We are seeking two or three part-time Postdoctoral Research Assistants in Public Administration to join the GovernanceLab of TIAS. The posts are funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project ‘COGOV’ and are fixed-term for 23 months (maximum). In full-time equivalents the total post for Post-Doctoral Research Assistants is for 26,5 months. You can apply for a part-time position with a minimum of 0.3 FTE.

You will be a member of the COGOV team – comprising 10 partners from across Europe - and will carry out qualitative research and contribute to quantitative research. This will particularly focus on local and national organisations in the social policy and labour market sectors and aim to explore and share good practice on leading-edge experiments in new and more participatory approaches to public administration which are becoming evident across Europe.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and manage individual and collaborative research to deliver on appropriate packages of work within the COGOV programme
• Contribute to an extensive literature review on the changing role of professionals in European Welfare States (WP6)
• Carry out in-depth case studies about co-governance and engaging professionals in the renewal of public services in the Netherlands (WP2 and WP4) and support to developing questionnaires for both quantitative and qualitative data across six European states (WP2 and WP3) 
• Contribute to produce detailed reports and journal articles, based on the literature review and the analysis of the case studies
• Contribute to the project team in the development of a toolkit for public leaders and the organisation and delivery of dissemination opportunities and events
• Collaborate with COGOV teams and partners as required and contribute to relevant meetings, conferences and web site development as planned within the project

NB: Specific duties will vary from time to time: the above list is intended to indicate the general nature of the post and is not exhaustive. The post holders will be expected to be flexible in supporting the project by undertaking responsibilities which are commensurate with the grade, and as directed by Professor Nicolette van Gestel (the Project Co-ordinator)

• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent with substantial research experience demonstrated by a strong research profile
• PhD in a relevant subject area (finished or nearly finished)
• Extensive knowledge in public administration/public policy
• Knowledge of the wider EU policy/administrative context
• Specialist subject expertise in the area of professionals and/or labour market/social policy
• Good academic standing in the discipline, commensurate with the title of Post-Doctoral Research Assistant
• Able to use initiative to resolve problems by applying creativity to identify practical options and devise varied solutions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Dutch, allowing the individual to understand and convey information that requires careful interpretation and explanation
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative research skills, in particular interviewing and analyzing
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to initiate, develop and maintain internal and external relationships
• Experience of publishing quality research outputs
• Be prepared to work in a flexible manner to deliver both individual and team research objectives, including travel within the Netherlands and internationally

These posts are based at the Utrecht location of TIAS School for Business and Society, with requisite to work from and / or travel to other University premises and external organisations as required. National and international travel to meet academic partners and programme managers in relation to the project will be required. The post requires attendance at the University’s sites such hours as are reasonably necessary for the effective discharge of the duties of the post, within a working week of hours related to the part time contract. 

TIAS School for Business & Society

The world is changing at a rapid pace. Technological, economic and social developments follow each other in quick succession. Companies and institutions are looking for a clearer purpose for their activities. At TIAS School for Business & Society, we work from the principle that economic success and societal progress go hand in hand. Business is society and society is business, they cannot do without each other. Business, governments and society face the challenge of realizing in co-creation the solutions for tomorrow. TIAS facilitates them in their search in this new context.

TIAS is the business school of Tilburg University and Eindhoven University of Technology and therefore has a strong academic basis. We make TIAS research accessible for our participants. We offer a broad and flexible portfolio of MBAs, Executive Masters, Company Specific Programs, Master Classes and PhD. Yearly we welcome 2,400 participants from 25 countries. TIAS’ programs are internationally recognized.