Assistant Professor in Public Administration

Job description

Societal transitions as well as contemporary digital transformations in various public policy fields (like healthcare and safety) provide examples of developments that are often presented as solutions to a wide range of current and future societal challenges. These developments raise questions such as: how do societal transitions reshape the public sector? How do digital transformations ignite new forms of public organization? How are societal challenges addressed by public governance actors? Contemporary societal transitions and technological developments ask for insights into the dynamics of public management, public policy, and public governance. As new developments also have unforeseen, unintended, or uncontrollable outcomes, we need insight into how they contribute to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities and when they are counterproductive. Are you looking for an inspiring environment that stimulates your teaching and academic research in various areas of public management, policy and governance? Then join our team!

As a newly appointed assistant professor, you will be working in the section of Public Administration at the University of Twente. Besides your excellence as a social scientist, your teaching skills are very important since you will have the opportunity to develop and teach courses in our BSc Management, Society & Technology, the MSc Public Administration and MSc European Studies programs. You will also supervise bachelor, master and PhD theses.

What are you going to do?

You are expected to:

• develop your research profile, be active in the academic domain of Public Administration, publish in international journals, and disseminate  your research at leading conferences;
• teach Public Administration courses in BSc and MSc programs, including supervision of bachelor and master students;
• take initiatives to attract external funding;
• be open to collaborations with other institutes and public agencies and contribute to (joint) projects.

Your profile

• a PhD (or almost completed) in the field of Public Administration or a related social science discipline (such as European Studies, political science, sociology, etc.)
• a passion for, and ambition to become, an inspiring lecturer in the field of Public Administration (Public Management, Public Policy, Public Governance)
• knowledge of key theories and methods in the field of Public Administration
• a commitment to achieving societal impact
• ability and ambition to obtain external research grants
• preferably experience with teaching at an internationally accredited university
• a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) certificate, or the willingness to obtain one
• excellent communication skills and a demonstrated proficiency in the written and spoken use of the English language, at least at C2 level, and preferably also of the Dutch language (or at least, the willingness to learn the Dutch language)
• good social skills, a good team player
• ability and ambition to do teaching and research in collaboration with colleagues

Our offer

• a position for one year (0.8-1.0 FTE) with a two-month probationary period
• the starting salary, depending on your experience, ranges between € 4332 to € 6737 gross per month (in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities), based on the job profile of Assistant Professor
• 8,3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday allowance
• minimum of 29 holidays in case of full-time employment;
• an attractive pension scheme
• possibilities to save up holidays for sabbatical leave
• professional and personal development programmes
• a family friendly institution, offering support for dual hiring

Information and application

For more information, please contact Dr. Ringo Ossewaarde, e-mail: m.r.r.ossewaarde@utwente.nl. For information about the selection procedure, please contact Roos Dokter, HR advisor, email: r.h.s.m.dokter@utwente.nl. Please include a full resume with references, before 28 May, 2024.

About the department

The section of Public Administration (PA) is part of the wider Department of Technology, Human and Institutional Behaviour (HIB) at the Faculty of Behavioural, Management & Social Sciences (BMS) at the University of Twente. The section of Public Administration is responsible for research and education on Public Administration in the contemporary technological context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We seek to contribute to the development of a digital, fair, and sustainable society from a Public Administration scholarship perspective. Our research and teaching focuses on how the grand societal and technological challenges of our time are addressed by governments and (local, regional, national, European and global) governance institutions. Such challenges include, but are not limited to artificial intelligence, algorithmic governance, smart cities, sustainable development, and administrative reforms. We approach these challenges from the perspective of globalization and localization of governance in a technologically transforming world. The section of Public Administration comprises a group of researchers with expertise in the subdisciplines Public Policy, Public Management and Public Governance in a strong methodological setting.

About the organisation

The Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social sciences (BMS) aims to play a key role in understanding, jointly developing and evaluating innovations in society. Technological developments are the engine of innovation. As a technical university that puts people first, we tailor them to human needs and behavior and use social engineering to integrate them into society. We also ensure adequate governance at public and private level, and robust, inclusive and fair organizational structures. We do this by developing, sharing and applying high-quality knowledge in Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences and Health Sciences. Our research and education in these disciplines revolves around tackling and solving societal challenges. The research programs of BMS are closely linked to the research of the UT institutes Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

As an employer, the Faculty of BMS offers work that matters. We equip you to create new possibilities for yourself and for our society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact. We offer an open, inclusive and entrepreneurial atmosphere, in which we encourage you to make healthy choices, for example through our flexible, adaptable benefits.