Research manager business and law

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20 000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Together we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. 

The Faculty of Law’s Research Group Business and Law is looking for a full-time research manager (postdoctoral level)

Position

We seek a skilled and motivated research manager with excellent communication skills to provide support in developing the research programme of the Research Group Business and Law, in particular for the overarching research themes of digitalization and/or sustainability.

• You will stimulate external research funding acquisition and support other activities within the research group, allowing its research program to flourish and grow, while helping to create a dynamic and stimulating work environment that catalyzes collaborative research. To that end, you will work closely together with the research group director (prof. dr. Wouter Verheyen) and the steering committee (including all professorial staff).
• You inform, guide and provide support in planning, attracting and managing external funding for research and innovation.
• You are proactive in designing and writing project applications and bring together national and international partners to this end. In particular, you facilitate multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research, suggesting collaborations and synergies inside and outside the research group.
• To stimulate the information flow and create cohesion within the research group, you will help to organize seminars and workshops, and prepare and participate in the research group’s strategic meetings in which you and the promoters will prepare and coordinate the group’s research strategy.
• You will facilitate international collaboration, summer schools and research stays by external researchers within the research group (e.g. by advertising FWO and Marie Curie grant possibilities on international forums and international calls).
• To maximize the dissemination of project results, and to increase visibility of the research group, you will help to develop and implement an active communication strategy towards the general public as well as relevant actors and stakeholders (e.g. policy makers and public sector actors, societal and business interests and media).
• You are prepared to take up a limited teaching assignment (e.g. a (methodological) course unit in one of the master programmes and assessing master theses).
• You take on internal and external assignments of scientific and social service.

In your role, you take instructions and regulations into account with a view to achieving predefined objectives.

Profile

• You hold a doctoral degree (PhD) in law or other social or human sciences, with proven affinity of legal research. This is a condition of admissibility.
• Relevant post-doctoral experience is appreciated.
• You have experience with scientific proposal writing, as well as research management and research outreach/communication to society. You have knowledge of regional, federal and international research funding opportunities.
• You are creative, proactive and quality-oriented. You possess good planning and organizational skills. You like collaborating with researchers of the Business and Law research groups, funding bodies, and potential partners in collaborative research.
• You are familiar with legal analysis and/or other qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. Experience in publishing in international scientific journals and relevant experience in empirical and/or interdisciplinary research are pluses.
• You have experience in project management.
• You are proficient in Microsoft365.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English, including an ability to present effectively to both academic and non-academic audiences. Good knowledge of Dutch would be appreciated. The University of Antwerp supports international staff members on an integration trajectory and offers tailor-made language coaching in compliance with Flander’s statutory language regulations.
• You are a flexible and integer person, highly motivated, collaborative and a team-player. You will  have an opportunity to develop your research skills and expertise further within a high-quality research group with a large international network while supporting the research group.

What we offer

• We offer a permanent contract as a project coordinator for an indefinite period (there is funding for 3 years. If the funding can be extended, the appointment can be renewed following a positive evaluation.)  
• The planned start date is 1 September 2024 or as soon as possible after that date.
• You will receive a gross monthly salary as a project coordinator within pay band 8.1-10.1 of the pay scales of the Administrative and Technical Staff. Your entry-level grade (usually grade 8) depends on your relevant professional experience.
• You will receive meal vouchers, ecocheques, internet-connectivity allowance, group insurance, an income protection insurance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• We offer flexible working hours.
• You will have 40 days of annual leave and collective leave for 1 week when the university is closed, between Christmas and New Year.
• You will do most of your work at the City Campus in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this job through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including Monday 6 May 2024 (by midnight Brussels time). Applications submitted after this deadline will be declared inadmissible. Click on 'apply for job', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following documents:
  • a motivation letter containing the following sections (each section max. 2,000 characters):
    • Why are you applying for this position and how do the position and the research group suit you?
    • What unique skills you possess can contribute to this position and what skills would you like to strengthen in this position?
  • your (academic) CV that includes the following items (each item max. 2,000 characters):
    • your strengths and skills as a researcher
    • -your core achievements in research. Zoom in on 2-3 achievements and explain the importance.
    • your core achievements in teamwork, management and leadership. Zoom in on 2 to 3 achievements and explain the importance.
    • your core achievements in social impact/dissemination to society. Zoom in on 2 to 3 achievements and explain the importance.
  • If possible, please provide one or more recommendation letters and reference contacts.
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Please make a note of the following date: Thursday 6 June 2024 (interview).
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the Frequently Asked Questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerp.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact dr. Wouter Verheyen (director of the Government and Law research group), wouter.verheyen@uantwerpen.be.

The University of Antwerp is a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.