Associate Professor of Political Theory

1. Introduction

## The Department of Political Science at the Nijmegen School of Management (Radboud University) is looking for an Associate Professor with the potential to achieve Full Professor status in the field of applied political theory within three to five years.

2. Job description

As Associate Professor of Political Theory, you will be a leading, internationally active researcher in your field of expertise. Expertise within the current Political Theory group ranges from radical democracy and resistance, recognition and urban justice to democratic backsliding and political corporate responsibility. We welcome applications that add to our strengths, and value to a diversity of perspectives, experiences and academic trajectories. In particular, but not exclusively, we welcome candidates with scholarly profiles that complement our current profile such as environmental political theory, theories of technology and power, feminist and gender theory, postcolonial political thought, and global and transnational political theory. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment in which academics can thrive and develop their research agendas.

First and foremost, you should be a highly motivated and committed scholar who values collaboration and is able to contributes positively to our academic community. You are an accomplished teacher at the undergraduate and graduate levels and have a proven track record of publications in high-quality, peer-reviewed academic journals, edited collections and/or as the author of academic monographs. As an active researcher, you are expected to obtain funding from governmental, European and/or private institutions, to collaborate within our Faculty’s interdisciplinary research networks (called Hotspots), and to publish regularly in leading international academic journals.

You will teach courses in the Bachelor’s degree programme in Political Science, specifically in Political Theory, and within the Master's specialisation in Applied Political Theory. You will be expected to supervise Bachelor's and Master’s students, as well as PhD candidates working on their theses.

As an Associate Professor, you will play an active role in the leadership of the Department and the Faculty. As an ambassador of the Political Theory Chair Group, you will cherish and expand contacts with alumni and with relevant groups and institutions in society and actively contribute to the group’s efforts to make an impact on society. Depending on your prior experience, we will together formulate a three-to-five-year development plan aimed at your eventual promotion to full professor. Throughout this process, you will be supported by mentoring, professional development opportunities and regular career development conversations.

3. Profile

• You have a PhD degree in Political Theory or a relevant field within philosophy, the humanities or the social sciences.
• You have an excellent academic reputation in political theory research, evidenced by a strong publication record in internationally recognised high-quality journals, edited volumes and/or as the author of academic monographs.
• You are actively involved in international collaborative networks and have strong connections with groups and organisations in society and government relevant to our alumni and researchers.
• You have proven experience in attracting research funding from research councils and other external parties.
• You are a strong team player.
• You have shown your commitment to academic citizenship both within and outside of your previous place(s) of employment.
• You have at least five years of experience teaching in the field of political theory and/or political philosophy at university level.
• You have good teaching qualities, enthusiasm for teaching and working with students, and the capacity to develop and implement innovative teaching methods as well as the ability to coordinate academic courses or study programmes. A Dutch university teaching qualification or equivalent would be an advantage.
• You have the ability to supervise and inspire PhD candidates, to cooperate across disciplinary boundaries, and have demonstrated experience in academic leadership as evidenced by coordination of a study programme and/or membership of internal committees and councils (e.g. a scientific advisory committee or examination board). We recognise that leadership can be demonstrated in a variety of formal and informal roles.
• You have the potential to take on the tasks and responsibilities of a full professor, including the ability to lead the political theory group. We welcome candidates who show strong potential for academic leadership, even if they have followed non-traditional career paths.
• You have outstanding English language skills, and if you are not a native speaker of Dutch, you are willing to learn the Dutch language within three to five years.

If you do not meet every requirement, but are excited about the role, we would still like to hear from you.

4.

We are

The Department of Political Science is nationally recognised for the outstanding quality of its programmes ( Keuzegids ). The Bachelor’s programme has consistently ranked first in the Netherlands since 2011, while the Master’s programme has repeatedly held a top national position and continues to rank among the leading programmes nationwide. The department is responsible for the Dutch language BSc programme in political science, as well as seven English-language specialisations within the MSc programme. The department also contributes to a Dutch-taught Master’s programme in social studies (‘Maatschappijleer & Maatschappijwetenschappen’), and the political theory group is involved in the Master’s programme in the Philosophy of Political Science, a two-year, partly Dutch-taught programme run by the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies.

Some of the following key questions drive the research of the Political Theory Chair Group: What can and should be the ambitions for city governance, given urgent urban challenges such as segregation, gentrification and homelessness? How do past and current repertoires of radical democracy, such as communalism, help to rethink political institutions and practices in cities and workplaces? Do corporations have a responsibility for justice, and to what extent are political activities of firms in democracies desirable and legitimate? In terms of the broad methodological approach, the research by both our staff members and PhD candidates can be characterised by a commitment to developing normative arguments that are informed by empirical science, particularly social science and history. This not only allows us to contribute in a meaningful way to current societal debates and policy, but also feeds into the courses taught in the Master’s programme in  Applied  Political Theory.

As for teaching, the group stresses the 'applied' in Applied Political Theory: our courses are not just about interpreting or explaining the world, but also about changing it. We offer a down-to-earth, problem-oriented, and interdisciplinary programme at the intersection of political theory, political philosophy and empirical political science, and focus on contemporary political challenges such as misinformation and polarisation, historic injustice and reparations, gentrification and segregation, environmental justice, political violence and civil disobedience, and democratic innovation. We help students develop strong analytical and evaluative research skills that allow them to understand, explain and assess political decisions in any setting — and to design and help realise necessary change.

5.

We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of one year with the prospect of an indefinite contract.
• Your salary within salary scale 14 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Bart van Leeuwen.  In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application. We look forward to receiving your application.

The first interviews will take place on Wednesday 23 September and Tuesday 29 September. Any second interview will take place on Wednesday 7 October. You will preferably start your employment on 1 February 2027.

We can imagine you're curious about our  application procedure . It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information .

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