Assistant Professor (UD) in Political Science (international peace and security)

Are you a political scientist with an engaging research agenda and a strong profile in international peace and security? Then, please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

Assistant Professor (UD) in Political Science (international peace and security)

The Department of Political Science and Public Administration is searching for an Assistant Professor in Political Science specialized in international peace and security. The envisaged candidate is to teach courses in peace and conflict studies and international security 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 conflicts and security politics outside Europe. Other thematic interests that would enrich our political science team include civil wars, peacebuilding, and defense 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 or international relations and, ideally, 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), the Master in Law and Politics of International Security, and the minor in peace and conflict studies. 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.

Your duties

• teach and coordinate courses in political science at Bachelor and Master level with a focus on international peace and security
• undertake independent research and realize international 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

Your profile

• a PhD in political science or international relations, with a strong profile in international peace and security
• 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”
• preferably, demonstrable experience with high-quality teaching in political science or international relations
• Ideally, holding a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If not, you are eager and committed to obtaining it
• (proven) ability and willingness to apply for external research funding
• excellent command of the English language (C1-level)
• 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

What do we offer?

A stimulating position in a highly committed team within a societally-engaged university and a vibrant international city. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable.

• a salary of minimum € 4.728,00 (Scale 11) and maximum € 6.433,00 (Scale 11) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Lecturer 2. The exact salary depends on your education and experience. Foreign candidates may be entitled to a 30% tax break, upon approval of the Dutch tax agency.
• a position for 1 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 18 months. Afterwards, there is a prospect of a permanent contract.
• 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)
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• contribution to commuting expenses

About the department

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), Public Administration and Organizational Science (Bachelor B&O), Public Administration (Master), Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Bachelor, with the Faculty of Economics), and Law and Politics of International Security (Master, with the Law Faculty). 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.

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely. 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.