The Department of Geography, Planning, and International Development Studies (GPIO) at the University of Amsterdam invites recently graduated PhDs in urban and regional planning to apply for the position of Assistant Professor in Urban and Regional Planning (Universitair Docent Planologie). As an assistant professor, you will teach, research, supervise PhD candidates and prepare research proposals.

The department and the university offer an academically exciting environment. GPIO is at the forefront of innovative urban planning education, blending governance, mobility, and environmental studies within our curriculum. We offer a Bachelor’s in Human Geography and Planning, and Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, Human Geography and International Development Studies; in our teaching and research, we foster close collaboration among faculty members on contemporary urban issues.

The department combines research across human geography, planning and international development studies, with a shared emphasis on the spatiality of societal processes. Its research tradition is characterised by its critical and publicly engaged approach to urgent socio-spatial issues. Our collective mission is to develop empirically grounded, conceptually innovative contributions to intellectual and societal debates, always informed by a sensitivity to the spatial dimension of social phenomena and processes. We focus on the intersections of social, built and natural environments and emphasise the importance of deploying spatial concepts such as scale, place, territoriality, mobility and landscape to investigate the how and why of social issues. We are committed to mobilising our research expertise to address the collective action problems and other real-world challenges associated with pursuing equality, sustainability, and economic development.

What are you going to do
We seek a curiosity-driven team player who can bring new and complementary perspectives to our urban planning research and teaching. The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of the Dutch planning system, planning regulation, and governance processes. This role calls for someone with expertise in Dutch and European spatial planning frameworks and a keen interest in governance dynamics within the urban and regional context.

As an Assistant Professor, you will teach planning practices and planning methodologies. You will play a vital role in our Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, specifically covering planning methods, practice, and governance. Still, you might also contribute to courses in urban studies and geography.

You will have considerable freedom in determining your own research agenda. We expect the new assistant professor to engage with current Dutch planning problems through transdisciplinary research and teaching and by taking an integrative spatial perspective and a critical stance in planning and urban studies.

Proficiency in Dutch is crucial for this role to communicate and engage with students and societal partners effectively and to develop a deep understanding of spatial planning’s impact on Dutch society.

What do you have to offer
Join our Urban Planning progamme group, where your expertise and passion for urban planning can contribute to shaping the future of urban environments through innovative education and research. We are looking for an intrinsically motivated early-career academic who likes to collaborate with colleagues and has an affinity for grant acquisition.

Your experience and profile

We seek an academic passionate about teaching, initiating research projects and enhancing our urban governance research track. Candidates should possess:

• A PhD in urban and regional planning or related fields, such as political science, geography, political sociology, or law;
• Demonstrated expertise in spatial planning and urban governance, with comprehensive knowledge of Dutch spatial planning, regulation, and governance;
• Experience with planning methods and techniques;
• Experience in conducting academic research and teaching;
• Potential to acquire research funding from external sources (e.g. Netherlands’ Organization for Scientific Research, European Research Council, other national and international funding agencies or governments, societal organisations or private firms);
• Team player, with strong communication, didactic, and networking skills, who can foster community engagement;
• Possessing the Basic Teaching Qualification (Dutch BKO or foreign equivalent) or willing to obtain this certificate within two years.
• Proficiency in both Dutch and English (C1-level or native speaker).

What can we offer you
The position concerns permanent employment of 38 hours per week. The initial employment is for one and a half years (18 months). Following a positive review, the contract will become permanent. The evaluation will be based on the University Job Classification Profile Assistant Professor, on the competencies Conceptual ability, Surrounding orientation, Presenting and Result orientation. In addition, we expect an active contribution to the proper functioning of the department ('good citizenship').

Your salary will be € 4.332 and the maximum salary is € 5.929 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, in keeping with salary scale 11, as per the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a position in which initiative and input are highly valued
• an enthusiastic and warm team that is open to new colleagues
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.
• All new assistant professors with permanent employment are, in principle, eligible for a starting grant of € 300.000, which can be used for research purposes.

About us
The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

About the faculty

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Questions
Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• For research matters and general info: Prof. Dr. Tuna Tasan-Kok, Urban Planning Research Group Director, m.t.tasankok@uva.nl
• For teaching matters: Dr. Mendel Giezen, GPIO Teaching programme Director, m.giezen@uva.nl

Job application
Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 27 May 2024. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications in one bundled pdf should include:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a letter of motivation (max 400 words);
• a teaching statement (max 500 words)
• a research statement (max. 500 words).

Please upload this single .pdf file in the obligatory field *CV on the UvA job application webpage.

The first round of interviews will take place on coming June 4. The second round of interviews is scheduled for June 19.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

No agencies please.

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