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PhD position AMBITIONS: accelerating transitions by navigating values in the built environment - Job Opportunity at Universiteit Twente

Enschede, Netherlands

Full-time

Entry-level

Posted: August 25, 2025

On-site

EUR 3,059 - 3,881 per month

Benefits

Competitive academic salary progression with guaranteed increases from €3,059 monthly in year one to €3,881 in year four, positioning candidates well within Dutch academic standards

Comprehensive leave package including 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus, providing significant additional compensation beyond base salary

Generous time-off allocation with minimum 232 leave hours plus 96 extra hours annually, supporting work-life balance crucial for research productivity

Robust pension scheme ensuring long-term financial security aligned with Dutch university standards

Access to state-of-the-art campus sports facilities promoting physical wellness and networking opportunities

Family-friendly policies including both paid and unpaid parental leave, supporting career continuity for researchers at different life stages

Structured PhD training through Twente Graduate School with personalized education and supervision plans

High degree of research independence while maintaining collaborative support network with academics and industry practitioners

Key Responsibilities

Lead groundbreaking interdisciplinary research at the intersection of innovation studies, construction management, and public management to address critical societal challenges in sustainable built environments

Develop innovative theoretical frameworks and practical tools to help local decision-makers navigate conflicting stakeholder values in parallel transition processes

Establish and maintain strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders including government ministries, municipalities, consultancies, and network organizations to ensure research relevance and impact

Conduct engaged qualitative research using co-creative approaches that directly influence practice and contribute to evidence-based policy development

Collaborate within the prestigious AMBITIONS consortium involving TU Delft, Utrecht University, and Avans Hogeschool to advance understanding of transition governance

Bridge the critical gap between academic theory and practical implementation by working directly with asset managers, investors, construction managers, and area developers

Produce high-impact academic publications while simultaneously creating accessible outputs for practitioner audiences

Navigate complex value tensions between stakeholders in real-world scenarios involving circularity, energy transition, climate adaptation, and urban development

Requirements

Education

Master's or EngD degree in construction management, public management, urban planning, innovation studies, or related fields

Experience

Recent graduate level with academic research background

Required Skills

Strong interest in and affinity for addressing societal challenges in the built environment Interest in the management and governance of transition processes Experience with co-creative qualitative research approaches Eagerness to explore new empirical research directions and flexibility to adapt research process Comfort at the interface of academia and practice Effective communication and publication skills for both academic and practitioner audiences Network management abilities for relations with construction and infrastructure professionals Excellent speaking and academic writing skills in English Effective operational proficiency in Dutch (minimum C1 level both speaking and writing)

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The built environment sector is experiencing unprecedented convergence of sustainability transitions, with circular economy principles, energy transition requirements, and climate adaptation strategies creating complex interdependencies that require new governance approaches. This convergence is driving demand for researchers who can navigate the intersection of technical, social, and policy domains. There is growing recognition that traditional siloed approaches to managing transitions are insufficient, leading to increased investment in interdisciplinary research that can address multiple challenges simultaneously. This trend is reflected in major EU funding programs like Horizon Europe and national research initiatives focusing on systemic transitions. Local governments and municipalities are increasingly seeking evidence-based tools and frameworks to manage competing priorities and stakeholder interests in urban development projects, creating a strong market for applied research that bridges theory and practice in transition governance.

Salary Evaluation

The monthly salary range of €3,059-3,881 is competitive for Dutch PhD positions and translates to approximately €36,708-46,572 annually. This aligns well with standard Dutch university PhD salaries and includes excellent benefits. When converted to USD, this represents roughly $40,000-51,000 annually, which is competitive for European PhD positions and reflects the high value placed on interdisciplinary sustainability research.

Role Significance

The candidate will work within a large interdisciplinary team spanning multiple universities (UT, TU Delft, Utrecht University, Avans Hogeschool) plus numerous external stakeholder organizations. This provides exposure to diverse expertise while allowing for specialized focus on their research domain.

This is an entry-level research position with significant autonomy and impact potential. The PhD candidate will have substantial independence in shaping their research direction while contributing to a high-profile multi-university consortium. The role offers direct access to senior academics and industry leaders, positioning the candidate as an emerging expert in transition governance.

