Network Coordinator / Academic Assistant

We are seeking an Academic Assistant to work as network coordinator for an exploratory research project (SPARK) funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

You will establish and maintain a network of local organizations working in informal settlements. The research aims to collect primary data of building practices based on traditional knowledge in informal settlements in 10-15 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (one city per country, 2-3 neighborhoods).

Relevant organizations (grassroots, NGOs, faith-based organizations, etc.) will have to be identified, assessed, filtered, and later guided in data collection. The data collection consists of taking pictures, sketches, drawings of technical details of informal houses, taking an aerial photograph of the settlement (with the help of drone services), and reconstructing the spatial growth of the settlement (horizontal and vertical) through oral history. Considering the timeframe and the high-risk factor characteristic of SPARK projects, approach and scope expectations may be adjusted during the research project.

Job description
In this position you will have the unique opportunity to be exposed to an international network of organizations and academics working on data collection in informal settlements. You will hone your networking and project management skills and learn to coordinate research efforts across countries, and sectors. Additionally, you will get the possibility to develop a deeper understanding of innovation and traditional knowledge in Sub-Saharan Africa.

What You Will Do:

• Reach out to existing network contacts to identify suitable organizations
• Carry out supplementary online research to identify further options
• Co-develop an assessment framework
• Enter in communication with the organization, collect basic data, assess each organization, and carry out a preselection
• Manage the network and knowledge exchange between organizations
• Develop guiding documents for data collection
• Organize a pilot data collection and adjust processes based on feedback loop
• Coordination of data collection on informal building construction based on traditional knowledge in different countries
• Support the systematization and archiving of collected data
• Maintain the network of locally based organizations working in informal settlements in Africa and international development stakeholders with the organization of online events
• Support project management and finance administration of the project
• Support the identification of grey literature on assisted self-help programs in different countries
• Optional: Draw neighborhood plans, technical drawings, simple building volumes
• Optional: Develop visual guides for specific informal building constructions

The project lead will coach and support you to further develop your network skills and knowledge on informal building processes.

This is a twelve-month fixed-term position, which can be based in Rotterdam or elsewhere in the Netherlands (hybrid working is possible). It will require some time to be spent at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) and may also require international travel for consultations and presenting findings. The selected candidate should be available to start on 1 May 2025 or soon afterwards.

To be successful in this role, you are a natural networker with the ability to work independently and across different institutional and geographic cultures. You will hold a master’s degree in architecture, building technology, urban planning or development studies.

This postholder will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience in coordinating a cross-country network of organizations
• Field research experience in informal settlements (ideally in data collection, oral history and/or interviews)
• Excellent communication skills with grassroots organizations, NGOS, or other local institutions
• Previous knowledge and/or research interest in architecture or alternatively material science
• Familiarity with self-help and/or traditional knowledge literature
• A living experience in Africa (or at least in several Global South countries)
• Solid command of spoken and written English plus another relevant language (French or Portuguese)
• Alignment with IHS values

This position is only open to candidates who are EU citizens or who hold a Dutch residence permit.

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with great employment conditions.

• The start date of the position is 01-MAY-2025.
• This is a fixed term position for twelve months and is based on a working arrangement of 0.5 FTE to 0.8 FTE.
• The salary depends on your knowledge and experience and for a full-time appointment (40 hours) is between € 2.899 - € 3.809 gross per month, salary scale 7 in accordance with the CAO-NU.
• Your location will be Campus Woudestein - Rotterdam, at Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS).

Please note that IHS has its own Labour Conditions and does not follow the full CAO-NU, only for the salary development.

Everything else we have to offer you, can be found below!

Everything you need for a good work-life balance: working from home in consultation, 30 vacation days with a 40-hour working week, 8% holiday pay and 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a substantial discount on a subscription to our sports center on campus.

A sustainable, inclusive and diverse working environment with an open culture where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world. For example, participate in networks such as Young@EUR, Fame or QuEUR.

Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget, and free access to our university library.

A good pension plan, discount on various group insurances, travel allowance, home office and internet allowance.

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) is a centre of urban expertise at Erasmus University Rotterdam. At IHS, we envision liveable, socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable cities. Our mission is to inspire and empower urban professionals and citizens to make cities work for all.

Looking at cities from different perspectives, we educate urban professionals from diverse backgrounds, provide consultancy services to national and local governments and engage in cutting-edge urban research. Bringing practical experience from real-life projects back to the classroom, we inspire collaboration and co-creation of urban knowledge. Together with our partners, we work at the forefront of urban development to improve the wellbeing of people living in cities across the globe. IHS has approximately 55 staff– while we are based in Rotterdam, we have a strong interdisciplinary and international outlook and approach.

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) is a research, advisory, and education institute that operates under the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE). IHS is part of the EUR Holding BV.

The Head of Projects & Partnerships leads the team in streamlining acquisition strategies and securing funding opportunities. The Projects & Acquisition Manager supports project tracking, proposal development, and database management, ensuring smooth administrative processes. The Project Development Officer contributes to both research and project management, focusing on innovation, digital transformation, and urban policymaking.

Together, the team plays a key role in advancing IHS’s mission by securing funding, developing partnerships, and delivering high-impact urban development projects worldwide.

Department
The Projects & Partnerships team at IHS focuses on strengthening project acquisition, managing external funding opportunities, and building strategic alliances to expand the institute’s impact. The team combines expertise in urban development, project management, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring effective coordination of research, advisory, and acquisition efforts.