The COVID-19 crisis has upset the (smooth) functioning of global supply chains, leading to shortages of essential intermediate and final goods and a surge in inflation. However, the vulnerabilities of global supply chains have been present already for a very long time, resulting from decades of prioritizing efficiency as a value (via just-in-time production and inventory management),  increased market concentration in certain components and materials, and low costs (via offshoring) over values such as sustainability and resilience. The trade-off between values such as efficiency and resilience should now lean more towards resilience (and sustainability) and hence a redesign of global supply chain networks is urgently needed.

Increased geopolitical tensions and technological factors are important determinants of the vulnerabilities of global supply chains that occurred already before the pandemic. In order to reduce these vulnerabilities requires global corporations but also smaller firms to invest in resilience of their supply chains. That can be done by shifting production away from sensitive areas as well as by spreading the risk over more geographical areas. Also technology can contribute to increased resilience of global value chains. On the one hand, a better use of data driven technologies for real-time information and observation on ships loads will lead to more fine-tuned and in-time interventions thereby improving supply forecasting. On the other hand, the development of digitalization and artificial intelligence can be expected to lead to changing consumption and production patterns, for example from individual to more collective consumption and production in a sharing economy, which can result in different supply chain configurations.

The section Economics of Technology and Innovation (ETI) offers a position for an economist at the level of assistant professor (Tenure Track) or associate professor. We are looking for an economist with expertise in quantitative analyses of global supply chains (including e.g. world input-output modelling, scenario studies and/or Big Data analysis) who is interested in working on re-designing the system of global supply chains in order to make it more resilient to (climate) disasters and (geopolitical) risks.

The successful candidate is expected to perform academic research and contribute to a research team in economics and management and will also be involved in the teaching activities of the ETI section.

We are looking for ambitious academic economists that are expected to:

• Perform and publish research in high quality academic journals
• Contribute to a research team in the field of economics and management with an application to global supply chain economics and/or management
• Acquire externally funded research projects
• Teach Master and Bachelor courses on economics and management
• Supervise BSc-, MSc- and PhD students
• Perform management tasks in the section ETI

The candidate should have:
•    A PhD degree in economics, management or a related field with a focus on global supply and/or value chains
•    Track record in academic research demonstrated by publications in international academic journals (required for associate professorship applicants, favourable for Tenure Track position applicants)
•    Demonstrated experience with academic teaching in economics and/or management.
•    You have a track record demonstrating experience in working with micro- and macro data and/or models in the context of global supply and/or value chains.
•    Demonstrated involvement in acquiring externally funded research projects (required for associate professorship applicants; favourable for Tenure Track position applicants)
•    Willingness to work in teams and in a multidisciplinary environment, with engineers and scholars in social sciences and humanities.   
•    A UTQ degree (University Teaching Qualification) or willingness to obtain this degree. 
•    Highly proficient in spoken and written English.
•    Command of the Dutch language is desirable, or a willingness to develop this, with (financial) support from the university.

Fixed-term contract: 6 years.

We offer talented academics a clear and attractive career path with the expectation that you will have the potential to grow into a full professor position in the future. If you perform well, the intention is to convert your contract into a permanent one. At the start of your employment, agreements will be made about this based on our performance indicators.

During the selection procedure, it will be determined, depending on your background and experience, whether you are eligible for an assistant professor Tenure track (tudelft.nl) position or an associate professor.

Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. We expect you to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years if you have less than five years of teaching experience. This is provided by the TU Delft UTQ programme.

TU Delft sets high standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you do not speak Dutch, we offer courses to learn the Dutch language within three years.

The TU Delft sets specific standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. If you have less than five years of teaching experience and do not yet have your teaching certificate, you get the chance to obtain this within three years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (salary indication for Assistant Professor: € 3.974 - € 6.181. Salary indication for Associate Professor € 5.506 - € 7.362).

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice can support with advice for you and your accompanying partner about your individual settling needs in the Netherlands. Once arrived you can be supported with individual consults and diverse workshops. Located on Campus are the International Children’s Centre and an international primary school, which are subject to availability as well as several bilingual schools in the nearby surrounding.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Technology, Policy and Management

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security.
We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.