Researcher/lecturer ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations

16 Aug 2026
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Wageningen University & Research

Research Field

Political sciences » Public policy

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Leading Researcher (R4)
Established Researcher (R3)

Application Deadline

5 Sep 2026 - 21:59 (UTC)

Country

Netherlands

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

38.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Researcher/lecturer ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations in Water and Climate’ (4 years) in Wageningen.
Why apply for a position in Wageningen?
Are you ready for the next step in your academic career? Do you want to become part of an enthusiastic group of colleagues, who seek to push the boundaries of knowledge on public administration and public policy? Do you want to teach for the highest graded educational programs in the Netherlands? Do you have the right skills to do cutting-edge research in an interdisciplinary setting and convey your findings in an inspiring way to students in a multi-disciplinary setting? And would you like to try to develop your skills further and grow in the direction of an assistant professorship? Then apply for a position as Researcher/Lecturer ‘Public Policy for Transformations in Water and Climate’ (4 years, trial period of 1 year at the Public Administration and Policy Group of Wageningen University).
Background: global change requires action from the Dutch government
The Public Administration Group of Wageningen University is a vibrant and enthusiastic group of scholars, seeking to understand how governments can help achieve sustainability transformations. As the climate changes in the Netherlands, several societal transformations are necessary. In our group, we start from the premise that the role of government in transformations is essential, also in the Netherlands. Because government expenditure constitutes a very significant part of the economy, but also because democratically elected government institutions represent the will of the people, and because the government is equipped with unique authorities and powers that can help codify and modify the direction that societies take. The Dutch government and the EU have a distinct role to play: they need to develop policies that enable or guide transformation, by facilitating societal initiative, by introducing the right incentives for private companies, and by changing existing policies that hinder transformation. The Dutch government itself is multiple and exists of various layers and policy sectors. Moreover, it needs to act in close collaboration with the European Union, which sets large parts of the sustainability agenda in Europe and for the Netherlands. As a consequence, agreement of who should act, when and at what level, can be elusive, and in addition, the types of interventions needed are often contested as polarization sets in. In this context, a deeper understanding of whether, when and how the Netherlands’ government can help realize the necessary sustainability transformations is paramount.
We are looking for you
The challenges to the Dutch government and the EU are nowhere clearer than in the connected policy domains of climate change and water, where human induced global change needs to be stopped by innovative solutions such as biobased construction and carbon capture on land, where extreme weather events cause floods that impact cities and regions thus requiring adaptive capacity, and where extended periods of drought threaten water availability for important sectors such as agriculture and biodiversity thus necessitating a turn towards circularity in water management. In the context of our expanding research and teaching portfolio in this domain we are looking for a Researcher/Lecturer (50/50) on the theme ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations in Water and Climate’ who contributes to the implementation of our research projects, the acquisition of new projects, and to the coordination and realization of our courses.
Your duties and responsibilities include:
You will spend 50% of your time doing research, which means that you will:

• become part of the teams that implement ongoing research projects in the Climate and Water domain that connect to your expertise (projects such as Blue Vantage , STURDI and WaterGrid, with more projects starting soon);
• share in the performance of duties under these projects, including the production of deliverables and organization of activities (workshops, events) where applicable;
• publish academic papers (independently and in teams) on the basis of your own research line and the research done in the context of the projects that you will connect to.

In the other 50% of your time, you will be contributing to our teaching portfolio, which means that you:

• will teach and coordinate courses in public administration and policy in the B.Sc. program on ‘Economics and Policy ’ in Wageningen (the course ‘Governance and Policy Change’) and contributing to courses in the M.Sc. program on the ‘Governance of Sustainability Transformations’ ;
• where appropriate and necessary, you will also be involved with the development of new courses, for instance in the context of new program development in Wageningen;
• you will supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. thesis projects from students that come to study with our group.

Your team:
You will become a member of the Public Administration and Policy Group at Wageningen. The PAP group is an enthusiastic and vibrant group within the Department of Social Sciences. The PAP group's mission is to study the public governance of sustainability transformations in the interrelated domains of water, climate, food, biodiversity and agriculture under the slogan ‘Changing governance, Governing change ’. In our work, we build on a diverse set of public administration and policy science concepts and theories and apply a diverse range of methods that we use whenever suitable for the research questions at hand. We take an active interest in the role of the state in sustainability governance and we actively seek to think through innovative governance arrangements. The group is impact-oriented and aims to contribute to scientific progress, to societal debates, and to policy practices. More information on the group can be found on www.wageningenur.nl/pap .
Your will work here
The PAP group actively collaborates with neighboring groups in the

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/jobs/363308/researcherlecturer-public-polic…

Requirements
Specific Requirements

• you are a talented academic with a solid track record in the role of public policy for sustainability transformations;
• you are able to apply and improve conceptual frameworks from the fields of Public Administration and the Policy Sciences;
• you have expertise in Dutch and EU policy making in the climate and water domains and have developed relevant academic and societal networks in these domains;
• you enjoy teaching students using the latest teaching methods;
• you are an enthusiastic team player, willing to play an active role in the social fabric of the group and maintain the positive group dynamics.

You also possess:

• a Ph.D.-degree in the field of public administration and policy, political science, environmental policy, or similar, completed or nearing completion;
• a strong and growing publication record in international refereed scientific journals;
• demonstrated interest in acquiring externally financed projects;
• excellent skills in writing and lecturing in English and in Dutch;
• good organization and management skills.

Additional Information
Benefits

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

• sabbatical leave, 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;
• 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 year-end 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 € 3,706.- and € 5,760.- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 32 to 38 FTE can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programs.
You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university " in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Selection process

For more information about the position, please contact prof. Dave Huitema, chairholder Public Administration and Policy, via email: [email protected] .
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas via email: [email protected] .
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website (it will appear there on the 15th of August). Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
You can apply up to and including until Saturday September 5, 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for the second half of September 2026 and if invited for an interview you will be asked to give a presentation on your plans.
Internal candidates are preferred to apply before August 15, 2026.
Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

Additional comments

WUR welcomes applications from international candidates. However, for applicants for this specific position from outside the EU/EFTA zone, immigration restrictions may apply based on Dutch and EU immigration laws. Such candidates may be eligible for an “orientation year ” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant ”.
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research center 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.
Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center . This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labor market and assists your partner to find a job.
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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/363308/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Wageningen University & Research

Country

Netherlands

City

Wageningen

Postal Code

6706KN

Street

Hollandseweg 1

Contact

City

Wageningen

Website

http://www.wageningenur.nl

Street

Droevendaalsesteeg

Postal Code

6708 PB

STATUS: EXPIRED

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