Instructor Sustainability Science

Are you passionate about teaching and shaping the next generation of sustainability professionals? University College Roosevelt (UCR) is looking for an inspiring Instructor in Sustainability Science to join our dynamic Liberal Arts and Sciences program. If you thrive in an interdisciplinary academic environment and are eager to engage with students at all levels, we encourage you to apply!

Organization
UCR is one of the English taught International Honors Colleges of Utrecht University. The staff and students form a vibrant academic community centered on a Liberal Arts and Sciences bachelor’s education. Students hail from all over the globe and follow a broad and intensive study program in the historic town of Middelburg, where they live on the centrally located city campus. UCR graduates continue their study careers in master programs all over the world. What sets UCR alumni apart is their self-confidence, their civic engagement, and their entrepreneurial sense of opportunity. Our alumni are scholars, writers, scientists, software engineers, entrepreneurs, medical doctors, conservationists, and environmentalists; they are lawyers, musicians, bankers, activists, teachers, artists, politicians, diplomats, strategic advisors—and so much more. UCR is a vibrant breeding ground for those who want to make a difference in the world.

Liberal Arts and Sciences
The leading idea behind the liberal arts and sciences is that students’ undergraduate education covers both broad and deep learning in a variety of academic disciplines and skills. Given the ever-greater consequences of climate change for our daily lives, UCR launched a thematic cluster of Environment and Sustainability in September 2025.

Our Curriculum
The UCR curriculum is organized into six clusters of related courses. These clusters include Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Science and Intelligent Systems, Environment and Sustainability, Government and Society, Health, Cognition and Behavior, and Media, Culture, and Communication. The curriculum is structured in a modular format, enabling students to design their academic pathways with minimal prerequisites. Each cluster collaborates with external stakeholders through real-world applications, research, and community engaged learning.

What you will do

• Develop and teach one or two of the following courses:
  • Living with Water: Explores sustainable water management in delta regions, especially, in times of climate change. Focuses on adaptation to rising seas, floods and land subsidence; engages students in projects in Zeeland; and highlights nature‑based solutions and resilient infrastructure.
  • Earth Observation: Provides hands‑on experience with GIS and data integration using geospatial data from satellites and drones. Uncovers how human actions impact ecosystems and climate and promotes sustainable practices through research projects.

What you need to bring

• Preferably, a PhD in Sustainability Science or a related field.
• Preferably, a network in Zeeland amongst organizations that could provide research opportunities for students, or the willingness to establish such a network.
• Proven experience teaching a broad range of courses in energy and resource management or the science of climate change at university level.
• Excellent English skills (written and spoken) at CEF-level C1 or higher.
• An affinity with Liberal Arts and Sciences education.
• A Basic University Teaching Qualification (BKO) or willingness to obtain one.
• A collaborative mindset, particularly in working with colleagues from other disciplines and regional partners.

What we offer
UCR provides a stimulating academic environment with a strong emphasis on teaching excellence and student engagement. As an Instructor in Sustainability Science, you will receive:

• A six-months employment contract, expected start date January 1, 2026.
• Part-time employment (0.6 FTE if teaching two courses; 0.3 FTE if teaching one course).
• Salary based on UNL scales, starting from scale 10, depending on position and in line with experience and qualifications.
• (Partial) commuting cost reimbursement (within the Netherlands).
• A comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • End-of-Year Bonus (8.3%)
  • Holiday Allowance (8%)
  • Pension arrangement with ABP (www.abp.nl)
  • Flexible benefits model
  • Generous leave entitlement (232 hours per year, based on full-time employment)
• For early-career researchers, UCR provides a valuable steppingstone for developing teaching and student supervision expertise.

Ready to apply?
People are at the heart of what we are and do; we want to attract outstanding, inspirational, and talented people, support them to succeed and celebrate their success. UCR is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its community. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Applications should be submitted before the application deadline. Applications should include a letter of motivation, a resume and the names of at least two referees who can be contacted by email and phone.

Application Process

• Application deadline: November 4, 2025
• 1st interviews: to be decided
• 2nd interviews: to be decided

Please note that this vacancy will be open to internal candidates as well as external candidates simultaneously. UCR has a priority policy for internal candidates over external candidates.