Tilburg Law School
Professor of Dutch and European Contract Law

Tilburg Law School has an opening as of January 1, 2014 for a professor in the field of Dutch and European Contract Law.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: The staff of the Department of Private Law totals 24 FTEs on 1 January 2013. Researchers at the Department of Private Law are predominantly associated with the TISCO research institute (Tilburg Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of Civil Law and Conflict Resolution Systems) and with TLS research school. The Department participates in the Research Group for the Methodology of Law and Legal Research, which focuses on the methodology of jurisprudence. In addition, the Department cooperates in the EBC (European Banking Center) of Tilburg University. The Department's to research is based on a doctrinal (and comparative) research of private law from national and supranational perspectives, supported by research from other disciplines (in particular empirical social and economic research).

The Department of Private Law is responsible for a large share of Tilburg Law School's Bachelor and Master programs (Law, the new Bachelor in Global Law, Corporate Law, International Business Law, and the Research Master). Our lecturers regularly serve as master thesis supervisors and the department also provides postgraduate education.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Contract law is a core area of private law. Today, contract law is largely given shape by European and international influences, while still relying primarily on Dutch legislation and regulations. The professor will focus on the field of European private law, specifically in its synergetic relationship with Dutch law and with an emphasis on contract law (with attention to the broader field of law of obligations). This should be reflected in both teaching and research.

The professor's teaching activities, which form a major part of the appointment, will be aimed at training students for legal practice and legal research. This forms the basis for departmental revenue and provides a venue for disseminating and evaluating research activities and results. The new professor will teach various subjects in the Bachelor and Master programmes of TLS, in Dutch as well as in English. The professor must be willing and able to teach the entire spectrum of private-law subjects, both in the area of Dutch private law and in European and comparative private law. The professor will also be involved in postgraduate education.

The professor's research activities are to be conducted within the framework of the Department's new research program, which builds on TISCO's ongoing research program 2009-2013 ("Justice needs in civil law"). In this context, the professor will be expected to play a leading role in the Department's approach to international and comparative legal research, with an emphasis on developments in the field of European private law. Furthermore, the professor will be expected to contribute to the development of Dutch private law. A portion of the professor's research activities are to be conducted in conjunction with other researchers in the research program. The professor must also be willing and able to conduct multidisciplinary research. The professor will be involved in supervising PhD students. Finally, the professor will be expected to actively pursue the acquisition of indirect and contract funding. This will involve submitting research proposals to for example the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the European Research Council (ERC), collaborating on other projects and other activities.

Tilburg Law School and the Department have prioritized raising the international profile of our teaching and research activities: the professor will have a leading role to play in this regard by publishing in international journals, establishing and maintaining international contacts and other appropriate activities.

GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT: In the Department of Private Law, the professor will be expected to work with others and play a key role as an authority in his/her field and a source of inspiration for the further development of the Department's international status, in particular with regard to national and European contract law (and the broader field of Law of Obligations). Furthermore, the professor will be involved in the usual networks both within the university community and in the professional field as required for excellent job performance.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS: The Department of Private Law is seeking an outstanding candidate who has demonstrable affinity with the teaching remit, as evidenced by leading (international and/or comparative) publications in the field of European private law, in particular contract law, in addition to publications in Dutch journals. The ideal candidate will be a broadly oriented civil law expert who possesses an international and comparative law profile. The candidate must possess:
- excellent qualifications in the field of European private law, as evidenced by a dissertation and other (international and/or comparative law) publications;
- knowledge of Dutch law, as evidenced in part by Dutch publications;
- a recognized role in the Dutch debate on European private law;
- a solid network of national and international contacts in the field of European private law and the ability to expand this pool of contacts;
- the ability to collaborate with peers and forge links between their own research and research conducted by others;
- experience in setting up and supervising PhD research projects and the ability to provide appropriate encouragement and inspiration to young researchers;
- experience in setting up new, innovative research;
- experience in acquiring indirect and contract funding, as evidenced in part by positive evaluations of research proposals;
- affinity with multidisciplinary research, as evidenced by publications or research proposals;
- didactic skills and demonstrable teaching experience (in English and Dutch) at the Bachelor's, Master's, and postgraduate levels;
- a Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO) or willingness to earn this qualification within one year of appointment;
- excellent command of written and spoken Dutch and English.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Tilburg University offers a good benefits package in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The appointment will be made at the rank of Professor 2.The salary for the position of Professor has a maximum of Euro 7.213,- gross per month and is based on the scale Professor 2 of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities. The appointment will be for a period of three years, with a possibility of renewal.

Tilburg University is rated among the top of Dutch employers, offering very good fringe benefits, such as an options model for terms and conditions of employment and reimbursement of moving expenses.

Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a tax-free allowance equal to 30% of their taxable salary. The university will apply for such an allowance on their behalf whenever the criteria are met.

APPLICATIONS/FURTHER INFORMATION: Additional information about Tilburg University and the Department of Private Law can be found on . Specific information about the vacancy can be obtained from prof. J.E.J. Prins, dean, by e-mail

Applying for this vacation can only be done online. The application must be submitted via the link at the bottom of the page no later than 17 May 2013.