Postdoctoral Researcher: Effectiveness, Integrity And Synergies Of Cooperative Climate Action

This two-year position is part of a broader research initiative investigating whether collaborative arrangements between non-state actors (e.g. companies, developers, investors, local communities and NGOs) and public actors (national and subnational governments), or ‘cooperative climate initiatives’ (CCIs), can play a role in strengthening global climate governance and accelerating sustainable transformations. The research particularly focuses on non-state and subnational actors and their contributions to climate action, with a special emphasis on the built environment.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will lead quantitative and/or mixed methodology analyses assessing the effectiveness, credibility and integrity of CCIs, with a focus on the trade-offs and synergies between adaptation and mitigation objectives. The research will also examine the built environment as a sector where these synergies and trade-offs are particularly relevant in CCIs that include, for example, developers, construction companies, investors and municipalities. You will collaborate with project partners in the Climate Action, Measurement, Data and Analysis (CAMDA) and Achieving High Integrity Voluntary Climate Action (ACHIEVE) projects to ensure methodological rigour and maximise policy impact.

Profile

• You will conduct high-quality research on CCIs, focusing on trade-offs and synergies between adaptation and mitigation goals, particularly in the built environment.
• You will engage with policymakers, transnational city networks and other stakeholders to ensure the policy relevance of your research.
• You will publish research findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and contribute to policy briefs and reports.
• You will present your research at international conferences and workshops.
• You will contribute to teaching at the graduate and/or undergraduate level.
• You have a PhD in environmental studies, climate policy, urban studies, economics, political science, environmental sciences, or a related field.
• You have a strong background in quantitative research methods, including statistical modelling, data analysis, machine learning, and/or GIS analysis.
• You have proven expertise in climate action, governance and/or urban sustainability.
• You are familiar with climate policy frameworks such as NDCs, net-zero targets, and the SDGs, as well as non-state and subnational governance structures.
• It is an advantage if you have experience with research on climate change adaptation and/or mitigation policies, climate action in the built environment, and/or urban climate policy.
• It is desirable that you have proficiency in R, Python, SQL, or equivalent programming languages.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English (Dutch proficiency is an advantage).
• You are able to work independently while actively contributing to interdisciplinary and collaborative research environments

We are

We are a dynamic, diverse and interdisciplinary team of researchers examining the integrity and effectiveness of non-state, subnational and cooperative voluntary climate action. Our work spans the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at the Nijmegen School of Management and the Department of Environmental Science at the Faculty of Science. Through high-quality research, publications and knowledge exchange, we strive to make a meaningful impact both academically and in practice.

Our team collaborates closely with internationally renowned researchers to explore the emergence, legitimacy, integrity, influence and impacts of climate action worldwide.

As a member of our team, you will join a welcoming and collaborative research environment where openness, teamwork and intellectual curiosity are highly valued. We foster an inclusive space for sharing ideas, exploring innovative approaches and supporting professional development.

Radboud University

At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Will you also contribute to making the world a little better? You have a part to play.

If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account and read stories from our colleagues.

Nijmegen School of Management
At Nijmegen School of Management, one of the seven faculties within Radboud University in the Netherlands, we have a clear aim: we enable students, institutions and companies, social actors, and governments to play their part in the transformations towards a sustainable society through high-quality scientific research and education. With more than 4,500 curious students and more than 450 dedicated employees, we form a dynamic community.

Our mission ‘Responsible governance for sustainable societies’ is driven by the ambition to make a difference in the world. At Nijmegen School of Management, we understand management as a broad concept referring to the collective and organised pursuit (responsible governance) of a better world (sustainable societies). We study and teach management at the level of public and private organisations. In this context, we examine how to balance economic, ecological, and social values in a sustainable way. This aim is in line with Radboud University's mission to contribute through teaching and research to a ‘free, healthy world with equal opportunities for all’.

At Nijmegen School of Management, academic research and teaching are carried out in following areas: Business Administration, Economics and Business Economics, Political Science, Public Administration, Human Geography, Spatial Planning, and Environment. Our approach to teaching and research is evolving from multidisciplinarity, where we study societal challenges from different disciplinary backgrounds, to interdisciplinarity (integrating disciplinary perspectives for synergy) and transdisciplinarity (involving non-academic stakeholders).

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an important source of inspiration for our work. Our work focuses on the themes Social economy, Resilient society and Sustainable environment. At Nijmegen School of Management, we have our eyes on the world of the future, in which sustainability and responsibility are central values. Together we are creating a better world for everyone.

We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 2 years.
• Your salary will start at a maximum of step 5 in salary scale 10, depending on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Practical information and applying

Address your letter of application to Sander Chan. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Friday 9 May. You will preferably start your employment on 1 July 2025.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.