The successful appointee will be an inspiring collaborative leader with the ability to build cohesion internally and raise the Faculty’s profile externally. The Dean is an academic with a highly regarded reputation, who has a large external (national and international) network.

Together with the Faculty Board the Dean will be responsible for the Faculty’s teaching and research activities as well as for its operational management. The Dean holds hierarchical responsibility for the Department Heads.

The successful appointee will have demonstrable ability to articulate a compelling vision for the Faculty that will also forge beneficial partnerships across the University, and beyond, thereby further enhancing the international reputation of the Faculty. S/he will clearly communicate this strategic course and set clear priorities in the process. As a connector and bridge builder, the Dean stimulates interdisciplinary collaboration across the boundaries of the Departments and the Faculty. The Dean encourages employees' own responsibility within the agreed framework of the Faculty, and actively pushes to identify and utilise everyone's talents and provides space for career development.

As a member of the University’s strategic team of Deans and Directors, the Dean collaborates closely with the Executive Board in developing and implementing VU Amsterdam’s strategy and vision.

With a proven track record as a senior leader and manager, the Dean will be experienced in education and research and will bring to the role a broad international network in science, public sector and industry. Experience working in the Dutch higher education environment, and fluency in the Dutch language, will be an advantage. A non-Dutch candidate should be willing to learn these skills as soon as possible. Fluency in English is essential.

Qualities wanted

• Connecting and building bridges

The Dean is clearly visible in the new faculty. The Dean cooperates in a transparent and honest way, listens and asks critical questions, has sufficient self-reflective capacity, inspires as a role model, creates commitment and support for choices, pays attention to diversity in the faculty and in the broad context of the university and bridges differences as a matter of course.

• Progress-oriented and visionary

The Dean has a clear, inspiring vision of the opportunities and possibilities for the faculty in the field of education, research and commercialisation of research.

• Influential

The Dean is an influential scientist who has proven their expertise, has contacts in relevant networks of public and private administration in the academic field of the faculty and has experience with internationalisation in education and research.

• Decisive

The Dean is solution-oriented, resolute, vigorous and flexible, acts transparently, is result-oriented and able to handle stress, applies a hands-on approach when necessary and encourages others through their actions.

The term of a Dean appointment is four years and can be renewed. The appointment is associated with a tenured Full Professor appointment in one of the Departments at the Faculty. Gross monthly salary extends to a maximum of € 9,174 (salary scale 18) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of the Dutch Universities. This appointment also comes with additional specific and attractive secondary terms of employment.

Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam

VU Amsterdam is an internationally renowned research-intensive university ranked among the top 1% of universities globally. With 2.500 staff members and over 23.000 students, VU Amsterdam is one of the most ambitious and forward-looking universities in the sector. The University’s mission is to: educate students to become critical and socially involved academics through high-quality and well-organised education; perform world-leading research that contributes to solving the big societal concerns; be a strong scientific partner for the Amsterdam region and beyond, collaborating with social partners to improve society, government and industry of the future. In exploring societal issues and seeking solutions for them, research and educational activities are aligned across four themes: Governance for Society; Human Health & Life Sciences; Connected World; and Science for Sustainability.

Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences

The Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences was created in 2015 from a merger between the Faculty of Psychology and Education, and the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences. The result is a unique profile within the broad fields of behaviour and health.

The Faculty contributes to a better understanding of how behaviour and exercise come about and how these can be influenced, so that physical and mental health are promoted, and performance improved. The teaching and research within the Faculty is aimed at this broad objective and thus makes a recognizable contribution to the VU-wide theme Human Health and Life Sciences. To this end, the Faculty has expertise in genetics, motor skills, perception, cognition, emotion, learning and social interaction. A large focus in on the effects of training, treatment, counselling, upbringing, and education on the behaviour of healthy people and people with a physical or mental disorder.

The Faculty’s research finds an application in society, primarily in the health, education and sport sectors. More specifically, the Faculty aims to contribute through scientifically-based advice and training to the practice of professionals (inter)nationally. With the training and professionalisation of educators within and outside of the University, the Faculty contributes to the quality of education, from primary education up to, and including, higher education