Job description
For our vacancy, starting 1 September 2020, we are particularly looking for a candidate with a profile in design history and theory. The candidate will develop courses and high-quality research on design in a cultural context. The candidate will teach in our interdisciplinary bachelor Media, Art, Design, and Architecture and in the master Design Cultures. The candidate is also expected to apply for external funding and perform tasks connected with the organisation of the program.

Requirements
The successful candidate:

• holds a PhD in Design History and Theory, or Design Studies, or related discipline
• has experience in the history and theory of 20th and 21st-century Design.
• has published in international peer-reviewed journals or at a university press
• has an affinity with interdisciplinarity and has the capacity to work in a team
• has excellent teaching skills and is an engaged and inspiring lecturer, as proven by student-evaluations
• has potential to obtain or has experience with obtaining research grants
• has a basic qualification in teaching for Dutch universities (BKO) or is willing to achieve this qualification in the near future.
• has a good command of both the Dutch and the English language (or is willing to learn Dutch)

What are we offering? 
A tenure-track position in a socially involved organisation. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €3,637 (scale 11) and a maximum €4,978 (scale 11), depending on your education and experience. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 0.8 FTE.

The initial employment contract starts preferably at 1 September 2020 and is for a period of 5 years, with the possibility of a permanent contract.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalised benefits package

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam 
The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. And to be a university where personal education and societal involvement play a leading role. Where people from different disciplines and backgrounds work together on innovations and on generating new knowledge. Our teaching and research embrace the whole spectrum of science – from the humanities, the social sciences and the pure sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,500 students. We employ more than 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible, located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity is one of our university’s core values. We are an inclusive community, and we believe that diversity and international activities enhance the quality of education and research. We are always looking for people who can enhance diversity on our campus thanks to their background and experience.

The Faculty of Humanities links a number of fields of study: Language, Literature and Communication, Art & Culture, History, Antiquities and Philosophy. Our teaching and research focus on current societal and scientific themes: from artificial intelligence to visual culture, from urbanization to the history of slavery, from ‘fake news’ in journalism to communication in organizations. We strive to ensure small group sizes. Innovative education and interdisciplinary research are our hallmarks.

Working at the Faculty of Humanities means making a real contribution to the quality of leading education and research in an inspiring and personal work and study climate. We employ more than 250 staff members, and we are home to around 1,300 students.

At the Faculty of Humanities, the department of Arts and Culture is responsible for the Bachelor’s program in Media, Art, Design, and Architecture as well as the international Master Design Cultures, plus several other masters including the Humanities Research Master specialisation Critical Studies in Art and Culture. Our research is firmly embedded in the university’s various interfaculty research institutes as well as in national and international research networks. For more information on our bachelor, see https://vuweb.vu.nl/nl/onderwijs/bachelor/media-kunst-design-en-architectuur. For our master, see https://masters.vu.nl/en/programmes/arts-culture-design/index.aspx

Application
Are you interested in this position? Please apply here via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter with your motivation, a list of your publications and three referees before 1 April 2020. The job interviews are planned for April and May 2020.
Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Prof. dr. G.E.E. (Ginette) Verstraete
Position: chair Comparative Arts and Media
E-mail: g.e.e.verstraete@vu.nl
Telephone: +31 20 59 86567

or

Name: dr. J.C. (Javier) Gimeno Martinez 
Position: programme director of MA Design Cultures
E-mail: j.c.gimenomartinez@vu.nl