The Dutch industry needs a skilled workforce to keep up with and contribute to digital and green transitions. However, finding qualified employees is challenging, and skills quickly become outdated due to fast-developing technologies (AI, VR, robots). Currently, most Smart Industry companies lack human capital and knowledge to achieve their maximum potential.

Smart Skills@Scale connects 5 universities, 3 universities of applied sciences, eleven Smart Industry communities, 450 SMEs, and several social partners and educational partners in an eight-year program to realize a major breakthrough aimed towards creating a sustainably employable workforce. We stimulate the development of human-centric production systems, smart workplaces, jobs and careers, and (regional) partnerships. With this integrated approach, we want to empower production employees and organizations to achieve a human-centric, resilient, and sustainable Smart Industry sector. The program will kick-off at the beginning of 2024. We invite new researchers to join our team and to work on the implementation of smart production systems.

Your job
As a Post-doctoral researcher, you will be responsible for designing and conducting both quantitative and qualitative longitudinal studies, involving production workers and managers. The aim of these studies is to investigate the use, appropriation, and broader consequences of smart production systems, evaluate their effectiveness, and gain insights into the views and experiences of production workers regarding these systems. You will work independently on your research while maintaining close connections with other researchers in the project team, as well as with Smart Industry communities and stakeholders from small and medium-sized enterprises. You will be expected to report and present your findings for both scientific and non-scientific audiences, such as at scientific conferences, in journal publications, and during workshops for Smart Industry communities.

In this project, we embrace the concept of team science. You will have a homebase for your research at the University of Twente, but you are also part of a larger research team of PhD-students, post-doc researchers, and senior researchers from multiple universities and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. Also, our research team involves experts that help disseminate findings, coordinate with our partners from practice, and build tools. You will have ample opportunities for knowledge exchange with them too. Additionally, eight world-renowned researchers agreed to be part of our international scientific committee and will provide feedback on your work and offer you international experience. Within this project, we currently have five new positions open. Please, check our website for the other positions: https://skillsatscale.nl

It is possible to apply for more than one position. We ask you to send separate letters but indicate in your letter the other position(s) you applied for. We value diversity for our team and highly encourage minorities and candidates with a background in vocational education to apply.

To be considered for this role, you should:

• hold your PhD* in Organization Studies, Educational Sciences, Communication Science, Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Human Resource Development, or a related field
• have expertise or demonstrable interest in socio-technical systems; technology implementation, adoption, and appropriation; and the implications of smart technology on users and their work
• have strong methodological knowledge, specifically on longitudinal designs, survey design, participatory observations, and interviews;
• have experience with both qualitative and quantitative field research;
• have an interest in the challenges related to Industry 5.0, with a focus on human capital rather than technical matters;
• be able to relate to production workers and connect your research to their values and interests;
• have good social and communication skills in academic as well as non-academic contexts;
• are fluent in English and able to understand and communicate in Dutch (hard requirement);
• have excellent writing and organization skills;
• have proven ability to work independently, but also to collaborate within a team and with relevant stakeholders.

A 4-year post-doc position (1.0fte), starting between January – March 2024. The gross salary is in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) € 3.877,- to € 5.929,- per month for a fulltime position, depending on experience. On top of this, you receive a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.

We offer excellent auxiliary terms of employment, such as professional and personal development programs; a secondary remuneration package; a dynamic environment with enthusiastic colleagues; an organization focusing on internationalization and a high degree of responsibility and independence

The section Communication Science investigates the role of communication in today's digital society, driven by technology. Our research is centred around societal issues and challenges, and we investigate the ways in which communication and technology are intertwined and affect individuals, relationships, collectives, and organizations. Our research is focused on three main themes: digital society, changing organizations, and persuasive technology. We use various research methodologies and cutting-edge technology to advance our findings for the betterment of society. Our educational programme was ranked as a ‘Top-Rated Programme’ in the 2023 Keuzegids Universiteiten.