More and more students are deciding to engage in a bachelor or a master programme in which sustainability is the leading topic. We, at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of the Faculty of Science, are hosting a number of such programmes, including the bachelor programme Aarde, Economie & Duurzaamheid (AE&D), the master programmes Environment and Resource Management (ERM) and Hydrology, and the research master track Global Environmental Change & Policy (GEC&P).
 
IVM invites applicants for a position of Junior Lecturer (Junior Docent) in sustainability-related teaching programmes. We are looking for a candidate with a clear affinity for  sustainability-related areas: land use, ecosystems, earth science, biodiversity and/or climate change. We seek a candidate with clear ambitions in academic teaching, demonstrating the ability to promote our students’ intellectual and personal development, and prepare them to succeed, lead and serve a more sustainable society. Teaching is mainly in English and Dutch, at bachelor and master levels, primarily in the areas of sustainability science and methodology (GIS, fieldwork, systems analysis), including seminars, fieldwork supervision, workshops and thematic courses.

Your duties

• support assistant, associate and full professors in their courses
• (occasionally) provide lectures and lead practicals (computer practicals, and group assignments)
• Supervise field work activities and excursions (in our Earth Science, Economics and Sustainability programme)
• assist in the development of high-quality teaching materials both off and online
• initiate efforts towards increasing the efficiency of courses and propose innovative ways of teaching and examination effective with larger groups of students
• acquire a basic qualification in teaching (BKO) as demanded by Dutch universities (if not already acquired)
• engage in the professionalisation track of junior teachers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, participating in peer-to-peer exchanges with other junior teachers
• mentoring students (including bachelor and masters students)

• completed master or PhD degree in a sustainability related programme
• affinity with teaching and interaction with students, experience in teaching is a pre
• strong communicative skills in English, and preferably in Dutch
• experience in using GIS and spreadsheets (as both are frequently used in our teaching)
• willing to take up administrative tasks related to teaching

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially involved organisation. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,836 (scale 10)
and a maximum €4,474 (scale 10), depending on your education and experience. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

The contract covers a period of 4 years. Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.
About IVM
Established in 1971, The Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognised for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research and teaching is to understand sustainability problems in their social, spatial and economic context. IVM’s research and teaching community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Geography; and Water and Climate Risk.