Assistant Professor in Political Science

The Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) together with Amsterdam University College (AUC) is searching for an Assistant Professor in Political Science with a strong profile in international relations. As an Assistant Professor, you will teach and coordinate multiple courses in political science and contribute to their further development when this is opportune. 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 get involved in the supervision of PhD candidates.

Job description

Specifically, we are looking for a candidate who is an inspiring and versatile lecturer and can teach on a variety of topics, including international relations theory, diplomacy, human rights, and security. The teaching tasks for this position will be located at Amsterdam University College (AUC) and will specifically involve small-scale international classes in the International Relations specialization. The ideal candidate would have well-tested and creative ideas about teaching, and can adopt different teaching formats (lectures, workshops, excursions) as well as maintain the existing courses and create new ones.

We also expect the candidate to have a compelling research agenda in the domain of international relations. Thematically we are open to a broad range of topics. However, in line with our political science research programme on ‘Multi-Layered Governance in Europe and beyond’, we particularly welcome research that recognizes the interconnections between international relations and domestic politics. Furthermore, we are specifically interested in expertise that would well-complement the established expertise on international security and/or global political economy in the department.

Your duties

• teach and coordinate a variety of courses in political science, primarily in the international relations track of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Amsterdam University College
• undertake independent research and realize international peer-reviewed publications
• engage in societal valorization of your research and seek external research funding
• take on (minor) managerial duties

Your profile

Requirements

• a PhD in political science
• demonstrable experience with high-quality teaching in international relations
• 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”
• excellent command of the English language
• preferably, excellent command of the Dutch language (or, for non-Dutch applicants, a willingness to acquire a working knowledge of Dutch within two years of the appointment)
• 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. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system Universitair Docent 2 (UFO) and is vacant for 1.0 FTE, of which 65% teaching, 30% research and 5% administrative tasks. The position will start on a fixed-term contract with the intention to extend it into a permanent contract (tenure) after the first year.

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
• A solid pension scheme (ABP)
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

Given the current composition of the department, we especially welcome applications by members of underrepresented groups.

About us

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 endeavour – 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 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 members of staff. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuid’s 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 dealing with transnational immigration, the rise of populist politicians to creating a self-reliant and resilient 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 350 colleagues (faculty and staff), and we are home to around 3,000 students.

Department of Political Science and Public Administration
The Assistant Professor will become a member of the VU Department of Political Science and Public Administration and of the political science research programme on ‘Multi-layered governance in Europe and beyond’. The VU Department of Political Science and Public Administration is committed to high quality academic education and research. We run our own educational programmes in Political Science and Public Administration and collaborate in interdisciplinary programmes with other VU faculties and with Amsterdam University College.

Amsterdam University College
The teaching tasks for this position will be located at Amsterdam University College (AUC), specifically in the International Relations specialization. AUC is a joint initiative of VU Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam that offers a Liberal Arts and Sciences programme leading to a joint Bachelor’s (Honours) degree. AUC is based on the American Liberal Arts and Sciences model, with students living and studying together on an international campus located at Amsterdam Science Park. The programme is taught entirely in English, is small-scale and selective, and open to both Dutch and international students.