Assistant Professor in Political Science

Are you a political scientist with a strong and appealing research agenda that involves comparative politics in an international context? Are you motivated to teach substantive and more methodological courses in this domain? Then, please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 1 

Job description

The Department of Political Science and Public Administration is searching for an Assistant Professor in Political Science with expertise in comparative politics in an international context. The envisaged candidate is to teach courses in comparative politics and related themes and undertake research that contributes to our research program. We are keen to have a colleague who is methodologically self-reflective and commands distinctive skills in quantitative and/or qualitative methods. Given the range of expertise in the department, we particularly welcome applicants who hold expertise on (parts of) the Global South. Other thematic interests that would enrich our political science team include political parties, political violence, processes of democratization, and digital politics.

Do you have a compelling research agenda that can contribute to our research programme on ‘Multi-Layered Governance in Europe and beyond’? Then this may be an interesting offer for you. You need to hold a PhD in political science and demonstrate experience in teaching with positive evaluations. You maintain international research networks. You have a proven track record of high-quality international publications, and the potential to acquire research grants.

As an Assistant Professor, you are expected to be able to teach a variety of courses in political science at Bachelor and Master level. This may also be in the Bachelor in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and the Master in Law and Politics of International Security. You conduct research, publish this in international, refereed journals and, where feasible, spread the findings to a wider public. Besides, you are active in acquiring external research funding, alone or with colleagues, and you may co-supervise PhD candidates.

The Department of Political Science and Public Administration is committed to high quality academic education and research. Our educational programmes include Political Science (bachelor and master), Governance and Organisation (bachelor), and Public Administration (master). We collaborate with the faculties of Humanities and Economics in the bachelor Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and with the Law Faculty in the master Law and Politics of International Security. Our research is organized in two programmes: ‘Multi-layered governance in Europe and beyond’ and ‘New modes of public governance’. A central theme in our teaching and research in political science is the way in which domestic politics and international relations have become systematically interconnected.

Your duties

• teach and coordinate a variety of courses in political science at the bachelor and the master level
• undertake independent research and realize international high-ranked peer-reviewed publications
• apply for external research funding
• take on (minor) managerial duties
• where appropriate, co-supervise PhD students and mentor students and junior colleagues
• actively contribute to the scholarly community of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Requirements

• a PhD in political science, with
• a strong profile in comparative politics
• a proven track record in publishing in high-quality international refereed journals
• an attractive research agenda that fits the political science research programme “Multi-layered governance in Europe and beyond”
• demonstrable experience with high-quality teaching in political science
• (proven) ability and willingness to apply for external research funding
• excellent command of the English language
• a willingness to acquire a working knowledge of Dutch within two years of the appointment (for non-Dutch applicants)
• the ability to work in a team as well as independently

Given the current composition of the department, we especially welcome applications by female candidates and by applicants who enrich the diversity of our department in other relevant respects.

What are we offering?

A stimulating position in a highly committed team within a societally-engaged university and a vibrant international city. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system Universitair Docent 2 (UFO) and is vacant for 1.0 FTE. The position is towards a permanent contract. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €3,974 (scale 11) and a maximum €5,439 (scale 11), depending on your education and experience. 
The initial employment contract will affect a period of 18 months.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment,
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus,
• solid pension scheme (ABP), contribution to commuting expenses,
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package.

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

Faculty of Social Sciences
The Faculty of Social Sciences examines the major social problems of our time from multiple perspectives. From bullying at school to dealing with transnational immigration, from the rise of populist politicians to creating a self-reliant society. Only at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam you will find all the academic disciplines needed to understand these 'wicked problems': alongside the traditional disciplines such as sociology, anthropology and politics, we also research and teach the new social sciences such as communication science and management & organization science. We do not settle for easy answers in our teaching and research. Our researchers and students are critical thinkers and doers who work together to devise surprising solutions to the problems of today.

Working at the Faculty of Social Sciences means working with colleagues from a range of academic disciplines in an inspiring and personal work and study environment with excellent research facilities. We employ more than 500 staff members, and we are home to around 2,500 students.

Application

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter until 10/02/2023. 

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Prof. dr. Ben Crum
Position: Professor of Political Science
E-mail: b.j.j.crum@vu.nl

No agencies

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com