Are you an ambitious postdoctoral scholar in the field of social sciences and/or environmental sciences? Do you have an interest in urban green governance and environmental justice? Are you interested in contributing to just transformations and collaboration with citizens and civil society? Do you like to work in an interdisciplinary and international team? Then this could be the ideal career option for you!

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the European NATURO-project The successful candidate will play a key role in developing and analyzing innovative approaches from various European cities to enhance inclusive urban green governance among municipalities, civil society, and local residents. The responsibilities include evaluating governance approaches in an urban Living Lab in the Netherlands and collaborating with other Living Labs across Europe.

This position also offers opportunities for personal scientific growth by contributing to the advancement of urban green governance research. The successful candidate will be involved in writing proposals and publishing new and existing research at the intersection of sustainable transformations, grassroots and stewardship practices, and environmental justice.

If you are passionate about making a meaningful contribution to urban green governance and are eager to be part of a dynamic, collaborative team, we encourage you to apply.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• analyze inclusive governance in different European contexts;
• develop collaborations with the international team and with city officials;
• evaluate the environment justice impact of implemented governance approaches;
• contribute to writing scientific proposals;
• publish scientific papers.

The preferred starting date is January 1st 2025. Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.345 ,- and € 5.278 for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). The total length of this project is 20 months.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands. The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated. You have strong interpersonal and communicative skills both with practitioners as with scientific peers, you like to contribute to transformative change, scientifically as well as practically. You are a team player, and you have good writing skills and enjoy publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

You also possess:

• a Ph D in social or environmental sciences;
• a good scientific track record, including peer-reviewed publications;
• an interest in transdisciplinary research;
• proficiency in English and an interest in learning Dutch.

You will work here
The position is within the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group in the Department of Environmental Sciences of Wageningen University, which provides research and academic education on our living environment. The chair group focuses on the role of political, socio-cultural and economic dimensions of forests and nature in an urban and non-urban context. For more information about this position, please contact Arjen Buijs, Associate Professor at FNP, by e-mail arjen.buijs@wur.nl .

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter noorien.abbas@wur.nl .

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 7 November, 2024. We will schedule the first job interviews soon afterwards.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.