Vacatures supervisor

Assistant Professor (UD2) of Political Theory

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is one of Europe’s leading international research universities.

What you will do

You will teach introductory and advanced courses in political theory/philosophy, including thesis supervision, within our Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Leiden and The Hague. In addition, you will conduct academic research in the field of political theory/philosophy and actively participate in the intellectual and administrative life of the Institute. Concretely, this means that;

• You develop, teach, and coordinate courses in the field of political theory/philosophy at different levels (BSc and MSc), at our locations in Leiden and The Hague;
• You supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s theses;
• You participate in the development and implementation of educational innovation, drawing on your knowledge and skills;
• You conduct research based on an individual research plan that aligns with one of the institute’s research programs, and present the results through e.g., publications, conference presentations, and other formats to academic, professional, and societal partners, as well as to a broader public;
• You contribute to securing external research funding through national and international grant programs (NWO, ERC, Horizon Europe, etc.);
• You supervise PhD candidates (as co-supervisor);
• You perform committee, administrative, and organizational duties within the institute and the Faculty of Social Sciences;
• You actively participate in and contribute to the institute’s academic community;
• You develop and maintain a (inter)national network within academia and the professional field.

Where you will work

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences consists of five institutes: the Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Education and Child Studies, Political Science, and Psychology. The faculty is home to approximately 7,000 students and 1,000 staff members. Our institutes are dedicated not only to education but also to groundbreaking research that expands our understanding of human behavior and societal structures. What makes our faculty unique is the diversity of research topics, the variety of teaching approaches, and the structure of professional support. This provides you with the opportunity to explore and develop your interests and expertise. For an introduction to our faculty, visit our website: Welcome to the Leiden Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences – Leiden University.

The Institute of Political Science is a broadly oriented research and teaching institute with over 120 FTE staff and around 1600 students, located in both Leiden and The Hague. We are a vibrant and diverse community of scholars from all over the world and a strong commitment to society and the professional field. Our members conduct research and provide education in the fields of comparative political science, Dutch politics, international relations, political philosophy, and decision-making and policy. In Leiden, the institute offers a Bachelor’s specialisation in National and International Politics (in Dutch) and five Master’s specialisations. In The Hague, the institute offers an English-taught Bachelor’s specialisation in International Relations and Organisations and two Master’s specialisations. In addition, we train PhD candidates and work closely with partners in the professional field, such as policymakers at ministries. We are consistently ranked among the best political science departments in Europe. We are committed to building and strengthening an inclusive, equitable and diverse community, and believe that this contributes to our ambition to be a leading institution in the field.

What you bring

• You hold, or are close to completing, a PhD in Political Theory or Political Philosophy;
• The area of specialisation is open, but a research focus on feminist political theory, the philosophy of political economy, postcolonial and decolonial political thought, comparative political theory, and/or just war theory is an advantage.
• You are an innovative and inspiring teacher, with an inclusive approach to education and demonstrable teaching experience (ideally also outside your own research focus). Experience teaching large groups of students and with pedagogical innovation is an advantage;
• You have a promising research agenda and are able to demonstrate the ability to conduct and publish high-quality and impactful research (e.g. As evidenced by publications);
• You can contribute to the Institute’s research profile and affinity with the sector plan themes Societal transitions and behaviour change and/or with the Faculty and University profiling themes is an advantage;
• You are a team player who can communicate clearly, and is enthusiastic about collaborating across the boundaries of your own expertise and intellectual tradition, both in teaching and research;
• You are able to teach in English; the ability to teach in Dutch is a plus. If you do not speak Dutch upon appointment, you are required to progress steadily toward at least a B1 level (CEFR) through training financed by the Institute;
• Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (BKO). If you do not already possess this qualification or its equivalent, you must be prepared to obtain this within two years;
• You live and are officially registered as resident in The Netherlands or are willing to relocate upon starting the position.

If you immediately recognise yourself in this profile, or if you do not quite meet all the requirements, but you believe that this is the right job for you, we look forward to your application!

What we offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.

You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University’s challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer:

• An employment contract of 30.4 to 38 hours per week (0.8 to 1.0 FTE, depending on your preference) for the duration of 18 months, with the prospect of a permanent employment. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities and the intended starting date is as soon as possible, but no later than 1 January 2027;
• A salary of a minimum of €4,728 and a maximum of €6,433 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (scale 11);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme;
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop.

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent.

Want to apply or find out more?

If you want to apply straight away, click the application button and upload the following documents:

• A motivation letter (max. 2 pages); if you do not yet hold a PhD, please elaborate on your current status and expected completion date;
• A CV (including a list of publications);
• A description of teaching experience and teaching philosophy (max. 2 pages) plus a sample teaching syllabus and any teaching evaluations you may have;
• A description of research experience and research agenda (max. 2 pages);
• The names and contact details (no letters) of two referees who may be contacted directly to submit letters of recommendation, commenting on the candidate’s professional qualifications and suitability for the position. Please add these details to your CV rather than entering them into the system.

You can apply until 1 June 2026. A first round of online interviews on 15‑16 June will be followed by in‑person interviews and presentations in Leiden/The Hague on 29‑30 June. We kindly ask you to ensure your availability during this period. If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Prof. Paul Nieuwenburg via [email protected]

• In choosing between candidates, in case of equal suitability, preference will be given to internal candidates, women, the occupationally disabled and employees with a migration background.
• A pre‑employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this.

Job details

Title: Assistant Professor (UD2) of Political Theory

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is one of Europe’s leading international research universities.

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