(Senior) Researcher Participatory environmental governance
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
(Senior) Researcher Participatory environmental governance
The Hydroinformatics and socio-technical innovation department focuses on catalysing change in society, technology and policy, and enhancing the use of enabling ICTs, towards sustainability and resilience.
This position contributes projects, education and capacity development activities, undertaken by the Knowledge & Innovation Studies research group, led by Professor Uta Wehn, who will guide the researcher.
The research of the Knowledge & Innovation Studies research group focuses on knowledge and innovation dynamics and aims to understand and shape their role in sustainability processes. It contributes to the deeper understanding and analysis of the objectives, purposes, processes and instruments of problem-driven forms of data and knowledge co-creation, sharing and application as well as innovation processes in the water sector world-wide addressing complex societal needs. The research is implemented using Action Research (including participatory action research) in the context of water-related multi-stakeholder projects, triggering action and change, while accompanying these with critical reflection based on sound social science research (cutting across behavioural sciences, political science, knowledge management, management studies and development studies). The research of the group intersects with all areas of water management and governance: water resources management, water services, as well as flood and drought risk management, and also extends to other areas of environmental management.
This vacancy provides a unique opportunity to combine research activities regarding the role of citizen science and other forms of stakeholder engagement in participatory water and environmental governance. As (senior) researcher, you will contribute to research activities of projects such as more4nature and CitiObs that explore how different forms of stakeholder engagement can contribute to sustainability transitions and participatory environmental governance and how to advance the institutionalization of citizen science at different governance levels.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to research activities, deliverables and scientific publications, ensuring research contributions and project deliverables are of high quality, on time and within budget;
- Disseminate research results and project activities in creative and effective ways by drafting, presenting scientific results, conference papers and other communications and outreach materials;
- Supervise MSc and PhD theses;
- Lead, or make major contributions to, acquisitions for research and capacity development activities;
- Contribute to the group’s education activities, as needed.
Requirements
- Motivated to contribute to sustainability science with social science research on participatory environmental governance and to work in an international cooperation context;
- MSc (must), PhD (pre) in a relevant social science discipline, e.g. innovation studies, science & technology studies, sociology, psychology, or political science with demonstrable training in diverse qualitative and quantitative research skills, and with excellent grades;
- Experience with undertaking high quality social science research, ideally in the field of water and/or environment (demonstrated by publications and projects). For researcher level, min. 2 years of experience post MSc; for senior researcher, min. 3 years post PhD.
- Experience with the supervision of MSc theses and/or PhD research;
- Demonstrable track record with successful project acquisition (or key contributions) and implementation (e.g. as Task or Work Package lead);
- Strong analytical skills and ability to identify key issues; meticulous information processing;
- Excellent writing skills and written and spoken command of English, as demonstrated by previous course work and/or publications in English;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills within multi-national and cultural contexts; and ability to deal with a wide range of stakeholders and project partners in a highly professional manner;
- Strong team spirit and willingness to embrace change to capture emerging opportunities;
- Willingness to travel for project delivery.
Terms of employment
The employment contract is for 38 hours per week.
The position is in accordance with scale 11-12 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. A competitive salary is offered depending on qualifications and experience.
This role requires the candidate to be based in the Netherlands or willing to relocate to the country. The position is in Delft, the Netherlands.
The candidate will be stationed at IHE Delft Institute in Delft, The Netherlands. The candidate should be prepared to carry out short-term missions abroad.
The appointment implies entry into the Netherlands' Civil Service Pension Fund (ABP). IHE Delft offers an attractive, multiple-choice employee benefits scheme, year-end bonus and generous pension scheme. We also offer 31 days leave based on a 38 hours working week. Candidates must be prepared to carry out short-term missions abroad.
Information and application
Additional information can be obtained from Ms. U. Wehn, Associate Professor of Water Innovation Studies, (E: u.wehn@un-ihe.org).
IHE Delft follows an open procedure of recruitment, which respects diversity and provides equal opportunity to applicants of all backgrounds.
Applications (in English) should respond specifically to the requirements and can be sent by 28 January 2025 (closing date) including curriculum vitae and motivation letter in PDF format.
Interviews with selected candidates will start on 10 February 2025.
Please use the application form via the ''apply'' button, applications via email will not be taken into consideration.
