Cities around the world are witnessing the profound effects of digitization in society, as cities turn into innovative digital knowledge hubs. Digital technologies drive socio-economic changes and influence the ways in which cities are governed. Many governments around the world are eager to deploy digital technologies to help them with the complex challenges of planning and governing cities, i.e., algorithmic governance. Likewise, private enterprises are increasingly influencing planning and governance via the digital tools they put on the market, often under the header of smart cities. The arrival of digital technology offers both opportunities and threats to the city. We anticipate that this topic will remain relevant and pressing for a long time. As such, IHS is looking to fill a position for a mid/senior level specialist on the topic of the governance of digital infrastructures. The candidate will contribute to the educational, research and advisory activities in which IHS is engaging. The position focuses on the role and development of digital infrastructures in cities, algorithmic governance, and the complex and mutual relationships between society and technology. The candidate will be involved in coordinating courses and delivering lectures at Master level, supervising Master and PhD theses, contributing to existing research and advisory projects, and acquiring new ones.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Holds a PhD degree (or close to defending one) in the social sciences.
• Is in possession of a Basiskwalificatie Onderwijs (BKO) or willing to obtain one within 2 years.
• Has a proven background on, and expertise in, the topics mentioned above.
• Has the ability and interest to develop and deliver high-quality courses and lectures and to supervise Master and PhD students.
• Has an international network and a strong track record in publications in peer-reviewed journals and in attracting research funding.
• Has international experience in a multicultural environment, has a creative and problem-solving attitude, and is both able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Has working knowledge of some of the digital tools that are currently used in the field.
• Has some programming knowledge in R or Python (or another relevant program) with machine learning applications, or able to learn this within a short time period.
• Has excellent skills in social science research methods, preferable multiple or mixed methods.
• Has excellent command of spoken and written English with fluency in other languages desirable.

Fixed-term contract: starting for a period of 1 year, with possible extension of permanent employment after 3 years.

The candidate must be in possession of a Dutch residence permit or be an EU citizen. The position is available in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, starting for a period of 1 year, with possible extension of permanent employment after 3 years, and is based on a minimum of 32 hours per week to a maximum of 40 working hours per week.

Remuneration will be in line with the responsibilities of the role and related to the work experience of the candidate. For full-time employment the minimum gross monthly salary is equivalent to € 3,974 and the maximum is equivalent to € 5,439 based on 40 working hours per week and on a salary scale of 11, or the minimum is equivalent to €4,814 and the maximum equivalent to €6,181 based on 40 hours per week and on a salary scale 12 of the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO NU). The employment conditions include a holiday allowance of 8.0% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

We prefer a candidate who is available to start as soon as possible, autumn 2022 latest

Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) - Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) - Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) focuses on educational, research and advisory activities related to urban development and management world-wide. It hosts the Master Urban Development and Management and the PhD program Urban Development and Governance. IHS expertise covers a wide range of topics. One area we would like to focus on more concerns the governance of digital infrastructures. This position is opened within the department Urban Economics & Governance. This department focuses on how cities and urban areas develop economically and how governance processes shape urban development. For more information on the department’s activities, visit the department’s website.