ITEM is looking for a researcher who is passionate about cross-border cooperation and mobility, with a focus on the legal aspects of the cross-border labour market and education.

More specifically, the researcher will collaborate on the Fair Mobility Tool project. In this project, ITEM has been asked by the three Interregional Trade Union Councils Schelde-Kempen, Maas/Rhine and Rijn-IJssel (IVRs) to develop a Fair Mobility Tool (FMT) https://fairmobilitytool.eu/ together with partners, which offers cross-border workers more insight into their work situation. With the tool, cross-border workers can easily check whether their work situation complies with the applicable regulations in two countries. ITEM focuses on providing the right content for the tool. In this context, the researcher will work on: monitoring and selecting relevant information on legislation, regulations and policy at the (inter)national and European level; analysing and editing text documents basic version FMT for the (digital) processing of different language versions; cooperating in updating the FMT database; and preparing publications.

Furthermore, the researcher should have affinity with (cross-border) education, and research on cross-border cooperation and exchange in education. Also, the researcher cooperates in various projects, ranging from Interreg projects to the annual ITEM Cross-Border Impact Assessment, carries out work and presents the results. In doing so, the research is not only of a legal nature, but the researcher is also expected to be able to cooperate in other types of (comparative) studies (based on interviews, literature research and document analysis).

ITEM is interested in meeting candidates who meet the following profile:

• a graduate researcher, with a master's degree in law or another social science discipline with affection for and knowledge of policy and regulation;
• thorough knowledge of European and international law, preferably knowledge of or affinity with the Belgian, Dutch and/or German legal system;
• more specifically knowledge of border issues in the field of labour law, social security law, tax law and/or pension law. Or willing to learn about these issues and to master them at an adequate level in the foreseeable future;
• affinity or familiarity with the legal system concerning recognition of diplomas and qualifications. Or prepared to study this in depth and, in the foreseeable future, to master it at an adequate level;
• enjoys working in cooperation within a small research team;
• enjoys working with various disciplines and can also work well in and on interdisciplinary research projects;
• carry out research, for the benefit of science, society, government and business;
• contributing to administrative and coordinating tasks;
• contributing to an open, safe and inclusive working environment;
• have the following competences: flexibility, broad interest, conceptual ability, presentation and result oriented;
• an excellent command, both verbal and written, of the Dutch and English languages. In addition, good knowledge of the German and/or French language is an advantage.

An interesting research position at the Expertise centre ITEM at Maastricht University, offering both scientific and societal research projects. The position concerned is in principle for 1 year, after which there is a possibility of renewal.

The position (1.0 fte) involves the profile of Researcher 4 and consists of 38 hours per week. The salary is set at a minimum of 2.960 and a maximum of 3.247 EURO gross per month.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

ITEM The Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility

The Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility (ITEM, www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/item) is a expertise centre that contributes from a scientific perspective to the development of a well-functioning transnational society with a focus on cross-border economy and labour. ITEM is an initiative of Maastricht University (UM/LAW). Partners are Province of Limburg, Municipality of Maastricht, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, NEIMED and the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.