Postdoc ‘Solving Clashes between Circular and Legal Principles (CIRCLASH)’

We are looking for a postdoc in the field of EU law, sustainability and circularity within the CIRCLASH research project funded by the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). The project’s goal is contribute to a more sustainable and circular society. It explores and resolves legal tensions between circular and legal principles in the context of public procurement. You will play a central part in setting up, performing and coordinating the research, and you will have ample freedom and opportunities for development within an engaging and fun academic setting.

Your job
The Utrecht University School of Law is looking for a postdoc within the NWA-funded research project ‘Governmental Trendsetters: Solving Clashes between Circular and Legal Principles (CIRCLASH)’. The CIRCLASH project contributes to the transition from a linear to a more sustainable and circular society. Its goal is to explore and resolve legal tensions between circular and legal principles in the context of public procurement.

The circular transition is essential for our society, but is not progressing sufficiently. Climate change and resource scarcity require a new approach to (raw) materials, but solutions often prove ineffective. Public procurement, accounting for more than 86 billion euros in the Netherlands and 14-19% of the EU GDP, can play a key role in this transition. Governments can leverage their purchasing power to transform market production processes through circular procurement. By applying circular principles (such as re-design, re-pair, re-fuse, and re-cycle), governments can both meet societal needs and support this transition. However, implementation remains limited. An underexplored aspect is that public procurement is heavily regulated to promote market integration and competition, rather than circularity. This project investigates how these rules impact circular procurement (and whether law acts as a barrier or not) and proposes solutions to legal tensions in legislation and practice.

Within the context of CIRCLASH’s postdoc position, you:

• play a central part in setting up and conducting the research;
• are given ample freedom to choose the direction of the project in close collaboration with the project lead, and are given opportunities to grow as an academic;
• coordinate the activities within CIRCLASH, including the involvement of external stakeholders;
• are given time and support to apply for future funding opportunities.

• A temporary job for 20 months;
• a working week of 32 hours and a gross monthly salary of €4,537 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 11 step 0 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance is a faculty at the heart of society, with a strong focus on social issues. Our subjects of Law, Economics and Governance give us a strong mix of academic disciplines that complement and enhance each other. This is a unique combination and a mark of our faculty's strength.

The Utrecht University School of Law has been providing quality research and education for over 350 years. Constant innovation has enabled the School to maintain its leading position. Top-ranking research is conducted in all important legal fields: private law, criminal law, constitutional and administrative law, EU law, public international law. Researchers collaborate intensively with foreign partners, mainly from the angle of European and comparative law. The School of Law also conducts contract research and consultancy for other organisations. The extensive educational programme is based on academic research conducted within the faculty. Students are trained to be highly qualified, internationally-oriented lawyers on the basis of modern didactical principles.

The research is embedded within the Centre for Regulation and Enforcement in Europe (RENFORCE) and the Centre for Public Procurement (UUCEPP). Close ties exist with the university-wide community Towards a Circular Economy and Society within Pathways to Sustainability and with the Innovation Studies group of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. You will work within an interdisciplinary team of legal scholars, economists, and geoscientists, in close collaboration with societal partners, including government institutions and market players. It is an engaging and fun environment to work in.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

The intended starting date is mid June 2025. Interviews will take place mid April 2025.