Programme Director MSc Metropolitan Analysis Design & Engineering (MADE)

Wageningen University & Research and Delft University of Technology are looking for a Programme Director for the MADE Master's programme.

Programme Description
The MSc Metropolitan Analysis, Design & Engineering (MADE) programme is a unique two-year interdisciplinary Master's programme. It is jointly offered by Wageningen University (WUR) and Delft University of Technology (TUD), hosted at the AMS Institute in Amsterdam (Marineterrein). The programme started in September 2017 with WUR as the lead partner.

Responsibilities
The Programme Director is responsible for:

• Day-to-day management and organisation of the programme, including:
• Continuous development of the curriculum, in consultation with lecturers, students and representatives from the professional field; this also includes educational innovation at programme level and the implementation of the educational visions of WUR and TUD;
• Evaluating and monitoring the quality of individual components and the programme as a whole;
• Consulting with WUR and TUD lecturers on the content and form of the courses in the curriculum;
• Advising on student admissions;
• Liaising with the MADE Programme Board, MADE Programme Committee, MADE Examining Board, Student Service Centre, etc.
• Coordination with relevant colleagues and staff at both universities and the AMS Institute;
• Management of the Education Team, consisting of coordinators, study advisers and the secretariat;
• Communication with the Programme Committee regarding developments in education;
• Making information available to students regarding the structure of their studies, both individually and in groups;
• Participating in recruitment and information activities related to the programme and contributing to the awarding of diplomas.

The Programme Director reports to the Dean of Education at WUR and the Director of Education of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at TUD.

• A university level of thinking and working, preferably with a PhD;
• Knowledge of and strong affinity and/or experience with the field and programme of the MADE programme and one or more of the themes of the AMS Institute (Urban Energy, Metropolitan Food Systems, Mobility, Circularity, Climate Responsible Cities, Responsible Digitisation);
• A so-called T-profile, combining deep knowledge in the field of the programme with broad knowledge of related programmes at such a level that they:
• Can see conceptual differences between their own programme and related programmes (in terms of structure, educational model, didactic content, learning objectives to be achieved);
• Can identify conceptual and content-related overlaps;
• Recognise best practices in their own programme and related programmes.
• Knowledge of and experience with educational management;
• Knowledge of and experience with challenge-based learning;
• Knowledge of and experience with digitisation in education;
• Conceptual ability, particularly in the field of beta-gamma integration and inter- and transdisciplinarity;
• Experience in connecting education with research and with external parties, and in bridging the gap between academia and real-world challenges;
• A sense of entrepreneurship;
• A relevant network, including connections to (potential) teachers and other relevant people within the WUR and TUD.

Competencies
The Programme Director is:

Good interpersonal skills, including intercultural communication skills and demonstrable coaching and advisory skills with students;

• Strong at driving and connecting different parties;
• Strong problem-solving skills (hands-on);
• Excellent command of spoken and written English;
• Able to motivate and substantiate;
• Organisation-sensitive, good sense of administrative relationships;
• Result-oriented, but also understands values such as solidarity and justice;
• Connective and a team player.

Education Team and Programme Director
The MADE Education Team is responsible for the content and organisation of the Master's programme. The Education Team, consisting of education coordinators, study advisers and the secretariat, meets weekly to discuss student well-being, organizational aspects, and educational management. The Programme Director leads this team. The Programme Director will not just be working across organizational systems (TUD, WUR, AMS), but will also bridge gaps between domains, disciplines, and institutions, all aimed towards developing transdisciplinary students and professionals.

Students
The MADE Programme attracts a wide variety of students which helps create an inclusive and transdisciplinary working culture. Approximately half of the students come from a technical background. One-third of the students come from outside the Netherlands. On average, each cohort is comprised of 50 to 60 students.

Terms of employment
The position is 0.6 FTE. Subject to suitability, the appointment is for a period of four years, starting February 1, 2026, after which it may be extended once.

The programme is designed to tackle complex urban challenges through urban engineering, design, data science, entrepreneurial thinking, and social science methods. The aim is to understand and develop innovative and sustainable solutions for urban environments. The programme’s strong connection to Amsterdam’s innovation ecosystem offers students a unique blend of academic rigor and hands-on impact.

Study Programme Structure
The first year of study focuses on building theoretical and practical knowledge through learning by doing (i.e. challenge-based), real-world application, and transdisciplinary education. In the second year of study, students apply these knowledge and skills through Living Lab projects hosted across Amsterdam. These projects involve collaboration with both public and private institutes with the aim to design and implement real-world interventions. Students also conduct a Master’s thesis that links academic research with actionable outcomes.