Do you hold a PhD in development studies, anthropology, sociology, geography, politics or a related field? Do you have passion for translating academic work into societal impact? Do you have didactic qualities? And do you want to do interdisciplinary and international research? Then you might be the assistant professor we are looking for!

The Sociology of Development and Change Group (SDC) at Wageningen University seeks a candidate for an assistant professor position in development studies (tenure track). Candidates with a background in development studies or a related field (anthropology, geography, sociology, political science, etc.) will be considered, especially candidates who combine expertise in the broad areas of rural development and land and water governance and politics. Experience with interdisciplinary research, qualitative (ethnographic) methodology and critical theory, as well as links with the other main themes of the group (crisis & disaster studies and political ecology) will be an advantage. Your responsibilities include teaching courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, (Bsc, Msc and PhD) student supervision, developing and performing original research within our domain and publishing the results, participating in management or service activities, and to generate external financial support for an innovative research agenda. Potential courses to teach include modules on land and water politics, sociological and anthropological perspectives on development, rural development and food.

As assistant professor in development studies you have:

• a (recent or nearly completed) PhD in development studies, anthropology, sociology, geography, politics or a related field;
• proven ability to publish in high-quality academic journals and with top academic publishers;
• ability to work in interdisciplinary and international research teams;
• excellent communication and writing skills;
• good didactic qualities and enthusiasm for teaching and working with students;
• A passion for translating academic work into societal impact and engagement;
• Ability to develop high-quality research proposals and to be(come) competitive in terms of acquiring external funding for research;
• commitment to learn Dutch (for non-Dutch speaking candidates) within 2 years of appointment.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will be offered a fixed-term, 7 year contract which, upon positive evaluation based on criteria elaborated in the University's Tenure Track policy, can lead to a permanent employment contract as professor. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €3.821,- and €5.230,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11).

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University and Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

The Sociology of Development and Change Group (SDC)
SDC focuses on the structures and practices of development and change with a particular scientific interest in inequality, marginalization and political agency. The group's vision is to be a world-leading, politically engaged and interdisciplinary research and educational centre in development studies, political ecology, anthropology of law and crisis and disaster studies. Our mission is to gain and communicate a deeper understanding of inequality and marginalisation generated by global and local structures of power and political-economy and so contribute to social and environmental justice. At the same time we study how actors generate forms of agency and practices that enable them to deal with these dynamics and create new opportunities. Together with the Rural Sociology Group, the Health and Society Group and the Cultural Geography group, the SDC group forms the WUR Centre for Space, Place and Society (see https://centreforspaceplacesociety.wordpress.com/).

Read the 5 reasons why your future collaegues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.