Postdoc Collaborative and Integrated decision-making

Introduction

Do you want to help shape the collaborative and integrated approach to decision-making dealing with development and maintenance of storm surge barriers to keep the Dutch Delta safe, resilient and liveable? At the Erasmus School of Social & Behavioral Sciences (ESSB), we are offering a unique opportunity to conduct postdoc research and make a real impact by advancing integrated decision-making and governance strategies in response to climate change.  

Job description

Project and job description

The Erasmus School of Social & Behavioral Sciences (ESSB) is seeking a postdoc researcher to conduct a (approximately) 3-year research project on collaborative decision-making mechanisms for a safe, resilient and liveable Dutch Delta. The postdoc will conduct research in a collaborative research project in the NWO funding scheme. The overall project is called SSB-Δ Informed Decision-making for Storm Surge Barriers in a Liveable Delta.

Description of the overall project

In the face of ongoing climate change and sea level rise, the Netherlands must adapt its flood risk strategy to ensure a safe, resilient and liveable delta. The storm surge barriers in the southwestern delta are pivotal to this strategy. The Storm Surge Barrier (SSB) project aims to assess impacts on the aging and functional lifetime of the SBBs and develop adaptation options for the SBB embedded within wider delta pathways by developing models and approaches for adaptive, integrative and collaborative decision-making.

Storm surge barriers protect the hinterland against flooding during extreme events while providing an open connection during normal conditions for navigation and intertidal exchange supporting nature. They are therefore key for a safe and liveable delta in the Netherlands. The future of these iconic structures as guards for a liveable delta is however at stake due to: (i) aging of the barriers; (ii) changing socioeconomic and environmental conditions; and (iii) climate change.

Decisions are to be made on how to keep the delta liveable under these circumstances. Specifically for the barriers, timely decisions are needed on maintenance, operation, adaptation of the barrier and eventually about the (extension of the) end-of-life time or replacement. Such decisions cannot and should not be made in isolation; they have a substantial influence and impact on people, nature and economy. The following questions arise: What does a liveable delta require in the future from storm surge barriers? What are consequences of different decisions and strategies in maintenance, operation and adaptation for nature and economy? How does an integrated and stakeholder inclusive decision-making process and framework look like to accommodate various values, interests, perspectives and time scales?

In the project SSB-Δ, we develop the required frameworks, storylines, models, data and knowledge and we build a community to support timely, legitimate and effective decisions. We therefore aim to contribute to an Informed Decision-making for Storm Surge Barriers for a Liveable Delta.

Job description

The postdoc “Collaborative and Integrated Decision-Making” will design and implement an engaged research approach to enhancing the decision-making capacities of key stakeholders. The postdoc will focus on identifying from literature and developing approaches and methods for collaborative, adaptive and integrated decision-making strategies on the asset management of storm surge barriers in the context of complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity and in relation to their delta systems and societal needs.

An integrated and comprehensive decision-making approach between the storm surge barriers (SSBs) and the hinterland is required. The SSBs are not isolated objects, since their influence has far-reaching consequences for flood risk, ecology, shipping, spatial planning in the hinterland. Vice versa (changes in) the needs in the hinterland can lead to changes in storm surge barrier management (e.g. change in closing level, maintenance, reinforcement, etc.). A framework is needed to connect the barrier, water system and society and put these interactions in a time frame. In this way, interactions can be identified and compared, supporting decision-making. There is an urgent need for short-term and medium-term action perspectives. This implies that evaluations of the present state of the barriers are considered, as well as maintenance strategies for the near future. Short- and medium-term actions need to be tested on their potential effects on blocking pathways in the future.

While approaches exist that support adaptive decision making to deal with uncertainties in climate change and sea level rise, they currently are not well able to deal with integrative and transformative aspects in decision-making. We acknowledge the need for several aspects of integration and transformation, that of: (i) governance, policy planning and asset planning; (ii) functional requirements on the level of society, delta systems and storm surge barriers; (iii) short- and midterm action perspectives in relation to the long-term delta strategies (avoiding lock-in); (iv) uncertainty on climate change, sea level rise and their impact on societal needs which are broadly defined as flood risk protection, spatial and socio-economic developments, ecology, fresh/salt water intrusion; and (v) uncertainty (lack of information) and ambiguity (lack of agreement on information).

