Academic Director for Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health (0.6 FTE)

On behalf of the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health (Aletta, www.rug.nl/aletta) we are looking for an enterprising academic director who is able to develop Aletta further as a joint program of the University of Groningen, UMCG, Hanzehogeschool and hogeschool NHL-Stenden. Aletta will operate as a program of the University of the North, which seeks collaboration with societal organizations, other research institutions and private partners.

In recent years the Aletta School has developed a strong overarching community of the partners by bringing staff, students, and representatives from society together around the central themes of the School. The School has been successful in setting op new research and educational activities, as well in establishing a strong public profile, interdisciplinarity and outreach being the basic features.

Job description
The position of academic director will be fulfilled by a staff member, within their existing appointment at the University or UMCG.

All appointment agreements will therefore be tailored and will be made in consultation with the staff member’s own institution/faculty.

Specific duties
Internal orientation

- The academic director will further initiate and facilitate the School community.
- The academic director will contribute to the School’s positioning at one physical location in Groningen together with three other Schools of UG, where the focus will be on interaction and communication by organizing a wide range of (hybrid) activities.
- The academic director will maintain close contact with the many internal stakeholders within the partners, such as the boards of the partners, deans, the directors of the relevant research and educational institutes, faculty coordinators, and central support staff.
- Based on vision, analyses, concepts, and experience, the academic director will provide inspiration and tools to promote collaboration.
- The academic director will manage the preparation, decision-making and follow-up of the School strategy and the policy cycle surrounding teaching, research, and impact.
- The academic director will create support for and act as the manager of a small team of passionate professionals that is closely interwoven with various support services.

External orientation

- The academic director has a strong external orientation, as proven by strong networks outside the university and a strong external visibility.
- The academic director will maintain effective contact with the School’s key strategic stakeholders and act as a networker at a strategic level.
- The academic director will enthusiastically fulfil the role of ambassador and make strategic stakeholders enthusiastic about the School’s vision and ambitions at national and international levels.
- In the political arena (at European, national and regional levels), the academic director will contribute to policy in the field of public affairs and joint lobbying, related to the collaboration themes.
- The academic director will continuously explore new substantive collaboration opportunities and opportunities for external funding and business development.

We are looking for a researcher who:

- Proven record in the scientific world, e.g. through high quality publications, attraction of extramural funding and the supervision of PhD students. We aim for the level of (full) professor.
- Has extensive knowledge of the focus areas of the Aletta Schools, i.e. in the area of public health in the broader sense. This encompasses e.g. medical, economic, technical, legal, psychological or other perspectives.
- Has proven quality to connect scientific and societal partners. Past performance in the formation of such networks, preferably with experience in the northern Netherlands.
- Clear vision on the future of public health in a broad sense and how academic institutions can contribute to this future.
- Has strong experience in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary working in research and/or education.
- Has a strong regional and national network to be able to effectively interact with regional and national stakeholders in the domain of health.
- Excellent communication skills, can act as ambassador on behalf of the School and is externally very visible.