Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

At Headlands Research, we are dedicated to enhancing clinical trial delivery within our communities. As a leading network of advanced clinical trial sites, we leverage cutting-edge technology and exceptional support services to broaden outreach and participation. Founded in 2018, our rapidly growing company currently operates 20+ sites across the US and Canada, with plans for further expansion.

Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Clinical Research | Predictable Schedule | No Call | No Nights
📍 Portland, OR (Onsite)

Looking for something different than traditional clinical practice?

If you love working with mental health patients—but are ready for a more structured, sustainable, and intellectually rewarding environment—this role may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

At Headlands Research, we partner with clinicians who want to stay patient-focused without the constant churn of high-volume visits, after-hours charting, or on-call demands.

About Us

You’ll be joining Summit Research Network, a long-standing clinical research site with nearly 50 years of experience and more than 500 clinical trials conducted. Summit is especially known for its work in psychiatric care, dementia, and memory-related conditions, offering clinicians the chance to contribute to research that truly shapes the future of mental health treatment.

Diversity in clinical trials isn’t a buzzword here—it’s core to how we operate, who we hire, and how we serve patients.

The Opportunity

We’re seeking an experienced Psychiatric or Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to join our Summit Research Network site in Portland.

This is a full-time, onsite role focused on adult mental health clinical trials. You’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary research team and play a meaningful role in advancing new psychiatric treatments—without the chaos of traditional clinical settings.

No call. No nights. No weekends. No productivity quotas.

Why Clinicians Choose Research

✔ Predictable weekday schedule
✔ Longer, more meaningful patient interactions
✔ Strong administrative and research support
✔ Collaborative, mission-driven environment
✔ Opportunity to shape the future of mental health care

If you’ve ever thought, “I still want to help patients—but I need something more balanced,” this role was built with you in mind.

Schedule & Compensation

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  Status: Full-time regular employee

  
  


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  Schedule: Monday through Thursday initially; eventually will move to Tuesday through Friday, 7:00am-5:00pm

  
  


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  Location: Onsite in Portland, OR

  
  


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  Compensation: Competitive and based on experience (clinical + research)

  
  

What You’ll Do

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  Ensure the safety and well-being of study participants

  
  


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  Conduct psychiatric evaluations, medical histories, and physical exams per protocol

  
  


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  Screen and enroll participants based on study criteria

  
  


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  Provide clinical oversight and care during trial participation

  
  


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  Collaborate closely with physicians, coordinators, and research staff

  
  


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  Represent the site at Investigator Meetings as needed

  
  

What We’re Looking For

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  Licensed Psychiatric/Mental Health NP or PA in Oregon

  
  


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  Minimum 2 years of adult mental health clinical experience

  
  


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  Strong interest in patient-centered care and clinical research

  
  


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  Organized, reliable, and comfortable working within protocols

  
  


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  Prior research experience is a plus—but not required

  
  

We’re happy to train clinicians who are curious about research and motivated to learn.

Who This Role Is Great For

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  Clinicians experiencing burnout in traditional practice

  
  


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  NPs/PAs curious about clinical research but unsure how to break in

  
  


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  Providers who value structure, collaboration, and purpose

  
  


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  Those seeking stability without sacrificing impact

  
  

If you’re ready for a refreshing change of pace—and want your work to directly influence the future of mental health treatment—we’d love to talk.