The postdoc researcher will analyze, design and demonstrate enhanced collaborative decision-making mechanisms for integrated delta-decisions that adequately identify multi-dimensional societal needs and impacts. The postdoc research will identify key stakeholders and their various roles, domains, spatial levels, and time frames of interest. The postdoc will identify, develop and apply approaches for not only stakeholder and value mapping but also for joint learning and cocreation. This all for the purpose to enhancing collaborative decision-making capacities of key stakeholders for integrative and adaptive system planning, taking a comprehensive view on integration regarding levels/scales, actors, time horizons and domains into account.

The postdoc will collaborate closely in a team with scientists and practitioners from other organizations, who will deliver input for the decision-making. That means that the postdoc fulfils a central and integrated role.

Specific research and cocreation activities in the postdoc function are:

1. Identify and analyze the uncertainties and ambiguities in the process of storm surge barrier decision-making;
2. Analyze the tensions and opportunities for ‘multiple integration’ (actors, time, scale, domains) and develop design principles for integrated decision-making on storm surge barriers;
3. Identify the capacities that are needed (for whom, when and about what) to deliver decisions considering multi-dimensional impacts and integration;
4. Co-create and demonstrate (with relevant stakeholders) new arrangements and tools for integrated decision-making on storm surge barriers.

Job requirements

For this postdoc research, we are looking for a talented researcher with an affinity for transdisciplinary and impact-driven research, and a particular interest in applying public administration insights to technical domains such as infrastructure, water safety and regional and urban development. We are looking for a researcher with the following background, skills and motivation:

• A PhD degree in a relevant discipline (Social/Behavioral Sciences, Public Administration, Policy Sciences, Organization/Management Sciences, Sociology, or related);
• Experience with interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research;
• Preferably experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods;
• Experience with and committed to engaged, impact-driven research, especially action research and cocreation methods;
• Familiar with the literature on complex decision-making, governance, adaptive and integrated project/program management, water safety and infrastructure and regional development;
• Ability to, and preferably experience with, acquire external research funding;
• Motivated to contribute to open and responsible science;
• Excellent communication and writing skills, team player, development oriented;
• Excellent proficiency in both Dutch and English (both at least at level C1 of the Common European Framework). The project takes place in the Dutch setting, so proficiency in Dutch is mandatory.

Employment conditions and benefits

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is as soon as possible (preferably April or May 2025) and you will be based at Campus Woudestein in Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB). This position is for 0.8 fte. The salary is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of € 4.537 to a maximum of € 6.209 gross per month Scale 11 on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is offered for a period of 1 year and can be extended with 2 years. 

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

-        Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!

-        Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.

-        Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.

-        Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.

-        Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).

-        Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Employer

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programs and in research. Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 4000 students and more than 400 staff-members. The different disciplines are supported by the Faculty Office (for more information, please visit www.eur.nl/essb).

Group

Team Governance & Pluralism (G&P)

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (ESSB) has a team-based structure. The Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS) works with four teams, of which Governance & Pluralism is one. Our team has about 55 members now. We study complex, multi-value, and multilevel issues regarding a wide variety of societal challenges. GoPlu takes the pluriform nature of societal issues as a given and therefore approaches these multi-value issues from various social groups, lifestyles, and identities. We investigate how these complex societal issues can be dealt with by various modes of governance, like public-private partnerships, public sector collaborations, community-based initiatives, triple helix partnerships, and the like. The work of our team is highly valued by (inter)national peers, civil society, policymakers, and governments, expressed by their visibility in design, impact and academic research projects and programs.

Department

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)

DPAS encompasses the disciplines Public Administration and Sociology: two related scientific fields each with a unique profile. Public Administration studies governance capacity and policy interventions. It focuses on institutional power to organize and intervene in the relations between different social, political and economic actors. Public Administration in Rotterdam goes far beyond the public realm to also pay attention to public-private cooperation and the networks of organizations. Sociology investigates the social structures of societies and the way these evolve. Sociologists in Rotterdam focus, inter alia, on processes of globalization and individualization, and the effects of these processes on international social relations, the labor market and family relations. Social issues that are studied under this banner include migration, flexibilization and solidarity. The perspectives of Public Administration and Sociology complement each other. Together they guarantee a highly relevant and scientific approach to topical administrative and social issues. The bachelor- and master programs of DPAS are built on this profile and develop students into scientifically schooled professionals.

Additional information

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and CV, before the vacancy closing date.

The selection procedure consists of one or two rounds of interviews. Interviews are expected to be held in last week(s) of March 2025.

Applying

You can find more information about the EUR on our website www.eur.nl. For more information about this vacancy, please contact prof.dr. Jurian Edelenbos (edelenbos@essb.eur.nl).

We look forward to receiving your application.

Persons of all gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, citizenships, or any other aspect are welcome to apply and join the EUR community.