Key Projects

Development of stakeholder engagement frameworks for managing value conflicts in infrastructure projects Creation of decision-support tools for municipalities balancing multiple transition objectives Case study analysis of successful multi-stakeholder transition initiatives in Dutch cities Policy recommendation development for national and regional transition governance

Success Factors

Ability to synthesize complex interdisciplinary knowledge from construction management, innovation studies, and public policy into coherent theoretical frameworks that inform practice Strong relationship-building skills to maintain productive collaborations with diverse stakeholders ranging from government officials to construction industry professionals Excellent communication abilities to translate academic insights into actionable recommendations for practitioners while maintaining scholarly rigor Cultural and linguistic competency to work effectively in the Dutch context while contributing to international research communities Adaptive research skills to respond to emerging insights and changing stakeholder needs throughout the four-year PhD journey

Market Demand

High demand exists for researchers with interdisciplinary expertise in sustainability transitions, particularly those who can work effectively with both academic and practitioner communities. The built environment sector's transformation needs are creating strong job markets in policy research, consulting, and academic positions.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Interdisciplinary research capabilities are essential because this role requires synthesizing knowledge from multiple fields to address complex societal challenges. The ability to work across disciplinary boundaries will determine success in developing innovative solutions to transition governance problems. Stakeholder engagement skills are crucial for building and maintaining relationships with diverse partners including government officials, industry professionals, and community representatives. These relationships are fundamental to both data collection and ensuring research relevance and impact. Dutch language proficiency at C1 level is mandatory for effective communication with local stakeholders and accessing Dutch-language policy documents and stakeholder perspectives that are essential for comprehensive research. Qualitative research methodology expertise is critical for conducting the engaged, co-creative research approaches that this project requires to understand stakeholder values and develop practical tools.

Beneficial Skills

Quantitative analysis skills would enhance the candidate's ability to analyze large-scale transition data and validate qualitative findings with empirical evidence Project management experience would be valuable given the complexity of coordinating research activities across multiple institutions and stakeholder groups Policy analysis background would strengthen the candidate's ability to translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations Experience with digital collaboration tools and stakeholder engagement platforms would facilitate effective coordination of the multi-partner research initiative

Unique Aspects

This position offers rare opportunity to shape emerging field of transition governance research while building extensive network across academic, government, and industry sectors

The multi-university consortium structure provides access to diverse expertise and resources typically not available in single-institution PhD programs

Direct engagement with high-level policy makers and industry leaders offers exceptional professional development opportunities beyond traditional academic training

Focus on Dutch context provides access to world-leading examples of sustainable urban development and circular economy implementation

Integration of theoretical development with practical tool creation ensures research outputs will have immediate real-world application and impact

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs 2-4 years post-PhD for research positions, with senior consulting or policy roles accessible within 3-5 years given the applied nature of this research and strong stakeholder network development.

Potential Next Roles

Postdoctoral researcher positions at leading European universities focusing on sustainability transitions and urban governance Policy advisor roles with national or EU-level institutions working on built environment transitions Senior consultant positions with major consulting firms specializing in sustainable urban development Academic faculty positions in construction management, public administration, or innovation studies programs Research director roles with think tanks or NGOs focused on urban sustainability and climate adaptation

Company Overview

Universiteit Twente

Universiteit Twente is a prominent Dutch technical university known for its entrepreneurial approach and strong industry connections. The university has established itself as a leader in applied research that addresses societal challenges, with particular strength in engineering, technology, and social sciences integration. The Faculty of Engineering Technology is one of Europe's largest technical faculties with significant research output and industry partnerships.

UT ranks among the top technical universities in Europe and is recognized globally for its innovative approach to education and research. The university's 'people-first' technology philosophy and focus on societal impact align well with current trends in responsible innovation and stakeholder engagement in research.

Located in Enschede near the German border, UT serves as a regional innovation hub with strong connections to both Dutch and German industry networks. The university's location provides access to diverse case studies in cross-border cooperation and regional development initiatives.

UT promotes an entrepreneurial and collaborative research culture that encourages risk-taking and innovation. The university's emphasis on societal engagement and practical impact creates an environment where interdisciplinary research and stakeholder collaboration are valued and supported.

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PhD position AMBITIONS: accelerating transitions by navigating values in the built environment - Job Opportunity at Universiteit Twente

Benefits

Key Responsibilities

Requirements

Education

Experience

Required Skills

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Salary Evaluation

Role Significance

Key Projects

Success Factors

Market Demand

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Beneficial Skills

Unique Aspects

Career Growth

Potential Next Roles

Company Overview

Universiteit Twente

Data Sources & Analysis Information

Job Listings Data

Sauge AI Market Intelligence