Junior Lecturer Sustainability

The Institute for Environmental Studies engages in a range of bachelor and master programmes in which sustainability is the leading topic, including the bachelor programme Aarde, Economie & Duurzaamheid (AE&D), the master programmes Environment and Resource Management (ERM) and Hydrology, and the master track Global Environmental Change & Policy (GEC&P).

IVM invites applicants for a position of Junior Lecturer (Junior Docent) in sustainability-related teaching programmes. We are looking for a candidate with a clear affinity for sustainability-related areas: land use, ecosystems, geography, biodiversity and/or climate change. We seek a candidate with clear ambitions in academic teaching, demonstrating the ability to promote our students’ intellectual and personal development, and prepare them to succeed, lead and serve a more sustainable society. Teaching is mainly in Dutch and English, at bachelor and master levels, primarily in the areas of sustainability science and methodology (GIS, fieldwork, group assignments, systems analysis), including seminars, workshops and thematic courses.

Your duties

• support assistant, associate and full professors in their courses
• (occasionally) provide lectures and lead practicals (computer practicals, and group assignments)
• Supervise field work activities and excursions (in our 'Aarde, Economie en Duurzaamheid' programme)
• assist in the development of high-quality teaching materials both off and online
• initiate efforts towards increasing the efficiency of courses and propose innovative ways of teaching and examination effective with larger groups of students
• acquire a basic qualification in teaching (BKO) as demanded by Dutch universities (if not already acquired)
• engage in the professionalisation track of junior teachers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, participating in peer-to-peer exchanges with other junior teachers
• mentoring students (including bachelor and masters students)

• A university masters’ degree in environmental science, earth science, geography or ecology with affinity to sustainability issues.
• Good knowledge of quantitative research methodologies in Environmental Science, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and field work methods
• Good presentation skills and a clear vision on teaching
• Organisational, communicative and connective skills that allow you to collaborate with a wide variety of students and teachers.

We recognise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. We would like to invite everyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not (fully) meet all the requirements.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 3.378,00 (salary scale 10) and maximum € 5.331,00 gross per month, on a full-time basis. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will last 4 years. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
• solid pension scheme (ABP)

Additionally, we also offer participation in the training scheme towards the University Teaching Qualification.

Institute for Environmental Studies
The work will be carried out at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM). IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognized for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Geography; and Water and Climate Risk. IVM is part of the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (www.ivm.vu.nl).

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.