Director Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study - NIAS - KNAW

For the position of Director of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS), the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is looking for an authoritative graduate / researcher in humanities or social science with a broad vision on academic research, an extensive network, and excellent leadership and administrative qualities.

Job Description

• Within the framework of KNAW's strategy, you are responsible for the institute's direction and its day-to-day management. You will focus on the continuation of a healthy and sustainable NIAS and ensure a safe and fruitful research community of fellows and staff.
• You oversee the implementation of NIAS' Strategic Plan 2025-2029 and will realize it within its financial frameworks. If necessary, you will take on a managerial role. You will ensure a solid financial basis and will position the institute towards funding bodies and sponsors such as foundations, social institutions, government agencies, and businesses and translate this into new partnerships. In particular, you will build existing and new partnerships.
• You will strengthen NIAS' international positioning and its role and relationships in the Dutch academic landscape. You will represent the institute in the international field of Institutes for Advanced Study and will play a leading role in their networks.
• You will promote NIAS' science communication, which focuses on the researchers' projects and on "meta-topics" such as academic freedom. Behind the scenes, you will also represent the interests of NIAS as well as those of the KNAW.
• You will monitor and promote the positive and safe working culture within NIAS.
• You are a member of the KNAW's Directors' Council, in which you will consult constructively on institute-transcending issues. You will actively contribute to the agenda of these consultations from your role at NIAS.

Profile

The following criteria will be considered in the selection process:

• You are an authoritative researcher in the humanities or social sciences, with innovative views on transdisciplinary collaboration in research. You are committed to scientific integrity.
• You have integrity, are result-oriented, decisive, and energetic. You can identify relevant developments in science and society, both in the Netherlands and abroad. You can use your administrative and political sensitivity and a large network for strategic opportunities.
• You easily participate in the social debate in the Netherlands and abroad. You are media-savvy and well aware of both the importance and the limitations and dangers of (social) media. You have a large and relevant (inter)national network and can establish strategic alliances.
• You have excellent communication skills, a coaching, inclusive leadership style and a keen eye for inclusion, equality, and well-being in the workplace. You recognize yourself in our core values of appreciative leadership: connection, development and clarity.
• You have a vision on operational management and proven experience in finance and human resources management in a context similar to NIAS. You are able to assume both the academic and business management responsibility for the institute
• The language of the fellows community is English; in the practice of the institute, Dutch language skills are also conditional. A director with no working experience in the Netherlands is expected to quickly integrate into the strategic landscape and learn the Dutch language.

Terms of employment

The employment contract with the KNAW is for a scope of, in principle, 24 hours per week (0.6 fte) and is entered into for an indefinite period. The appointment as institute director is for a term of five years with effect from the 1st of May 2026, with the intention of reappointment for a second and final five-year term.

Depending on education and experience, the salary amounts to a minimum of € 7.756,- and a maximum of € 10.138,- gross per month for full-time employment (scale 16 of the collective agreement for Dutch Universities/KNAW). This excludes 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet and home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

The KNAW offers an excellent package of fringe benefits, including provisions for specific life stages, lifestyles and career ambitions. For a full overview of the terms of employment see: werken bij de KNAW.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.

About the KNAW

The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is the forum, the voice and the conscience of science in the Netherlands. The KNAW is an advisory body to the Dutch government and responsible for ten national research institutes and two institutes providing infrastructure for research whose research and collections rank among the (inter)national top. Independent components are The Young Academy and the Academy of Arts. The KNAW Bureau assists members, Board, Councils and Committees, institutes and the Executive Board in the performance of their duties.

NIAS

For a period of five or 10 months, NIAS offers a diverse group of established and talented researchers from all over the world the freedom to work unhindered on a research project that they, with their knowledge and experience, have themselves designed and consider urgent. At NIAS, humanities and social sciences researchers work alongside researchers at the interface with these fields and others, such as life sciences, the arts, and journalism. NIAS operates from the conviction that the social task of academic research is to ask new questions in order to find alternative solutions to the challenges people and societies are facing. Academic freedom is a prerequisite for this; NIAS actively promotes this freedom.

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

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