This is an exciting opportunity to join a small research team carrying out empirical research in local government. Analysing (policy) documents and conducting in-depth interviews in Dutch municipalities will be important methods of data collection for the first part of the research project. The results will be discussed in expert meetings with local actors, organised by the postdoc in close collaboration with the principal investigator (PI) of the project, prof.dr. Klaartje Peters. In addition to that, three smaller sub projects on accountability practices elsewhere (other countries, other government tiers, other sectors) will be the main responsibility of the postdoc, and he/she will work rather independently on the selection and analysis of these practices. The postdoc will take the lead in writing several academic publications, both in English and Dutch, in collaboration with the PI. The postdoctoral researcher will be based in Maastricht and will spend a substantial part of his/her time doing empirical research elsewhere in the Netherlands and in Europe.

Candidates who have a completed PhD in political science, public administration, governance studies (or another relevant field), preferably with knowledge of (Dutch) local government, are invited to apply. Experience with qualitative data collection methods, especially interviews, is highly valued. The successful candidate has a creative, open and flexible personality, is willing to travel, open to closely collaborate with the project leader, and has excellent communication, planning and organisational skills. Excellent communication and academic writing skills in English are a prerequisite. He or she also needs to be fluent in Dutch.

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. The postdoctoral researcher will have the unique opportunity to carry out research within one or more of the four themes within the research programme.

We offer a 0.80 fte appointment as a Postdoctoral Researcher for 2 years. The first year will be a probation period; after a positive assessment the position will be extended for the remaining year. Your position of Postdoctoral Researcher (Onderzoeker 3) will consist of 100% research. There might be a possibility for an extra 0.2 fte for teaching, adding up to a 1.00 fte appointment.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels, depending on education and relevant work experience. This implies a gross monthly salary of about € 3.173,00 per month, scale level 10 (based on a full-time appointment). Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. After a positive assessment a promotion to scale 11 is possible in the 2nd year.

You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs and you might be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing.  

Other secondary conditions include e.g. a pension scheme and partially paid parental leave. 

You will be provided with shared office space and a PC.

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,300 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,600 students. More than 76% of the students are non-Dutch (64 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. FASoS offers two 3-year bachelor’s programmes: Arts and Culture and European Studies. It also offers eight different 1-year Master’s programmes and two 2-year research master’s programmes.
Research is organised around four programmes: Politics and Culture in Europe; Science, Technology and Society Studies; Arts, Media and Culture; and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is housed in the historic city centre of Maastricht.

Research project
Ever since the Dutch statesman Thorbecke wrote the Dutch Constitution (1848) and the Municipality Act (1851) and positioned the local council as the highest authority in the municipality, concerns have been raised about the weak position of the local council vis-à-vis the administration, and the capacity of the council to control and supervise the executive. The research project consists of two main parts: the first part focuses on describing and assessing the accountability regime in Dutch local government, and the second part aims to learn from accountability practices and arrangements elsewhere. These practices will be sought in 3 different directions: in local government in one or more other democratic countries; in other tiers of government, the EU or international organizations; in other sectors, like supervisory boards (or boards of oversight) in for example the housing sector, health sector or banking sector.