Are you fascinated by the dynamic role of leadership in shaping the future of organizations? Do you aspire to delve into the pivotal world of top management teams and executives, exploring the uncharted territories of supply chain leadership? Please join our supply chain management research team!

For this position, we seek applications for a PhD project on Supply Chain Leadership under supervision of Dr. Robert Suurmond. Currently, this is a topic of great societal significance and about which we do not know enough. Without adequate leadership that embraces innovation and collaboration, organizations are left fending for themselves, forever trapped in endless cycles of competition. Yet, individual decision makers in supply chain—aka Supply Chain Leaders—now sit at the highest ranks in top management teams (e.g., Chief Supply Chain Officers), directly influencing corporate agendas, wielding executive power, and influencing policy-making. Supply chain leaders, more than other top management executives, a unique vantage point, bridging organizational boundaries across supply networks and ecosystems. We are diving into understanding not just what these leaders do, but how they navigate authority and responsibility, especially among their peers in the upper echelons of the top management team.

As a PhD Candidate in the Graduate School of Business and Economics, you will conduct original research, write about and publish your findings, present your ideas at conferences and network with other scholars in the field. Furthermore, your academic responsibilities include some coursework for professional development, teaching and supervision, and collaboration with others in and outside of the department. This project is not just about research; it's an invitation to be at the forefront of defining the future of organizational leadership. If you are passionate about leadership dynamics, driven to explore the nuances of executive roles, and eager to pioneer ground breaking insights in the field, this fully-funded Ph.D. opportunity is fit for you.

In summary, your tasks include the following:

• Conduct mixed-methods and qualitative empirical research;
• Develop conceptual and theoretical understanding of Supply Chain Leadership;
• Present your work at conferences;
• Write up your results and submit them for publication;
• Complete your dissertation.

A suitable candidate should be sufficiently interested to conduct PhD research in supply chain management, but a background in leadership research from a broad spectrum of disciplines is appreciated (including organizational behaviour, (organizational) psychology, human relations, or other social sciences). For this type of research, we seek candidates with proven interest and passion for qualitative research, considering a wide range of potential methodologies such as case studies or ethnography, in order to study leadership in its natural contexts.

We expect that candidates:

• Demonstrate a strong research motivation and mindset through prior research projects;
• Show ambition to pursue an academic career;
• Have completed a (Research) Master degree (preferably 120 ECTS);
• Show familiarity with research methods; and
• Are advanced users of the English language (minimum C1).

What we offer

As PhD Candidate at the School of Business and Economics, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2,770 and €3,539 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week).
• An employment contract for a period of 18 months with a scope of 1.0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 2,5 years will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University

Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

The School of Business and Economics

The School of Business and Economics (SBE) is one of Maastricht University’s six faculties. Our mission is to contribute to a better world by addressing societal problems, by co-creating knowledge and developing team players and leaders for the future.

By joining SBE, you will be part of the 1% of business schools worldwide to be Triple Crown accredited (EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA). You will join an inspiring and international environment, where learning and development is priority.