Assistant Professor ‘Urban Sociology, Public Policy and/or Sociology of Work’

Assistant Professor ‘Urban Sociology, Public Policy and/or Sociology of Work’
Assistant Professor ‘Urban Sociology, Public Policy and/or Sociology of Work’

Published	Deadline	Location
yesterday	20 Nov	Amsterdam

Job description
The Department of Sociology is looking for an Assistant Professor, able to teach and supervise BSc/MSc theses across a range of topics, but with a distinctive research trajectory in urban sociology, public policy and/or the sociology of work.
Do you have expertise in one or more of these three topics? Are you a passionate teacher and researcher? Can you inspire students and initiate relevant new research?
The Department of Sociology is one of the largest and among the leading sociology departments in Europe. It has a long tradition of theoretically informed, conceptually innovative and empirically driven research. Moreover, research at the department can be characterized by its critical and publicly engaged approach to urgent societal problems and questions. The department is thematically broad and pluralistic both when it comes to theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches. We seek to transmit these academic values to our students, by offering a BSc program me (with both English and Dutch as languages of instruction), a one year MSc program me, and, together with the faculty’s other social sciences, an interdisciplinary, two year Research Master program me (both Master programmes have English as the language of instruction).
Research at the department is organized in three ‘programme groups’ – Cultural Sociology ; Political Sociology ; Institutions, Inequalities and Life courses – and is embedded in the Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research (AISSR ). This new position will be embedded within the Political Sociology group which has a rich tradition in interpretative and political approaches to gender and sexuality, health and care, migration, public policy, social movements, urban studies, as well as the sociology of work and precarity.
The Political Sociology group has long been active within the Centre for Urban Studies, one of a number of multi-disciplinary centres at the University of Amsterdam. Various colleagues from across the sociology department also have strong links with the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies. Colleagues in the Political Sociology group furthermore study urban social dynamics, public policy and work through the lens of gender and indeed the group has strong ties with, and helped found, the Amsterdam Research Centre for Gender and Sexuality.
Within the Political Sociology group, urban sociology, public policy and work are also explored in terms of: precarity and exclusion in urban settings; the governance of ‘welfare to work’ recipients; the gendered aesthetics of work ‘readiness’; the consequences of long-term changes in professionals’ interaction dynamics with clients; race and gentrification; gendered and racial dimensions of emotional labour in specific organisational contexts; policy-making for and against the homeless; gendered perceptions about work-care divisions; faith and coping among marginalised urban communities; micro-sociological approaches to how aspirations develop and diminish; migrant entrepreneurship.
Empirically, topics relating to public policy and work have been studied in specific urban contexts, in relation to changing national welfare state figurations, and as transnational networks (among others). Many of these themes also return in the curricula of the various teaching programmes in which the department is involved. While researchers in Political Sociology have largely studied work and public policy in northern Europe and North America, urban scholars have been researching cities beyond these areas and we welcome applicants with expertise in urban contexts from around the globe. We would especially welcome applications from researchers working at the meeting point of these topics, for example those analysing the interwovenness of housing scarcity, precarious work and policy-making at multiple levels, or those developing critical approaches to environmental policies and their impact on urban precarity.
What are you going to do?
In this position you will:

• build your own line of research in Urban Sociology, Public Policy and/or the Sociology of Work;
• develop and provide education in the BSc and MSc programmes;
• present and publish your research to an international scientific audience;
• engage with organisations and groups beyond academia;
• be active in the acquisition of research grants;
• supervise PhD students;
• seek (knowledge) exchange and (research) cooperation with professionals on your research area;
• make a positive contribution to the organisation and co-operation within the programme group and the department.

Specifications

• max. 38 hours per week
• €3974—€5439 per month
• Amsterdam View on Google Maps

University of Amsterdam (UvA)

Requirements
You have:

• a completed PhD in sociology or in another, adjacent social science discipline relevant for this position;
• excellent research skills, as demonstrated by publications in international journals or with international publishers , in particular on themes of Urban Sociology, Public Policy and/or Work;
• original ideas for new, relevant research on Urban Sociology, Public Policy and/or work;
• expertise and experience in qualitative, ethnographic or mixed methods research;
• a proven record of high-quality teaching; you are passionate about teaching and committed to teaching general and specialist courses in the BSc and MSc programs in Sociology, and potentially beyond, or in the Research Masters Social Sciences);
• a clear philosophy about diversity in doing research and in teaching; affinity with an international classroom;
• good communication, social and organizational skills
• adequate knowledge of Dutch, or the willingness to develop a working proficiency in Dutch language within two years.
• the Basic Teaching Qualification or Senior Teaching Qualification (or the foreign equivalents of these – e.g. PGCHE in the UK), or willingness to acquire this teaching qualification in the short term;
• the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

In addition, you are an enthusiastic colleague who likes to share knowledge, embraces open science, is curious, critical and eager to learn. Considering the current composition of our staff, and our commitment to diversity, we prioritize hiring people from groups presently underrepresented within our department.
Conditions of employment
We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week, for the duration of 18 months (12 months if you have previously been employed by the UvA). Contingent upon positive evaluation and satisfactory performance, you will be offered a permanent contract. Preferred starting date is 1 February 2023, or earlier.
The gross monthly salary based on full-time employment (38 hours per week) ranges from a minimum of € 3,974 up to a maximum of € 5,439 (salary scale 11). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus. The starting salary will be based on your qualifications and relevant work experience. The profile “Assistant professor” is applicable in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities .
In addition, we offer an extensive package of secondary employment conditions, including a generous vacation scheme, and we believe it is important that you continue to develop and professionalize yourself. To this end, we offer excellent study and development opportunities.
What else can we offer you?
A challenging workplace with varied tasks and plenty of room for personal initiative and development in an inspiring organization.
Working at the UvA means working in a critical, independent, innovative and international climate, characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with multiple stake-holders in Amsterdam and across the world. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is committed to diversity and inclusion within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.
Employer
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest range of courses. An intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 staff and 3,000 PhD students. Connected by a culture of curiosity.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences plays a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges facing the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.
Curious about our organization and attractive fringe benefits such as a generous vacation plan and development opportunities? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam here .
Additional information
For questions about the position or the department please contact:

• Dr Patrick Brown, programme group director Political Sociology
  Email: p.r.brown@uva.nl

Working at UvA

The University of Amsterdam is ambitious, creative and committed: a leader in international science and a partner in innovation, the UvA has been inspiring generations since 1632.

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Application procedure
If you recognize yourself in the profile and are interested in the position, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the link below.
Applications should include the following material bundled in a single .pdf (not zipped):

• a motivation letter of max. 2 pages;
• a cv, including a list of publications;
• a teaching statement of max. 1 page;
• a research statement of max. 1 page;
• a diversity statement or a diversity section in the motivation letter;
• names and contact details of two references.

The application period closes on 20 November 2022. Applications received after the deadline, which are not sent via the link or are incomplete, will unfortunately not be considered.
Selected candidates will be invited for an interview. Interviews will be held in the week of 5 December 2022, and possibly in the week thereafter.