Postdoc In the Transition to a Circular Business Ecosystem

Job description

Are you eager to contribute to moving forward the circular transition in different companies? Are you interested in ecosystem development and passionate about doing this in collaboration with a variety of industrial partners? Then we are looking for you to support our team as a Postdoc for 2 years in the TKI Dinalog project ‘LInear to CIrcular Transition’ (LINCIT) that aims to guide companies operating a linear supply chain to transition to a circular business ecosystem, and organize the associated logistics and operations.

Job Description

Circular economy is at the heart of the sustainability transition, as outlined in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and The Paris Agreement. Our current economic system, however, is far from circular. This is not necessarily due to a lack of ambition – many businesses today, small and large, have integrated clear sustainability goals into their strategic vision. Yet they find themselves struggling with the “how to” question. How to redesign entire supply chains to close the loop? And how to reorganize the associated logistics and operations? One crucial condition is clear: Companies cannot achieve circularity on their own. Circularity, after all, is not a property of a single product, service, or business model – it is a property of an entire system. This project thus studies circularity from an ecosystem perspective.

Once a successful minimum viable circular ecosystem is in place, companies need to manage and scale their operations, possibly involving stakeholders from other institutional contexts (including individuals, companies, regulators), and create the right governance mechanisms to support efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency in their circular business ecosystem. We are looking for a Postdoc who can take a leading role in our project ‘LInear to CIrcular Transition’ (LINCIT) which aims at guiding companies operating a linear supply chain to transition to a circular business ecosystem, and organize the associated logistics and operations.

TU/e is the lead partner of LINCIT. Other consortium partners are Wageningen University & Research, Hogeschool Utrecht, NHL Stenden, and over 30 industrial partners. Together with the TU/e-team, consisting of, amongst others dr. Néomie Raassens and dr. Alex Alblas, you will manage the project and conduct research in scaling up ecosystems.

As a successful applicant, you will (1) manage the project and consortium partners, (2) help in valorizing the project ideas and results, and (3) publish academic articles with your research team. You will apply various research methods, including interviewing, systematic literature reviews, focus groups, and workshops, and surveys to develop decision support tools for upscaling the minimum viable ecosystem.

You will be located in the Innovation, Technology Entrepreneurship & Marketing (ITEM) group and will work closely with dr. Néomie Raassens and dr. Alex Alblas, and several industry partners. In this setting, you will benefit from the strong industry relationships of the consortium. These will facilitate interviews and access to stakeholders and data and help ensure the research’s practical relevance. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to interact closely with other researchers working on different aspects of moving the circular transition forward. 

Job requirements

• You have a Ph.D. degree in Marketing, Management, or Innovation Management, or a related area.
• You have excellent and proven project management and leadership skills.
• You are proactive and have a collaborative attitude.
• You can organize your work independently to pursue project-oriented goals while maintaining intensive collaboration with the team in a dynamic environment.
• You have a strong affinity for interdisciplinary research and industry collaboration.
• You have affinity and experience with stakeholder involvement and are interested in collaborating with key stakeholders in the field and international research partners.
• You can work on complex and challenging tasks while bridging basic and applied research.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, including English proficiency and an ability to collaborate in an international setting.
• You have excellent writing, documentation, and analytical skills.

Anticipating starting date: October 1, 2023

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 2 years.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10 (min €3,557,-. max. €4.670.).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.
   

Information and application

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please reach out to dr. Néomie Raassens (n.raassens[at]tue.nl) or dr. Alex Alblas (a.a.alblas[at]tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. For information about terms of employment, please contact Najat Loiazizi, HR advisor, e-mail: n.loiazizi[at]tue.nl or 040 247 893.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application using the apply-button.
The application should include a:

• Cover letter (max. 2 pages) in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.
• List of five self-selected ‘best publications’ (e.g., journal publications, conference papers, or PhD thesis chapters).
• List of courses you have taken in your Ph.D., Masters, and Bachelor programs (including grades).

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.