We are looking for
The Environmental Policy (ENP) group of Wageningen University has a vacancy for a post-doctoral researcher for the Horizon Europe funded programme it coordinates entitled Improving the PERformance of MArine GOVernance (PERMAGOV).

PERMAGOV focuses on improving the implementation and performance of EU marine policies to reach the goals set in the European Green Deal. It aims to identify and overcome critical institutional barriers to effective policy implementation and enhance the vertical and horizontal coherence of EU marine policies. PERMAGOV will develop and demonstrate the applicability of a Marine Governance Performance Assessment Framework. Within PERMAGOV, social scientists, decision-makers, industry and NGOs co-develop and apply this assessment framework to plan the implementation of Multi-layered Collaborative and/or digital Marine Governance Strategies, aimed at improving the capabilities of actors to implement EU marine policies within the realms of Marine Energy, Maritime Transport, Marine Life and Marine Litter. For each of these four issue areas, cases have been selected that include a dedicated stakeholder (end-user) that is willing to develop a case-specific Marine (e-)Governance Strategy. The cases for which ENP is responsible fall within the realm of Maritime Transport, Marine Life and Marine Litter.

The successful candidate will explore the role that reflexivity plays in overcoming institutional barriers to change. You will contribute to the development of the Marine Governance Performance Assessment Framework by analysing, together with a PhD student, the existing institutional barriers and collaborative and e-governance strategies that shape the governance and reflexive capacities of the end-user to improve the performance of EU marine policies. You will do this in three case studies: (1) decarbonizing EU shipping, (2) the regional action plan for marine litter in the Mediterranean sea, and (3) sustainable fisheries in MPA development in Italy. For two of these cases, you will co-develop - together with the end user and an e-governance specialist - a case-specific Marine (e-)Governance Strategy and analyze the potential effect that this strategy has on the governance and reflexive capacities of end-users. Additionally, you will support the coordinator of PERMAGOV Dr. Judith van Leeuwen with project and data management and the organization of project meetings.

The post-doctoral researcher will be positioned at the Environmental Policy group and directly collaborates with a PhD student, and the supervisory team consisting of dr. Judith van Leeuwen and dr. Hilde Toonen. PERMAGOV consortium partners are different universities and marine related research institutions, e-governance and marine data specialists and case study end-users from industry and interest groups.

We ask

• A doctorate degree (PhD) in Political Sciences, Sociology, or Environmental / Marine sciences with a strong social scientific component, or a related field.
• Proven experience with social scientific research into complex governance issues, preferably in the sustainability and/or marine domain.
• Proven qualitative research skills, and affinity with action research methodology, and participatory methods.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully publish academic papers in international peer reviewed journals.
• Communication and organizational skills to communicate and organize flows of information between consortium members.
• An ability, willingness and commitment to collaborate in a diverse research team and write joint publications in an cross-institutional setting.
• A creative and critical attitude with an open mind towards transdisciplinary collaboration, and ability to build a network within the domain of the project.
• Fluency in English

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

We offer you an employment contract for 0.8 FTE for a period of 48 months with a preferred start as close to 1 February 2023 as possible. The maximum gross salary is € 3.974,- per month for a full working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.
You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR's Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.