Professor of Water Governance (m/f) 1.0 FTE

The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education offers post-graduate education in Delft, The Netherlands, and carries out research and capacity building projects all over the world. The mission of UNESCO-IHE is to contribute to the education and training of professionals and to build the capacity of sector organisations, knowledge centres and other institutions active in the fields of water, the environment and infrastructure in developing countries and countries in transition.

UNESCO-IHE has a permanent staff of 180, of which 90 are scientific staff, while about 250 guest-faculty from academia and industry contribute to the educational programme. Each year 750 participants (including approximately 200 new MSc students per year) from all over the world attend the various regular and short courses at UNESCO-IHE.

The newly created Department of Integrated Water Systems and Governance provides post-graduate education and training in the areas of water management and hydroinformatics to professionals with backgrounds in engineering, the natural and social sciences and management, carries out research in these fields and supports the development of education and research capacity in universities and other knowledge centres in the developing countries and countries in transition. In order to strengthen the interdisciplinary science base, with particular reference to social sciences and their interface with engineering and natural sciences, the Institute recently established a new Chair Group of Water Governance with currently 8 full time equivalent (fte) academic staff. The Institute is now looking for an academic leader of this group:

Professor of Water Governance (m/f) 1.0 FTE

This is a re-advertised position for the inaugural Professor of Water Governance to lead and strengthen the Water Governance Chair Group. The successful candidate will be competent in water governance in general, and be specifically qualified in the areas of local and regional water governance. He/she should be a highly qualified scientist, with field/practical experience, and have a clear and critical vision on the role of social sciences (anthropology, sociology, social geography or other relevant discipline) in water governance, and be able to strengthen the identity of a strongly committed team of junior and senior academics with different backgrounds. The successful candidate will facilitate the acquisition of educational, capacity building and research projects in developing countries and countries in transition, in order to create critical mass in terms of faculty. He/she will contribute to education, research and capacity development within the Department of Integrated Water Systems and Governance, with other academic departments within the Institute, and with partner institutions. He/she should be willing to work on interdisciplinary topics in multidisciplinary research groups comprising, among others, water engineers and aquatic ecologists.

Responsibilities
• Provide leadership in strengthening the Water Governance Chair Group, and facilitate the development of a clear and shared identity and vision;
• Develop a strategic plan that identifies new research directions and opportunities as well as to raise resources to fund new staff in order to create the necessary critical mass of the Chair Group;
• Teach and coordinate relevant water governance courses at UNESCO-IHE and related institutions, at Masters and Doctoral level;
• Initiate, develop and implement research projects in the field of water governance;
• Co-supervise MSc, PhD and Postdoc research projects;
• Develop innovative post-graduate education and professional training programmes; and
• Acquire and contribute to international capacity development, advisory and other projects.

Requirements
The candidate:
• has a PhD degree in a relevant area of knowledge and a strong affinity with, and publications on, water governance issues;
• has an outstanding academic record;
• has teaching experience at (post-)graduate level;
• has a proven track record in conducting interdisciplinary research;
• has a track record in acquiring projects, including fund raising;
• is motivated to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment;
• is fluent in English, and preferably also in any other languages of the United Nations;
• has affinity with and experience in working in developing countries and/or countries in transition.

Terms of employment
The position is based in Delft, The Netherlands. A temporary contract will be awarded for the first 5 years, after this period a permanent contract can be offered. A competitive salary is offered depending on qualifications and experience in accordance with the conditions of employment for Dutch Universities. The appointment implies entry into the Netherlands’ Civil Service Pension Fund (ABP). Candidates must be prepared to carry out long- and short-term missions abroad.

Information and application
Additional information can be obtained from: Prof Dr. Pieter van der Zaag, Head of the Department of Integrated Water Systems and Governance (T: +31(0)15-2151829 / E: p.vanderzaag@unesco-ihe.org)

Applications in English, including curriculum vitae, the names and contact details of two contactable referees, and a vision statement, should be sent to UNESCO-IHE, attn. Human Resource Management (E: vacancies@unesco-ihe.org), PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands, stating: vacancy-number 11-400-01a for Professor of Water Governance.

The deadline for applications is 30 October 2012 (closing date).