PhD policy officer

NWO is the national science funder and its task is to promote scientific research. Every year, NWO spends more than 700 million euros on grants for top research and researchers, equipment and institutes where top research is conducted. NWO funds both free research that is driven by curiosity and thematic research aimed at social issues. Working within NWO presupposes a passion for science.

The NWO Domain Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) stimulates excellent research in the field of the social sciences and humanities. The research addresses a wide variety of questions, such as: what is the influence of aging on education? What explains the quality of life, accessibility and vitality of increasingly large cities? How do we keep art and cultural heritage accessible to a wide audience? What role does religion play in national and international conflicts? Various financing instruments are available for this.

These positions are within the SSH department of Free Research. This department includes all ‘free’ funding rounds in which applicants themselves determine the subject of the research proposal, such as the NWO Talent Programme, the Open Competition SGW and the Doctorate Grant for Teachers.

You bring this

• has a broad interest in scientific research, researchers and research policy;
• has the ability to quickly acquire skills;
• has good editing and communication skills, both orally and in writing in Dutch and English;
• has completed a master’s degree in the social sciences or humanities;
• has an appointment at a Dutch university as a PhD candidate (the requirement is that the employee enters temporary employment with NWO and returns to employment and the PhD track at the university after the end of the appointment at NWO).

This is where you come to work

SGW is permanently looking for several PhD candidates for the temporary position of policy officer (the total duration of the contract is 6 months).

The temporary policy officers assist in various activities during the assessment rounds of SGW. In a team of policy officers, they help find the right external assessors for research proposals and compose and supervise assessment committees. They take care of the reporting of committee meetings and are present at the interviews with candidates. The temporary policy officers also assist in drawing up justifications for decisions.

This is what we offer you

1. a temporary contract of 6 months for 0.8-1.0 FTE as policy officer A.
2. an effective introduction to indirect funding, an orientation to activities outside academia and, in addition, an interruption of the PhD track that can provide new inspiration to complete the dissertation;
3. the opportunity to (further) develop professional skills, such as cooperation and communication.

The position is classified in scale 10 of Appendix 1 of the Collective Labor Agreement for Research Institutions. The formal job title is program/policy officer A. In addition to 8% holiday pay, NWO offers an end-of-year bonus and an attractive package of fringe benefits.

About NWO

The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) is one of the most important science funders in the Netherlands and ensures quality and innovation in science. NWO consists of a Domain Organization and an Institute Organization. The NWO Domain Organization annually invests almost one billion euros in curiosity-driven research, demand-driven research with social impact and research infrastructure. Based on advice from expert scientists and experts from the Netherlands and abroad, NWO selects and finances research proposals to universities and knowledge institutions. The NWO Domain Organization consists of approximately 750 enthusiastic and committed employees.

Promoting scientific research and increasing scientific and social impact, in short the success of NWO, stands or falls with the commitment, quality, enthusiasm and diversity of our employees. We work every day to create an inclusive environment in which all employees can develop their talents and feel valued and involved. A working environment in which there is room for differences and in which everyone can excel, feel inspired and motivated. NWO’s core values ​​are involved, reliable, binding and groundbreaking.