Postdoc on Governance and Politics of the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus

Are you interested in addressing the growing challenge of water and food security by promoting an integrated Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus approach? Please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Jouw functie

The Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher at the department of Environmental Policy Analysis (EPA). You will play a key role in the EU funded RETOUCH Nexus project that seeks to design and implement innovative, inclusive and climate-resilient water governance systems in various EU countries (https://retouch-nexus.eu/). Your work focus specifically on the development of a multi-year freshwater availability programme of a water board in the province of North-Holland. In addition, you will also carry out research and teaching in the field of national and local environmental policy and project acquisition in this field.

Your duties

• you conduct research on stakeholder perceptions about the issues to be addressed and measures to be taken within the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems nexus
• you organise dialogues and workshops with stakeholders in the region
• you publish research results in international peer-reviewed journals and impact oriented journals
• you engage in the educational programmes at IVM, such as the supervision of Bachelor and Master students
• you contribute to the administrative responsibilities of the EPA department and to IVM-wide tasks

Jouw profiel

• you have a PhD in political science, public administration, governance studies  or a related socio-environmental discipline, specialising in water, energy, climate, food, agriculture, and/or biodiversity policies in a national or local context, preferably from a nexus perspective
• you are a team-worker, proactive, and have the ability to handle various types of stakeholders
• your experience in survey, stakeholder analysis and interview methods is an advantage
• your experience with other qualitative research approaches, such as document and content analysis is an advantage
• you have a proven interest in interdisciplinary work
• your understanding of and experience with Dutch national, regional, and local politics is an advantage  
• you have excellent proficiency and communication skills in both Dutch and English

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not (fully) meet all the requirements.

Wat bieden wij

An exciting postdoc position in a socially engaged organisation with a supportive project team and an active early-career scientist community. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 3.345,00 (Scale 10.0) and maximum € 5.278,00 (Scale 10.12) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially start with a 1-year contract with the possibility to extend with another 12-24 months, depending on available external funding. The expected start date is 1 February 2025

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalised benefits package

Over ons

Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM)
Established in 1971, IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognised for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM’s research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Geography, Environmental Policy Analysis; and Water and Climate Risk. Since 2001 IVM has been part of the Faculty of Science at VU Amsterdam (legal name Stichting VU).

The department of Environmental Policy Analysis (EPA) at IVM is a team of more than 30 researchers that was evaluated in the most recent international research quality review as “world leading” and as being “one of the highest profile academic research groups involved with sustainability governance from around the world”. We address questions related to institutional effectiveness and change, governance innovation and complexity as well as learning and adaptation. Empirically, we have a strong focus on water, climate change and biodiversity.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely – a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interesse

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter. The job interviews are planned for the first half of January 2025, when possible please take this into account when applying for the position.

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.

Reference letters can either be uploaded with your application, or you can list the contact information of two references in your CV or cover letter.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.