Lecturer/Researcher in Environmental Governance and Water Services, Delft, Netherlands

The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education offers graduate education in Delft, The Netherlands, and carries out research and capacity building projects all over the world. The mission of UNESCO-IHE is to contribute to the education and training of professionals and to build the capacity of sector organizations, knowledge centres and other institutions active in the fields of water, the environment and infrastructure in developing countries and countries in transition.

UNESCO-IHE has a permanent staff of 180, of which 90 are scientific staff, while about 250 guest-lecturers from academia and industry contribute to the educational programme. Each year 750 participants (incl. about 200 new MSc students per year) from all over the world attend the various regular and short courses at UNESCO-IHE. The institute has an international staff & student community with English as working language

The Department of Integrated Water Systems and Governance provides post-graduate education and training in the area of water management. In addition the Department carries out research and supports the development of education and research capacity in universities and other knowledge centres in the developing world. Within this Department the Water Services Management Group (WSM) focuses on management and governance of water supply and sanitation provisioning, particularly in developing countries. The WSM Group has the following vacancy

Lecturer/Researcher in Environmental Governance and Water Services (m/f) - 1.0 FTE

Rapid urbanization, environmental pollution and climate change greatly influence the ability of water providers to deliver sustainable water services to consumers. Developing more resilient and sustainable water supply and sanitation provisioning strategies requires water providers to anticipate and take account of (changing) ecological conditions. Understanding the complex interactions between dynamic natural (ecological), technological/infrastructural and governance systems in relation to water services provisioning forms the starting point for a new focus area within the WSM Group.

The new staff member will be engaged in developing innovative research on environmental governance and water services in cooperation with colleagues at UNESCO-IHE and partner institutes and translating research outputs in educational and training activities.

Responsibilities

• Lecture and coordinate courses in the Water Management MSc programme related to environmental governance and water services;
• Initiate, develop and implement research projects in the field of environmental governance and water services management;
• Co-supervise MSc, PhD and Post-doc research;
• Develop innovative post-graduate education and professional training programmes;
• Acquire and contribute to international capacity development, advisory and other projects.

Requirements

The candidate

• has recently obtained a PhD degree related to water services governance and management and/or environmental governance.
• has a demonstrable interest in the interaction between environmental dynamics and water services provisioning.
• has a keen interest in conducting interdisciplinary research;
• is motivated to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment;
• is fluent in English, and preferably also in Spanish and/or French;
• has affinity with, and preferably working experience in, developing countries and/or countries in transition.

Terms of employment

This position is, in principle, a permanent one. Following 2 consecutive temporary contracts, candidates will be considered for a permanent contract after 4 years. The position is based in Delft, The Netherlands. A competitive salary (grade 10/11) is offered depending on qualifications and experience in accordance with the conditions of employment for Dutch Universities. The appointment implies entry into the Netherlands' Civil Service Pension Fund (ABP). Candidates must be prepared to carry out short-term missions abroad.

Information and application

Additional information can be obtained from Dr. Klaas Schwartz, Head of the Water Services Management Group (k.schwartz@unesco-ihe.org ).

Applications (in English), should respond specifically to the requirements, and can be sent until 15 May 2015 (closing date) including curriculum vitae, statement of teaching and research interests, motivation letter and the names and contact details of two contactable referees (as one PDF file with your family name as the filename), to UNESCO-IHE, attn. Human Resource Management (E: vacancies@unesco-ihe.org ), PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands, stating vacancy-number 15-IWSG-03 Reactions from staffing agencies and other 3rd parties are not appreciated.