev
Supply Chain Researcher
Vacancies
Open applications
At the moment, we do not have any vacancies. But if you feel that you could make a strong contribution to our work, we welcome your open application. Please send an email with a short motivation letter and a curriculum vitae to [email protected].
Profundo is an equal opportunity employer striving for a diverse and inclusive workplace. People from a minority background are especially encouraged to apply.
Annual reports
Our annual reports provide a concise overview of our activities per year, while our financial accounts show our financial figures.
Address
Profundo
Radarweg 505
1043 NZ Amsterdam
the Netherlands
Tel: +31-20-8208320
E-mail: [email protected]
Our office is very close to the Amsterdam Sloterdijk railway station. If you leave the station through the main exit, turn left and take the footpath passing the circular Hermes café. Follow the road crossing below the glass-covered railway line until the first crossing. In front of you is our office, with various company billboards on the side wall. Cross at the traffic lights and take the second entrance on the street side. Our office is located on the fifth floor.
Get in touch
To get in touch with us, please fill in the form below and send it.