Full Professor of Legal Philosophy

Your position
The Chair in Legal Philosophy plays a key role within the Department of Public Law and Governance (PLG). It represents a long-standing tradition of philosophical inquiry into law and society at Tilburg Law School and serves as a core focal point for engagement with fundamental, critical, and conceptual questions that are central to the department’s research. For this role, we seek a scholar whose research and teaching combine philosophical depth with societal awareness, and who is able to operate confidently in a diverse and critical environment that includes researchers in legal philosophy, constitutional law, administrative law, public governance, international and European law, and legal history, among others. We are looking for a legal philosopher who is open to interdisciplinary collaboration, who can contribute intellectually to PLG’s thematic research priorities, and who can create connections between PLG scholars on key legal-philosophical questions within global law and governance.

Job description
In collaboration with the existing team, the Professor will be responsible for:

• Academic leadership in the organization and direction of legal philosophy at Tilburg University, and in developing the legal-philosophical content of the departmental research agenda, including research seminars, doctoral training, and intellectual community building;
• Innovative teaching in legal philosophy, including the development and delivery of education in the field of legal philosophy. The Chair is willing and able to engage with modern didactical methods and educational technologies;
• Developing an original, coherent, and internationally visible research line that contributes to PLG’s core research themes. The department is open regarding the precise area of research (e.g. climate change, global justice, etc.);
• Independent delivery and coordination of Dutch- and English-language teaching in the educational programs in which PLG participates, at both bachelor’s and master’s level within the law faculty and possibly in other faculties. This will likely include two large bachelor-level courses, one in the Dutch Law bachelor and one in the Global Law bachelor;
• Representation of Tilburg University in national and international networks and collaborations in the field of legal philosophy.

Your profile
The future chair holder:

• Holds a doctorate in legal philosophy;
• Has an excellent track record in both teaching and research in a field relevant to the theme, as evidenced, among other things, by leading national and international scholarly publications;
• Has a track record in educational innovation;
• Is in possession of the UTQ certificate and/or SKO certificate or is willing to obtain one within one year;
• Has experience coordinating interdisciplinary research teams and possesses a broad intellectual range that extends beyond niche specialization;
• Has considerable experience in coaching and supervising doctoral candidates and students writing theses, as well as mentoring teachers and contributes to a good and safe working climate and an open and inclusive organizational culture;
• Has demonstrable experience in acquiring and conducting externally funded research projects, and is willing to continue applying for external research funding;
• Is able to work and teach confidently in both English (C2) and Dutch;
• Is an inspiring and leading figure in research and teaching, shows initiative, and is willing to provide leadership within the department together with others. She or he participates in faculty-level, university-wide, and external (inter-university or societal) collaborations and is willing to do so in this role;
• Demonstrates team spirit and a willingness to collaborate with other disciplines, which are important requirements for all professors appointed within the faculty. Considers academic citizenship as important and shows strong engagement with the faculty and is visible both within and outside the organization;
• Is a team player with strong interpersonal skills.

Our offer
Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• Employment of 0,8 - 1,0 fte (32 - 40 hours per week).
• Salary between € 7.202,00 and € 10.441,00 gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile Professor 2, salary scale HL2). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy for a position according to Article 2.2 paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 CLA DU
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• Hybrid working with home working allowance (€2 p/day) and internet allowance (€25 p/month).
• Reimbursement sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
• Options model for additional leave, pension, a bicycle or personal training.
• Moving allowance (subject to conditions).
• 30% rule for international employees (if applicable).
• Pension through ABP.
• Ample training offer: personal development, leadership, education, research or language courses.
• Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities.
• A green, inviting campus that’s easily accessible by public transport.

For more information, please see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities.

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.

About Tilburg Law School

Tilburg Law School was founded in 1963 and has since grown into a leading faculty for law and public administration. Our education and research are distinctly innovative and interdisciplinary. We are driven by our mission to actively engage with pressing societal challenges such as new technologies, sustainability, and the position of vulnerable groups in the rule of law, from the perspective of legal and administrative sciences. We operate in response to local, regional, national, and international developments, and collaborate closely with other disciplines such as economics, behavioral and social sciences, philosophy, history, and digital sciences. The faculty is organized into five departments: Public Law & Governance, Private, Business and Labour Law, Criminal Law, the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology & Society, and Tax Law.

Our education

Tilburg Law School offers bachelor's programs in Dutch Law, Tax Law, Business Law, and the English-taught Global Law program. Of the nine legal master's programs, five are offered in hybrid formats and six are taught in English. The faculty also offers both a bachelor's and a master's program in Public Administration. Our education places particular emphasis on vulnerability and on those who are vulnerable in society. Through this, we aim to contribute to a just and sustainable society. Tilburg Law School is a frontrunner in educational innovation and values inclusive, accessible, and flexible education. We train our students to become knowledgeable, skilled, and critical academics who are equipped to navigate the complex challenges of the evolving digital society.

Our research

The five departments of Tilburg Law School collaborate closely in four distinctive research programs focusing on globalization and law, regulation of technology, vulnerability in criminal law, and sustainable private law relations. These research programs include both legal and public administration scholarship, as well as interdisciplinary approaches.
We strongly emphasize team science, encouraging researchers to work together, share knowledge, and strengthen one another in content and methodology.

Global Law and Governance

This research program addresses major societal challenges such as climate change, globalization, growing inequality, the increasing influence of social media, and migration. These developments call for a re-examination of issues such as the role of human rights, democratic principles and structures, and the regulation of non-state actors.

Want to know more?

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Stavros Zouridis at +31134663731 or s.zouridis@tilburguniversity.edu.