Assistant Professor of Political Science

Assistant Professor of Political Science

The Institute of Political Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Leiden University is currently looking for at least two assistant professors in Political Science and/or International Relations. We welcome applicants from all candidates. However, we are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in the following areas: qualitative methods, quantitative methods, political economy, international relations, international organizations, the politics of development, politics and media, politics and artificial intelligence, and international environmental politics. The ability to teach in Dutch is strongly preferred.

What you will do

• Teach both introductory and advanced courses
• Supervise Theses
• Conduct academic research in political science
• Contribute to the management of the institute

Where you will work

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences consists of five institutes: Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Political Science, and Psychology. The faculty has approximately 7000 students and 1000 staff members. Within the institutes, not only education is provided but also groundbreaking research is conducted that pushes the boundaries of our understanding of human behaviour and societal structures. What makes our faculty unique is the diversity of research topics, the various styles of teaching, and the way professional support is organized; this provides you with the opportunity to explore and develop your interests and expertise.

Institute of Political Science

The Institute of Political Science has a strong research tradition in various areas of comparative, Dutch and international politics, as well as political theory. The Institute has around 85 academic staff, including many non-Dutch scholars, and houses a number of editorships of international refereed journals and book series. Members of the institute are also involved in a number of the university’s multi-disciplinary research centres, including the Europe Hub, Central and East European Studies, International Relations, Parties and Representation, Political Philosophy, Centrum voor Nederlandse Politiek en Bestuur and ReCNTR. The Institute is based in Leiden and in The Hague, where a large part of the teaching is done.

The Institute offers a range of programmes at the Bachelor and Master levels and also trains PhD students in political science. The BSc programmes include general Political Science (in Dutch & English, in Leiden), International Politics (in Dutch & English, in Leiden), and International Relations and Organisations (in English, in The Hague). The one-year MSc programme (taught mostly in English) includes five specialisations in Leiden and one in The Hague.

What you bring

• Candidates hold a PhD in Political Science or be close to defending their PhD.
• Candidates work in the field of comparative politics and/or international relations.
• Candidates have demonstrable teaching experience (e.g., teaching evaluations). Experience teaching large groups of students is an advantage.
• Candidates have a promising research agenda (e.g., publications).
• Candidates must be able to teach in English. However, proficiency in Dutch language is highly valued.
• Leiden University expects teachers to have the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If you not already hold this qualification or its equivalent, you must be prepared to obtain it within two years.

If you immediately recognise yourself in this profile, or if you do not quite meet all the requirements, but you believe that this is the right job for you, we look forward to your application!

What we offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.

You can expect an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer

• An employment contract for the duration of one year with the prospect of a permanent employment. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary of a minimum of € 4537,00 and a maximum of € 6209,00 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (scale 11);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options;
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop and a mobile telephone (if applicable for the position).

What we find important

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.

If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Matthew DiGiuseppe, Director of Education at m.r.di.giuseppe@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.