Postdoctoral Position in Economics

VU University of Amsterdam

Your function

In this postdoc position, you investigate how climate adaptation strategies are translated into organizational practice within critical infrastructure operators. Infrastructure organizations face a fundamental challenge: the long-term, systemic nature of climate adaptation sits uneasily with existing cognitive frames, project-based management cultures, and competing organizational transitions like digitalization and the energy transition. Your research will uncover how adaptation professionals navigate this tension — and what strategies actually work.

You will be embedded in the TASICI project (Transformative Adaptation Strategies for Interdependent Critical Infrastructure), an NWO-funded interdisciplinary consortium that develops analytical models and governance frameworks for climate adaptation across interconnected Dutch transport infrastructure. You will work closely with infrastructure operators including Schiphol Airport, ProRail, Rijkswaterstaat, and Vervoerregio Amsterdam, spending significant time embedded within these organizations.

Your duties

• conduct qualitative, ethnographically-informed fieldwork within infrastructure operators, including observations, interviews, and document analysis
• map how climate adaptation pathways are (or are not) translated into organizational strategy, asset management practices, and resource allocation
• identify issue-selling strategies used by climate adaptation professionals to generate buy-in from senior management
• study how climate adaptation strategies interact with other ongoing organizational transitions (energy, digitalization, circularity)
• publish at least one article per year in an A or B ranked journal in management, organization studies, or a related field
• contribute to co-creation workshops with consortium partners and stakeholders
• contribute to teaching in relevant programmes at the School of Business and Economics

Your profile

• a PhD in Management and Organization, Social Sciences, Innovation Management, or a closely related field
• strong qualitative and ethnographic research skills, including experience with interviews, observations, and case study research
• affinity with or demonstrable interest in climate adaptation, infrastructure governance, or organizational change in complex institutional settings
• experience publishing in or submitting to leading management or organization studies journals
• excellent command of English; proficiency in Dutch is an asset given the fieldwork context
• a collaborative mindset and the ability to work across disciplinary and organizational boundaries

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 3.546,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 5.538,00 (Scale 10) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience
• a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. Afterwards, the appointment may be extended for an additional 18 months based on satisfactory performance

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
• contribution to commuting expenses

About the project

This position is part of TASICI (Transformative Adaptation Strategies for Interdependent Critical Infrastructure), funded by NWO through the KIC Next Generation Infrastructures programme. TASICI develops and applies analytical models and governance frameworks to support system-wide climate adaptation across interdependent Dutch transport infrastructure. The project brings together researchers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology, and The Hague University of Applied Sciences, alongside cooperation partners including Rijkswaterstaat, ProRail, Schiphol Airport, Havenbedrijf Rotterdam, and Vervoerregio Amsterdam. The postdoc will be based within Work Package 3, which focuses on embedding climate adaptation pathways into organizational change strategies and resource allocation practices within infrastructure operators.

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application, including a CV, a cover letter explaining your fit with the position, and one representative publication or writing sample.

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Questions about the vacancy?

Please contact
Prof. dr. ir. Fleur Deken or Dr. Katie Stephenson
Full professor and Associate professor
Send an email

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