The Eindhoven University of Technology has a vacancy for a Lead Sustainable Research (0,8- 1.0 fte) within the TU/e Sustainability Office

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)

TU/e is a leading international university of technology, where people are the heart and soul. With excellent research and education programs, we are an important hub in a world-class high-tech ecosystem. We contribute to progress in the technical sciences, to the development of socio-technical innovations, and as a result, to the sustainability and welfare in the region and beyond. We participate in collaborations with industry and civil society organizations, and we are the academic heart of the top technology region Brainport.

TU/e has the ambition to remain among the leading universities in science and technology. Given the pressing societal challenges such as climate change, three objectives are fundamental to our vision for 2030: a sustainable world, the technological revolution, and the impact of technology on society. Taking this major responsibility of contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals implies the need to develop new knowledge, skills, and competencies and to rethink the ways we educate our future engineers. See also: TU/e Strategy 2030.

The Sustainability Office

The Sustainability Office is a central team dedicated to integrating Sustainability in all domains of the University and beyond. We monitor and stimulate the transition to a sustainable University, advise our Executive Board, and connect all necessary stakeholders. A part of the Sustainability Office is the TU/e GO Green Office (GGO), a team of students committed to integrating Sustainability into the lives of all TU/e students. The Sustainability Office collaborates closely with our Sustainability Ambassador, Anna J. Wieczorek and in partnership with various internal and external departments and organizations.

By bringing science and implementation together, the Sustainability Office aims to speed up the execution of new and ongoing Sustainability initiatives, based on latest scientific insights and real-life experience. After organizing TU/e's first Sustainability Day on October 3, we are ready to complete our team with a lead Sustainable Research.

Your role:

As Lead Sustainable Research you have experience in the scientific field and are well informed about the way the research (funding) systems function. Next to that you have an intrinsic motivation and interest in themes related to sustainability and sustainability transitions. In your approach, you look beyond today and tomorrow, and you are conscious of the role that the research system plays in a change towards sustainability. With your specific knowledge about ways of producing scientific knowledge and your ambition to contribute to a more sustainable world, you will discover ways to transform the (TU/e) research system. Next to that you will look for opportunities to raise funds for Sustainable/ Transformative research projects and contribute to writing and monitoring funding proposals.

The role of Lead Sustainable Research is focused on translating and applying existing scientific knowledge, to accelerate the transition towards sustainable development rather thean on conducting original reserach. It emphasizes the practical implementation of research insights to drive and support real-world change

What you will do:

• You design and lead the process of sustainability integration in research at TU/e by exploring and guiding collaborations in the field of sustainability research.
• You create a space (platform/ network) at TU/e where researchers from different faculties work together on sustainability issues.
• You develop a broader collaborations and consultation structure to establish connections with other experts, existing and new research consortia outside of TU/e.
• You are a discussion partner of researchers and you foster connections between researchers to create conditions for fruitful inter-disciplinary collaborations with special attention to transdisciplinary.
• You closely work with the Sustainability Office Lead Sustainable Education and Lead Governance & Valorization in connecting students and other TU/e organizations such as EIRES, Ehvn Engine, the Gate and Innovation Space on sustainability research.
• You identify, initiate, and co-create opportunities for research fundraising and collaborative grant proposals that would support the sustainability integration process.
• You act as a point of contact for questions from internal and external parties regarding sustainability research at TU/e.

• You hold a PhD in a relevant field (such as sustainability, innovation or transition studies)
• You have about 5 years of relevant experience in research and in integrating sustainability into engineering research.
• Sustainability is second nature to you. You are highly motivated to advance the integration of sustainability in research and actively explore opportunities for fundraising.
• You recognize the importance of incorporating social dimensions into engineering research to effectively address grand societal challenges.
• You thrive in a team environment and are passionate about contributing to real-world change.
• You are a natural connector, not afraid to ask critical questions. You skillfully balance diverse interests in multi-stakeholder settings to develop the best and most forward-thinking solutions for our university
• You communicate (oral and written) effectively in English (at least at C1 level) and Dutch (B2 level) with researchers, experts, administrators, and other relevant stakeholders.

• An exciting one-of-a-kind position at a leading, international university.
• Space to co-create, experiment and build the foundations of a novel transformative engineering research for sustainability.
• The salary, depending on knowledge and experience, amounts to a minimum of €4,537and a maximum of €6,209 gross per month (scale 11 CAO Dutch Universities).
• Attractive secondary employment conditions such as 41 days' holiday for a 40-hour working week, 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, a generous employer's contribution to the ABP pension scheme, an optional employment conditions model, paid parental leave, childcare on campus and excellent sports facilities.
• At the start, this is a temporary contract for a period of 18 months, with a view to permanent employment.
• Learning and development are important to us. That is why we offer you free access to training programs and a favorable scheme for work-related studies. 
• TU/e supports hybrid working; to this end, a home-working allowance of €2 per home-working day is given and an internet allowance of €25 per month.
• For more information, see also TU/e terms of employment.

Do you recognize yourself in this profile? We would like you to submit:

• Motivation letter where you articulate your fit with the post.
• CV incl names and contacts to 3 referees.
• Vision (max ½ A4) on how you would fulfill the job.

For more information about the function, please contact S. Harks, Head Sustainability Office, phone 040 - 247 5756 e-mail: s.c.harks@tue.nl.
For other questions about conditions of employment or the process, please contact HR Services HRServices.SupportUnits@tue.nl.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply using the 'apply now'-button. Thank you in advance for your interest in this role! Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Where applicable, internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates where they are equally suitable.