Assistant professor Nature Conservation Law in Europe

Tilburg Law School is looking to hire an Assistant Professor in nature conservation law, in the department of Public Law and Governance (PLG). PLG is a large, diverse and interdisciplinary department, home to nearly 120 academic staff and a range of legal and social science disciplines.  

Based within the Department of Public Law and Governance (PLG), the assistant professor independently carries out teaching in nature conservation law, but also in adjacent fields like environmental law, climate change law and general EU law, and takes up general administrative responsibilities. PLG hosts several educational programs, including the LLM tracks in International Law and Global Governance and in European Law and Global Risk which have several courses in these fields. The primary focus of the research will be on EU nature conservation law (Birds and Habitats Directives), particularly the Natura 2000 regime, and on other areas of EU (and international) environmental law of relevance to biodiversity conservation, such as those applicable to fresh water, the oceans, polluting substances and the climate; as well as on the relationships between EU nature conservation law and other key areas of EU (and international) law, such as agriculture, fisheries, trade, energy, and access to justice; and on the implementation of EU (and international) nature conservation law in national contexts. Acquiring and carrying out externally funded projects will be a part of this. The assistant professor will work as member of a dedicated team of experienced scholars. Nature conservation law research in Tilburg is embedded in a multi-disciplinary Signature Plan. The prism of the biodiversity crisis increasingly dictates our nature conservation law research, which is perhaps most clearly expressed in the multi-annual research program ‘Constitutionalizing the Anthropocene’. A vibrant and growing research community supports that program, in which nature conservation law, environmental law, legal philosophy, political science, and public governance converge to address major societal challenges of our time. As a colleague, you will actively participate in and contribute to the further development of this research community. The intended ratio between teaching and research is roughly 40%-40%, with the remaining 20% for administrative duties.

Tilburg University is curious about how you can contribute to our research, education, impact, and to the team you will be part of. Therefore, we would like to get the best possible picture of your knowledge, insight, skills, and personality. 
 
Below you can find the qualifications we consider important for the position.

• PhD in Law.
• Experience and expertise on EU nature conservation law and its broader EU law context.
• Knowledge of Dutch (nature conservation) law is a plus, but not a prerequisite.
• Experience both in teaching and research.
• Proficiency in the English language.
• Scientific integrity; in addition, you are a team player with good communication skills.
• You are expected to have a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ; in Dutch: BKO) or equivalent proof of didactical competence in academic education. 
• You are committed to be an active member of the department and to integrate in the environment provided by the department and the school.
• Preference will be given to an experienced candidate for this position of Assistant Professor 1. We reserve the possibility of offering the position at the level of Assistant Professor 2 in case of a less experienced candidate. 

To maintain a vibrant and active university community, it is important that we meet each other regularly and that the connection between us remains good. Therefore, the premise is that all staff members carry out their work in the Netherlands and that lecturing is done physically. Having said that, Tilburg University supports hybrid working, where it is expected that you are on average two to three day per week in the office.

Tilburg University offers excellent terms of employment with attention to flexibility and room for (personal) development. We recognize and reward our employees and encourage the use of talents and strengths.

Tilburg University is committed to an open and inclusive culture, embracing diversity, and encouraging the mutual integration of groups of staff and students. We create equal opportunities for all our staff and students. 

We work in a vibrant and lively (work) environment on our beautiful campus, close to the forest and easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and challenge you to make an active contribution to this. 

For this position, we offer:

• A position based on 0.8-1.0 FTE (32-40 hours per week);
• It is a vacancy for a permanent position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 1 CLA for Dutch universities and concerns a temporary employment contract with the prospect of permanent employment. You will initially be given a temporary employment contract for the duration of 12 (internal candidates) or 18 months (external candidates). After this period, you can be offered a permanent employment contract.
• For the preferred position of Assistant Professor 1, a salary of minimum €4,814 and maximum €6,181 gross per month for full time employment, based on UFO profile Assistant Professor 1 and salary scale 12 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities;
• In case the position is offered at the level of Assistant Professor 2, a salary minimum of €3,974 and maximum €5,439 gross per month for full time employment, based on UFO profile Assistant Professor 2 and salary scale 11 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system for salary scaling that is based on relevant education and work experience;
• Vacation allowance (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%);
• Vacation days (41 days for a 40-hour work week);
• Full reimbursement of commuting expenses for sustainable travel: walking, biking and public transportation;
• Options Model for benefits and reimbursement of moving expenses;
• Employees from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable wages. We will apply for this reimbursement for you. We also assist in finding a place to live, and, if applicable, child care
• You will be enrolled in the General Pension Fund for Public Employers (ABP) through us;
• Various training courses, for example in leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and career development;
• A wide range of amenities and facilities and various arrangements to create an optimal work-life balance.

Visit working at Tilburg University for more information on our terms of employment. 

Tilburg University's motto is Understanding Society. Based on this vision, our almost 2,800 employees conduct research, inspire more than 19,000 students of 110 nationalities, and bring people from different disciplines and organizations together to learn from each other. In this way, we want to contribute to solving complex social issues. In doing so, we work from the fields of economics, business and entrepreneurship, social and behavioral sciences, law and public administration, humanities and digital sciences, and theology. We seek the connection between the various disciplines to find solutions to the major issues we face as a society. Our students are educated to become responsible and entrepreneurial thinkers, driven by solidarity, a sense of responsibility, and empathy, who are able to influence and give direction to a rapidly changing society in an innovative way. Tilburg University has a culture of collaboration and co-creation, at local, regional, national, and international level.

Since its founding in 1963, Tilburg Law School has become one of the leading law schools in Europe.  Through top research and the provision of high-quality university education, the School contributes to society. Tilburg Law School is organized into five Departments: Public Law and Governance; Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, Markets and Society; Private, Business and Labour Law; the Fiscal Institute Tilburg; and Criminal Law. The mission of the School is to understand and improve the role of law and public administration in addressing the social problems of today and tomorrow. Through research and education, our scholars contribute to that mission. 

More than 4,000 students pursue a Bachelor's, pre-Master's or Master's degree at Tilburg Law School. Through this education, we train students in law, public administration, and data science. The Tilburg Educational Profile (TEP) is unique in the Netherlands. Central to it are three core concepts: knowledge, skills, and character. A university education provides students with the latest substantive knowledge and trains them to be critical thinkers and resilient professionals. In addition, the School is committed to innovative educational concepts and, partly in response to the coronavirus crisis, has invested heavily in the quality of online education and in innovative didactic tools to make and keep students inquisitive. 

Tilburg Law School's research is highly regarded nationally and internationally. The Tilburg Law School Departments work closely together in their research in four signature research programs: 1) Global Law and Governance; 2) Law and Security; 3) Connecting Organizations; and 4) Regulating Socio-Technical Change. 

The Department of Public Law & Governance (PLG) is a unique collaboration of researchers in the fields of International Law, European law, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Environmental Law, Public Administration, Legal Philosophy, Political Science, Legal History, and Jurisprudence. Collaboration within the Department is very much inspired by joint research interests.