PhD Position: HRM in the Semi-public Sector (1,0 fte)

Nijmegen School of Management
Vacancy number: 27.10.14
Application deadline: 1 July 2014

Responsibilities
As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to a faculty-supported research project on the impact of the creation of semi-autonomous agencies in the public sector on HRM practices and individual employees in those agencies. According to New Public Management, semi-public agencies such as the Dutch ZBOs and state-owned companies are able to use more business-like personnel policies. This is expected to stimulate the motivation, commitment and innovativeness of individual employees. In this project we will put these claims to the test in three different types of agencies, using a mixed-method design of interviews and content analysis to determine the agencies’ HRM policies, and an online questionnaire among agency employees to test their commitment, motivation and innovativeness.
In this project knowledge from HRM in the private sector is combined with knowledge from Public Administration on the rise of semi-public agencies. The PhD candidate must also be able to collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data. A full project proposal is available upon request.

Work environment
The Nijmegen School of Management (NSM) is an academic centre of research and higher learning, focusing on institutional and managerial issues within complex organizations in both the public and private domain. There are seven focus areas within the NSM: Business Administration, Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Human Geography, Spatial Planning, and Social and Political Sciences of the Environment. The NSM strives for a multidisciplinary approach whenever possible. Altogether, the NSM employs 220 full-time staff, of whom 75% are academics. Both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are offered in the seven fields of study, which are organized in the NSM’s educational institute. The educational programme is based on a system of small-scale teaching and provides a stimulating learning environment with an emphasis on the development of academic skills. The Nijmegen School of Management has about 3,000 students. The NSM’s research activities are governed by the Institute for Management Research (IMR), which has the equivalent of 80 full-time staff members. It focuses on fundamental and applied research on the development, design and effectiveness of the public and private structures that regulate, govern or manage human interaction. The IMR’s research has three multidisciplinary themes: Responsible Organization (ResOrg), Distributional Conflicts in a Globalizing World (DisCon) and Shaping and Changing of Places and Spaces (SCAPES).

What we expect from you
- you have a Master’s degree or Research Master’s degree in Public Administration or Business Administration, or a related and relevant field that deals with HRM;
- you have affinity with and/or knowledge of HRM in the public domain and/or the creation of semi-autonomous agencies;
- you are enthusiastic and highly motivated;
- you have excellent communication skills, are a team player, and are able to engage effectively with societal stakeholders;
- you have excellent writing skills, as evidenced by a writing sample such as a chapter from your Master’s thesis or a (forthcoming or published) article or presented conference paper;
- you should be fluent in English and Dutch (in order to publish internationally, participate in the international research team, and carry out empirical research in the Netherlands).

What we have to offer
We offer you:
- employment: 1,0 fte;
- in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
- the gross starting salary amounts to € 2,083 per month and will increase to € 2,664 (fourth year);
- you will be appointed for an initial period of 12 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 3 years;
- preferred starting date: 1 September 2014;
- you will be classified as a PhD Candidate (promovendus) in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO).

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Would you like to know more?
Further information on: IMR

Prof.dr. Sandra van Thiel
Telephone: +31 24 3612715
E-mail: s.vanthiel@fm.ru.nl

Prof.dr. Beate van der Heijden
Telephone: +31 24 3615454
E-mail: b.vanderheijden@fm.ru.nl

Applications
Are you interested?
Please include with your application a motivation letter (attn. of Prof.dr. Sandra van Thiel), CV and any required attachments. You should upload these documents using 'Apply directly'.
In addition, your application should include;
- a cover letter explaining your motivation, your interest in the project, and your competence in the research field;
- your curriculum vitae, including academic qualifications, grades, and a list of publications (if applicable);
- a writing sample such as a chapter from your Master's thesis or a forthcoming or published paper;
- a letter of recommendation from a relevant person within academia (e.g. your thesis supervisor).
For more information on the application procedure: +31 24 3611173

Please note: We will only consider applications submitted via our application form (which is accessed by clicking the 'Apply directly' link).

No commercial propositions please.