"PhD Candidate: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Procurement"

Welcome to Maastricht University! The world is changing rapidly, and so is procurement. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how organizations collaborate, make decisions, and develop talent. At the Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE), you will explore how AI transforms procurement leadership, buyer–supplier relationships, and the skills professionals need to thrive in the future.

PhD Candidate: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Procurement Our goal: To investigate how emerging AI technologies redefine procurement strategies, leadership practices, and workforce development. Your colleagues: You will join an interdisciplinary research team at the School of Business and Economics (SBE), working closely with industry partners such as NEVI, DEXLab, UMIO, and Brightlands. Supervision by Prof. Dr. Frank Rozemeijer, Prof. Dr. Dominik Mahr, and Dr. Jonas Heller.

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct original research into the ways AI is transforming procurement across industries. You will study leadership challenges, digital transformation of procurement tasks, and organizational interventions to support workforce upskilling. Your research will combine a variety of methods—from interviews and longitudinal field studies to experimental designs and intervention evaluations. Along the way, you will engage with a vibrant community of practice, bringing together academia, industry, and public-sector stakeholders.

Academic responsibilities include publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at leading conferences, and contributing to the broader academic and practitioner communities around digital procurement transformation. You will also take PhD coursework to strengthen your skills and contribute to teaching activities at SBE. Are you ready to help shape the AI-driven future of procurement? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring

It’s not about ticking boxes – it’s about your mindset and ambitions. Do you recognize yourself here? Academic foundation – You hold a (Research) Master’s degree in Purchasing & Supply Management, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Organizational Behaviour, or a related field. Curious and impact-driven – You are passionate about the intersection of AI, procurement, and digital transformation, and eager to create both academic and practical impact. Research skills – You are ready to design and conduct empirical studies, including qualitative and quantitative approaches. Collaborative spirit – You enjoy working in a team and building connections with academic, industry, and public-sector partners. Strong communicator – You can present complex ideas clearly, both in writing and in dialogue, to diverse audiences.

What we offer

As PhD Candidate: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Procurement at School of Business and Economics, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you: Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €3059,00 and €3881,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply. An employment contract for a period of 18 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 2,5 years will follow. At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply.