Postdoc in Private Law

We are looking for a candidate with excellent academic qualities, strong experience in doing comparative legal research and an interest in private law & sustainability. The candidate is also willing and able to engage with the (Dutch) field of practice. 

The central research theme for which we are hiring is the embedding of European circular economy policy in the Western European construction sector. The European Circular Economy Action Plan (2019) on sustainable resource use in high impact sectors, such as construction, requires public and private actors to alter their policies and services. In recent years, there have been many developments in this area, such as product-as-a-service and modular construction. Accordingly, a legal framework is needed that supports a sustainable building environment. Themes that are highly relevant for further (comparative) research are for instance: contractual duties that stimulate sustainable building practice, regulating long-term relationships between contract parties in construction projects, (intellectual) property rights in a circular built environment, and public private partnerships in the field of sustainable building. The post-doc researcher will do comparative legal research, fieldwork consisting of observations and interviews, and will take part in existing (inter)national networks. Experience within the field of construction law is welcomed. The research project is embedded in the PBLL Signature Plan Connecting Responsible Organization, which focusses on three main research themes in private law: sustainability, servitization, and technology.

Tilburg University believes that academic excellence is achieved through the combination of outstanding research and education in which social impact is made by sharing knowledge. In doing so, we recognize that excellence is not only achieved through individual performance but mostly through team effort in which each team member acts as a leader, connecting people. The candidate we are looking for possesses the following qualifications and qualities:

• You have a PhD in Law, preferably private law, or in a related domain of law directly relevant to the positions advertised;
• You have a proven interest in questions related to (construction) contract law, evidenced by previous projects and publications;
• You have proven experience with comparative legal research and/or qualitative empirical fieldwork;
• You show an ability to contribute to (inter)national academic debates through written contributions (peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, books, etc.); are willing and able to contribute to (inter)national debate in this field; 
• You are a team player and committed to be a central contributor to the Signature Plan of PBLL, as well as a good citizen of the PBLL department.

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• A position based on 0,6 - 1,0 fte (34-40 hours per week).
• A salary of minimum €4,537 and maximum €6,209 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 3 and salary scale 11. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience. 
• This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 sub b CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 3 years.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. 
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave. 
• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport. 
• A monthly internet allowance of €25.
• An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center. 
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions). 
• Employees from abroad may be eligible for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary. 
• A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research. Or a language course at our Language Center. 
• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities. 
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. 

For more information, see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities. 

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.

About Tilburg Law School
Since its founding in 1963, Tilburg Law School has become one of the leading law schools in Europe. Through top research and the provision of high-quality university education, the School contributes to society. Tilburg Law School is organized into five Departments: Public Law and Governance; Law, Technology, Markets and Society; Private, Business and Labour Law; the Fiscal Institute Tilburg; and Criminal Law. The mission of the School is to understand and improve the role of law and public administration in addressing the social problems of today and tomorrow. Through research and education, our scholars contribute to that mission. 

More than 4,000 students pursue a Bachelor's, pre-Master's or Master's degree at Tilburg Law School. Through this education, we train students in law, public administration, and data science. The Tilburg Educational Profile (TEP) is unique in the Netherlands. Central to it are three core concepts: knowledge, skill and character. A university education provides students with the latest substantive knowledge and trains them to be critical thinkers and resilient professionals. In addition, the School is committed to innovative educational concepts and, partly in response to the coronavirus crisis, has invested heavily in the quality of online education and in innovative didactic tools to make and keep students inquisitive. 

Tilburg Law School's research is highly regarded nationally and internationally. The Tilburg Law School Departments work closely together in their research in four signature research programs: 1) Global Law and Governance; 2) Law and Security; 3) Connecting Organizations; and 4) Regulating Socio-Technical Change. 

About the department
The candidate will work in the Department of Private, Business and Labor Law, which is a unique collaboration of researchers in the fields of International Law, European law, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Environmental Law, Public Administration, Legal Philosophy, Political Science, Legal History, and Jurisprudence.