The Hydroinformatics and socio-technical innovation department focuses on catalysing change in society, technology and policy, and enhancing the use of enabling ICTs, towards sustainability and resilience. The department intends to recruit: (Senior) Researcher.
This position contributes to projects, education and capacity development activities of the Knowledge & Innovation Studies Group, led by Dr. Uta Wehn, Associate Professor, who will guide these researchers. Do you share our passion for working with diverse stakeholders in innovative ways, combining high quality scientific action research with the ethical responsibility for creating impact in communities and society? Then we offer dynamic and challenging positions in an international environment! The research of the Knowledge & Innovation Studies Chair group focuses on knowledge and innovation dynamics and aims to understand and shape their role in transformative change processes. It contributes to the deeper understanding and analysis of the objectives, purposes, processes and instruments of innovative, problem-driven forms of knowledge co-creation and application as well as innovation processes in the water sector world-wide addressing complex societal needs, especially in the light of digital innovations. The research is implemented using Action Research (including participatory action research) in the context of water-related multi-stakeholder projects, triggering action and changes, while accompanying these with critical reflection based on sound social science research (cutting across behavioural sciences, political science, knowledge management, management studies and development studies). In terms of water thematics, the research in this Chair group cuts across all areas of water management and governance: water resources management, water services, as well as flood and drought risk management.

The researcher will focus on one of the following subthemes:

• The human and social dimensions of citizen science
• Social innovation and stakeholder engagement
• Water innovation dynamics

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Chair group’s research activities by advancing and applying conceptual frameworks and methods for the respective research sub-theme(s) building on the Chair group’s knowledge base and other relevant research
• Contribute to the Chair group’s education activities (MSc teaching, tailor-made trainings, MOOCs) on selected topics (philosophy of science, citizen science, social innovation, stakeholder engagement, co-design, knowledge management and capacity development, impact assessment, project management, entrepreneurship skills)
• Supervise MSc and PhD theses
• Design and implement topic-related capacity development interventions and derive theoretical insights from practice
• Ensure project contributions and deliverables are of high quality, on time and within budget
• Disseminate research results in creative and effective ways by drafting, writing and presenting scientific papers, conference papers and other outreach materials
• Contribute to and take on project management activities as needed
• Lead, or make major contributions to, project-related funding opportunities and acquisitions

• Motivated to undertake social science research in an international cooperation context
• PhD degree in a relevant social science discipline, e.g. innovation studies, sociology, psychology, development studies or political science with demonstrable training in qualitative and quantitative research skills and with excellent grades
• Experience with undertaking high quality social science research in the field of water and environment (demonstrated by publications and projects)
• Experience with graduate teaching of topics related to the Chair group’s work; a completed University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) is an advantage
• Demonstrable track record with successful project acquisition (or key contributions)
• Experience with, or interest in, the theory and practice of capacity development interventions
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify key issues; meticulous information processing
• Excellent writing skills and written and spoken command of English, as demonstrated by previous course work and/or publications in English; Spanish, French and/or Dutch language skills are an advantage
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills within multi-national and cultural contexts; and ability to deal with a wide range of stakeholders and project partners in a highly professional manner;
• Ability to multi-task, to deliver results under pressure and to tight deadlines and to drive success by using initiative and making things happen
• Strong team spirit and willingness to embrace change to capture emerging opportunities

Fixed-term contract: 2 year contract with a possibility for permanent extension.

This position is a 2 year contract with a possibility for permanent extension, and are based in Delft, The Netherlands. A competitive salary is offered depending on qualifications and experience in accordance with the conditions of employment for Dutch Universities. The appointment implies entry into the Netherlands' Civil Service Pension Fund (ABP). Candidates must be prepared to carry out short-term missions abroad.

IHE Delft

IHE Delft is the largest international graduate water education facility in the world and is based in Delft, the Netherlands. The mission of IHE Delft is to work in partnership to strengthen capacity in the water sector, to achieve global sustainable development. IHE Delft has a permanent staff of 200 of which more than 100 are academics from all over the world, while about 250 guest lecturers from academia and industry contribute to our educational programmes. Each year 750 professionals (including about 200 new MSc students per year) attend courses at IHE Delft. The Institute has an international staff & student community with English as the working language.