The Department of Hydraulic Engineering (HE) aspires to educate tomorrow’s hydraulic engineers, stimulate the career development of academic scientists and carry out world-class research related to important societal themes such as climate change, energy transition and biodiversity loss.

The aim of this position is to provide strategic leadership to maintain the department’s internationally leading research and teaching position. Around 50% of this dual role will be dedicated to manage the daily operations of the HE Department.

The future head of department will define and realize the department’s ambitious strategy and vision and lead the department in all aspects. You will have overreaching responsibility for operations, safety, project portfolio management, staff and department budget and finances. In addition, you will chair the departmental management team and act as a member of the faculty management team, representing the department within the faculty and relevant external environments. You will network with leading water boards and groups, industry partners and international institutions.

Our ideal candidate is enthusiastic, professional and empowers everyone in the department to develop in their individual career path. You will play a leading role in establishing and maintaining a safe work environment, embracing and propelling the diversity and inclusion culture of the university.

In parallel to managing daily operations, another 50% of your time will be dedicated to the core work of the department. According to your unique expertise and vision, this will take shape in education, research, valorisation, or a combination thereof.

You will have a leading role in the research programme, bringing new expertise relative to the current expertise within the department, working together on the relevant topics and driving forward the research agenda. Regarding education, you will interact with and inspire students, teach courses at the BSc and MSc levels, and supervise thesis projects. Furthermore, we challenge you to find synergies and strengthen relationship with other groups within the faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, across different faculties of TU Delft, and with relevant external research institutes and peer groups in the field.

You will be joining a department that is already globally acknowledged to be at the forefront of its field, with cutting-edge facilities and a staff of distinguished experts and promising young talents. The department is currently composed of five research groups comprising 68 permanent staff and 119 temporary staff with a strong culture of cooperation. In addition, there are around 100 practitioners/researchers actively involved in applied research and educational activities, while 100 PhD students and postdocs conduct their research projects in the department. 

You combine the people skills required to inspire students and academic staff with the curiosity of a researcher, the integrity and decisiveness of a leader and the flexibility and networking abilities of a valorisation expert. Furthermore, you have:

• A PhD and you are currently at least at the Associate Professor level.
• Extensive management experience and social leadership qualities.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• A good international network related to the field.
• An interest in education, valorisation and/or driving your own research agenda.
• Fluency in Dutch and English.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

The role of Head of Department is limited to 4 years, and can be extended once at most. After serving as head of department you will integrate into the department as an associate or full professor.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

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.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service addresses the needs of new international employees and those of their partners and families. The Coming to Delft Service offers personalised assistance during the preparation of the relocation, finding housing and schools for children (if applicable). In addition, a Dual Career Programme for partners is offered. The Coming to Delft Service will do their best to help you settle in the Netherlands.

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 Civil Engineering & Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.