The Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group at Wageningen University is seeking an engaged postdoc researcher who is passionate about social science research on human-nature relationships, especially different understanding and framings of nature/forest management and conservation strategies. Furthermore, you show interest in the concept of rewilding.
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher interested in qualitative, social science research on different approaches to, and different understanding of nature (forest) management and conservation in Europe, including and related conflicts. The work will contribute to a bigger research project on the “green frontiers” in Europe and as they relate to conservation ideas, policies and discourses.

The position is a part of Horizont project wildE researching climate-smart rewilding as a solution to the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. As a part of this position, the researcher will analyze rewilding conflicts and their management within the wildE Rewilding Cases in chosen European countries. The goal is to investigate social, cultural, historical, political and economic dynamics that shape rewilding cases, their perceptions, applications and conflicts around them (including the diversity of images of nature, perceptions of wilderness and wildness, values and norms).

The tasks will involve conducting in-depth interviews with the stakeholders, performing group activities during stakeholders workshops, analysing the data, preparation project reports and scientific publications.

The researcher will work in a small team with a PhD student and supervisor (Agata Konczal) and will be embedded in a bigger wildE project team. The planned starting date is January 1st 2024.

You will work here:
The Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group is embedded in the Department of Environmental Sciences of Wageningen University, which provides fundamental research and academic education on our living environment. The chair group focuses on the political, socio-cultural and economic dimensions of forests and nature. The FNP research program includes three interrelated themes:1 Forest and nature policy and governance; 2 Value chains and markets for ecosystem services; and Nature-society interactions. FNP is a member of the Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS) and of the Wageningen Centre for Sustainability Governance.

The ideal candidate must have the following qualities:

• PhD in fields such as social anthropology, sociology or similar;
• Good knowledge of qualitative social science methods (including interviews);
• Experience with qualitative data collection and analysis;
• Excellence English language proficiency (C1 level);
• Creative and innovative mindset;
• Ability to work in international and collaborative environments.

In addition, the following qualities will be perceived as assets:

• Knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese or German or Swedish language;
• Experience in working in international and interdisciplinary projects.

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

• study leave, and partially 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 compensation/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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.226,- and € 5.090,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). This is a 15 months (full-time) or 18 months (80 percent of full time) position.

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 18th 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.
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. For instance under the "30% rule", certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & 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, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.. 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.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR

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