The PhD Support Officer will support the ISS PhD Office with the following tasks:

• Supporting in all administrative and organisational matters regarding PhD researchers and the PhD programme, using the EUR PhD system Hora Finita;
• Organising seminars, public defences and other academic ceremonies;
• Acting as beadle in public defences and other academic ceremonies;
• Providing updates for rules, regulations, protocols, guides and calendars pertaining to the PhD programme;
• Inducting new researchers into the ISS study environment and the PhD programme;
• Making proposals to improve processes and services in collaboration with the team.

• Education level: applied sciences education (HBO);
• Good communication (writing and speaking) skills in English (C1 or capability to reach this level within one year) and preferably also in Dutch;
• Able to work effectively in a team and in a truly global culture;
• Several years’ relevant work experience (preferably at a university);
• A proactive, accurate and efficient outlook with organisational sensitivity;A
•  resilient and convincing personality;
• Experience with Office and the ability to quickly learn new computer applications;
• Able to handle confidential information;
• A service-oriented attitude and a hands-on mentality;
• Able to communicate with PhD researchers, (co-)promotors and committee-members;
• Stress resistance.

Fixed-term contract: 1 jaar.

The starting date for this position is as soon as possible. The successful candidate will be based at ISS in The Hague and will be offered a one-year contract with Erasmus University Rotterdam. In case of good performance, the contract may be extended or changed to a permanent contract. In accordance with the conditions applied at Erasmus University Rotterdam as indicated in the Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch universities, the salary is in the range EUR 2,261 to EUR 3,052 (scale 7) for full-time employment. In addition, ISS pays an 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year payment of 8.3%. (ISS is committed to building and sustaining a community that is based on inclusiveness, equity and diversity and believes this will contribute to our mission and vision of being the best institute in our field. ISS is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities and nationalities.)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research. Our scientists and students work in close collaboration with internal and external parties to solve global, social challenges, inspired by the always dynamic and cosmopolitan Rotterdam. Our mission is therefore "Creating positive societal impact". Our academic education is intensive, active and application-oriented. Our research increasingly takes place in multidisciplinary teams, which are strongly intertwined with international networks. With our research impact and thanks to the high quality of education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. The Erasmian values ​​function as our internal compass and make Erasmus University recognizable to the outside world: entrepreneurial, socially involved, global citizen, open-minded and connecting.

The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)

The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) is a leading academic centre for international development studies in The Hague, which is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). It is a post-graduate institute of policy-oriented critical social science, founded in 1952. The Institute offers a PhD in Development Studies, a 15.5-month Masters (MA) in Development Studies with five majors, and an MA in Public Policy.

The ISS engages a highly diverse international community of scholars and students from the global south and the north. It brings together people (on average from over 50 different countries), ideas and insights in a multidisciplinary setting which nurtures, fosters and promotes independent thinking. ISS staff, PhD researchers and MA students conduct innovative research on fundamental development problems that exist in different parts of the world. Our strong partnerships with organisations and individuals in developing and developed countries make up a network where we co-create knowledge so that our work remains societally relevant. The wish to make a contribution to achieving social justice and equity on a global level is key to the ISS philosophy and practice. With its teaching, ISS aims to support its students in becoming critical global citizens, professionals and change agents who are able to make a difference in the world. ISS also acquires and manages externally funded projects for teaching, research and capacity building from a wide range of donors, including NWO, Nuffic and the European Commission.

The PhD Office

ISS offers a four-year programme leading to the internationally recognised degree of Doctor. Since the inception of the programme in the 1980s, ISS has awarded over 200 PhD degrees. All PhD researchers are firmly embedded in the ISS research programme. Currently about 150 researchers from over 50 countries are enrolled in the PhD programme. Many of them are working on their PhD at the ISS, refining their research proposal, conducting a literature search, doing coursework or embarking on the final writing of their thesis. Those in the second year of the programme are abroad doing fieldwork. The PhD office supports the PhD researchers as well as the promotors and supervisors throughout the four-year period to facilitate the process of obtaining the PhD award.