Our world is facing many severe and pressing challenges, many of them related to the impact of climate change, depletion of natural resources and declining biodiversity. The availability of fresh water and food is becoming increasingly uncertain, clean energy and other natural resources are in high demand but fraught with difficulties, and the risk of climate-related disasters is growing. All these developments give rise to an increasing number of conflicts, endangered livelihoods, and contribute to mass migration and regional instability.

Given the scale and interdependencies of these challenges, a more international perspective on the governance and management of such issues is necessary. Therefore, the department of Public Administration and Sociology looks for an Associate or Full Professor Management of International Societal Challenges (1,0 fte)

As Associate or Full Professor we expect you to conduct, develop and supervise innovative and impactful research in the emerging field of the management of international social challenges (MISOC), especially related to issues of environment, climate, energy, water or food. This research is connected to the research program of the Public Administration research group. This group focuses on areas of governance, policy and management regarding complex public issues and combines rigorous in-depth empirical research with design-oriented approaches in order to contribute to society’s capacity to solve these issues.

You are expected to be willing to take leadership in the international bachelor program MISOC. This program is offered since September 2016 by the Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS) and has over time developed into a successful program attracting well over a hundred students annually. This program consists of, on the one hand, courses that are shared with the other Bachelor programs of DPAS, and on the other, distinctive MISOC courses (e.g. Global Challenges, International Migration, Global Development Issues and HRM and Leadership in International Organizations). Like all bachelor programs in DPAS, it has a student-centered approach, meaning that throughout the program lectures are combined with intensive practice sessions and working groups. To continue to be attractive to its current and prospective students, the program requires more visibility in research and higher-level input in the further development of the program. Achieving this will be one of the tasks of the new faculty member.

The management of international social challenges is an interdisciplinary topic, which can be approached from several disciplinary backgrounds, such as political science, public administration, law, sociology or (political) economy. You should have a PhD in one of these areas or a closely related area. Regardless of disciplinary background, the candidate should be willing and able to work in a multidisciplinary field and should strongly believe in the added value of multidisciplinary research and education, not only within the ESSB but also in the broader national and international context. In addition, the candidate should have affinity with both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

You must have extensive experience researching the multilevel governance and management of international social challenges in general, and particularly, the management of global environmental challenges related to environmental issues and their interplay with societal and economic challenges. 

Activities

The associate or full professor:

• Has the potential to become the face of the successful international bachelor in Management of International Social Challenges and to boost its further development. For this the candidate will cooperate with others, such as lecturers and teachers in the program, will explore new avenues and take educational leadership.
• Conducts (multi/inter-disciplinary) research in the field of Management of International Social Challenges (a structure report with a description of the field and expected developments therein is available upon request).
• Performs teaching tasks, such as coordinating and (re)developing modules and supervising theses in the MISOC bachelor. Teaching can also be envisioned in other educational programs of ESSB, such as the International Master in Public Management and Public Policy, and/or the master specialisations Governance and Management of Complex Systems, Governance of Migration and Diversity.
• Actively engages in acquiring external research funding and in developing new relations within the context of the Convergence, the expanding collaboration between EUR, TU Delft and Erasmus Medical Centre.
• Makes sure to develop research with a positive societal impact.
• Attracts and supervises PhD students and other (junior) researchers to further develop the research capacity on the management of international societal challenges. 
• Is, in time, available for (other) managerial tasks within the ESSB.

We are looking for candidate with:

Research:

• Extensive experience researching the multilevel governance and management of international social challenges related to environmental issues like climate change, energy, sustainability or related topics;
• High-quality publications in high-level journals appropriate for the position applied;
• A PhD in a related area such as political science, public administration, sociology, environmental sciences or (political) economy;
• Proven experience (or at least affinity) with both quantitative and qualitative research methods;
• A strong track record of acquiring research funding, organizing research consortia, and realizing scientific and societal impact.

Education:

• Proof of excellence in academic teaching in the social sciences. Experience with student-centered education methods, would be a plus;
• Qualification for academic teaching at a senior level (or at least at basic level and willing to obtain the EUR senior qualification);

Leadership:

• An inspiring personality, enabling the selected candidate when it comes to provide leadership to the MISOC bachelor program.
• Managerial experience, in particular coordinating and leading teaching and research programs.
• The proven ability to work in a multidisciplinary field, both in terms of research and education.

Other:

• A strong commitment to public engagement.
• Full proficiency in the English language (at a minimum level of C1, according to the Common European Framework – and preferably C2), both oral and written, and a solid command of Dutch or the willingness to learn Dutch at a basic working level in three years’ time (this will be facilitated)
• Intercultural (communication) skills, fitting to our increasingly international student population and working environment.
• International experience and/or a clear international orientation, as well as a vision on international (research) cooperation and education.

An internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with good working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU).

The start date of this position is as soon as possible but no later than August 1st 2023 and you will be based at Erasmus School of Social and Behavourial Sciences in Rotterdam Woudestein.

Your initial employment term will be for one year (with a two months trial period), but this may be converted into a permanent contract if your performance proves satisfactory. The position is for 1 FTE. The salary is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of €6.099 to a maximum of €8.881 gross per month on a fulltime basis, in accordance with scale HL2 of the CAO-NU. In addition, we offer an 8% holiday allowance, an end-of-year payment of 8.3%, and a very generous paid leave scheme. Furthermore, EUR is affiliated with ABP for the pension provision, and we offer partially paid parental leave, fully paid extended birth leave for partners, a personal career budget, work-life balance coaches, discounted collective health insurance, and more. As an employee, you can also use EUR facilities such as the University library and receive a discount on subscriptions for the Erasmus sports center.

Erasmus University Rotterdam offers a Dual Career Programme (DCP) to assist the life partners of new academic staff (on payroll) in finding employment in The Netherlands. The programme is offered in close cooperation with the nearby universities of Delft and Leiden.

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfill their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Tax benefits apply to non-Dutch citizens, conditional on permission granted by the Dutch Tax Office. Applicants should have the right to work in the Netherlands for the duration of the contract.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 3.700 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programs and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 4000 students and more than 400 staff-members. The different disciplines are supported by the Faculty Office (for more information, please visit www.eur.nl/essb).

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)

DPAS covers the disciplines of Public Administration and Sociology. Two related scientific fields with different profiles. Public Administration studies governance capacity and policy interventions. It focuses on the institutional power to organize and intervene in the relations between different social, political and economic actors. Public Administration in Rotterdam goes well beyond the public realm itself and pays attention to public-private cooperation and networks of organizations. Sociology investigates the social structure of societies and the way it evolves. Sociologists in Rotterdam focus among other things on processes of globalization and individualization and on the effects of these processes on international social relations, the labor market or family relations. Related social problems that are studied are migration, flexibilization and solidarity. The perspectives of Public Administration and Sociology complement each other. Together they guarantee a highly relevant and scientific approach to topical administrative and social issues. The bachelor- and masterprogrammes of DPAS are build on this profile and educate students to become scientifically schooled professionals.