The Steunpunt Werk is a policy-oriented research centre within the Faculty of Economics and Business at KU Leuven. It supports and helps shape Flemish labour market policy through labour market research, analyses, statistics, and policy advice. A range of policy-relevant and current research themes form the core of our activities. Based on these themes, we provide an extensive range of labour market indicators, projections, and publications.
Our research is highly relevant to society and consistently contributes to the development of Flemish labour market policy. Our team comprises approximately ten research staff members and an administrative assistant, under the leadership of Prof. Dr Sarah Vansteenkiste. The co-promoters of Steunpunt Werk are Prof. Dr Kristof De Witte, Prof. Dr Luc Sels, and Prof. Dr Wim Van Lancker
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Responsibilities
Steunpunt Werk focuses on both labour market monitoring and forecasting labour market analyses. We are looking for a senior researcher who will help lead the daily operational activities and support the coordination of the research team. For this position, we expect expertise in policy-oriented labour market research and experience working with quantitative data sources.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing in-depth substantive and methodological expertise in labour market monitoring, prospective labour market research, and the research themes covered by Steunpunt Werk.
- Providing academic leadership to the core team by facilitating knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer, and by offering feedback on research projects, methodologies, and analyses.
- Co-coordinating the internal and external working groups of Steunpunt Werk. Based on your expertise, you will also serve as a point of contact for national, regional, and local governments, as well as companies and stakeholder organisations.
- Interpreting labour market developments through data analysis, publications, and evidence-based reporting. You will also explore additional labour market topics and formulate policy conclusions and recommendations.
- Presenting research findings at working groups, steering committees, seminars, and conferences.
- Monitoring developments in regional, national, and international labour market research in order to strengthen your expertise.
- Contributing to the external representation of Steunpunt Werk towards relevant stakeholders.
- Building and maintaining networks relevant to this area of expertise and strengthening both internal and external collaborations.
- Contributing to annual reporting and planning activities for the commissioning authority (Department of Work, Economy, Science, Innovation and Social Economy) and the Steering Committee.
- Developing and maintaining code (in Python or R) and supporting the documentation of analytical methods and research procedures.
Profile
- You hold a PhD degree. Your academic background is preferably in the social sciences, such as (applied) economics, sociology, business engineering, work and organisational psychology, or a related field, with a focus on labour market research.
- You have a sound understanding of labour market dynamics and labour market policy in the Flemish, Belgian, and European contexts, and are willing to deepen this expertise further.
- You have experience working with labour market data and monitoring systems. You are familiar with administrative labour market data in Flanders/Belgium and/or survey data and are committed to further developing this expertise.
- You have extensive experience writing and presenting policy-oriented research reports and academic or professional articles.
- You have relevant experience and/or interest in supervising junior researchers and in coordinating tasks, setting objectives, and monitoring progress within a research team.
- You are eager to learn and motivated to acquire new tools and techniques, and to support colleagues in doing the same (e.g. Python, R, Git).
- You are a driven researcher who values quality, integrity, creativity, and teamwork.
- You can work effectively under pressure, set priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain a results-oriented approach.
- You communicate fluently, transparently, and professionally with a wide range of stakeholders, including colleagues, public authorities, companies, and representative organisations, both orally and in writing.
- You are fluent in Dutch, both spoken and written. This is an essential requirement, as the position is situated within a Flemish context and involves working with Flemish stakeholders and commissioning bodies.
Offer
- You will be appointed as a Senior Researcher Labour Market Monitoring within Steunpunt Werk at the Faculty of Economics and Business, KU Leuven.
- You will have the opportunity to contribute to projects with significant societal relevance and impact within a scientific research environment.
- You will join a team that values personal initiative and offers flexible working hours. Multiple days of home working per week are possible.
- We offer a contract under the BAP employment status, salary scale 44. Opportunities for further career development are available, depending on the continuation of Steunpunt Werk.
- You will benefit from the wide range of advantages associated with working at KU Leuven: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/academisch-personeel/academic-staff-research-education-informatie#arbeidsvoorwaarden.
Interested?
For more information, please contact Prof. Dr. Sarah Vansteenkiste, Director of Steunpunt Werk.
Applications for this position can be submitted until 24/09/2026 through KU Leuven’s online application system. Applications submitted by email will not be considered.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
