Research Manager Geomatics with application to Environmental Science and Policy

The Spatial Applications Division Leuven (SADL) is a R&D Division of KU Leuven embedded in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences (EES) which in turn is positioned within the Group Science, Engineering & Technology. SADL’s mission is to develop and consolidate academic knowledge and know how in the geospatial information field and transfer it to society. To this end SADL conducts applied research and science-based consultancies and provides academic and vocational training in geomatics at large, and in applied Geospatial Information Science and Technology (GIST) and geo-ICT in particular. Various application and policy domains are covered among which: Environment; Mobility and Transport; Urban and Regional Planning (smart cities). Apart from partners within academia, partners and clients of SADL are public administrations at different levels, including various directorates-general and agencies of the European Commission, national and regional government departments and agencies in different countries, non-EU-institutions like the World Bank. SADL has about 12 staff members who collaborate closely with researchers in the EES- and other departments of KU Leuven, and in other universities, NGO’s and private companies.

SADL is seeking an experienced research manager with an excellent scientific record in the technical and policy aspects of geospatial data, services and infrastructures with a focus on the ‘Nature, Forest and Landscape domain. Geospatial data, especially those obtained through various types of remote sensing, and data infrastructures are playing an increasingly important role for the digital transformation of society, businesses, inc. agricultural ones, and government in this domain. At the same time, there is a clear need to consider and deal with these infrastructures in the context of wider data ecosystems and further investigate their evolution into what are often called data spaces and considering artificial intelligence. Moreover, the functioning and sustainability of these infrastructures will strongly depend on the digital skills and competences of their users. Education and training programmes but also the labour market need to adapt to new and emerging skills needs. The selected research manager will further advance the research and applications on the link between geospatial data, infrastructures on the one hand and the digital transformation of the environmental sector, government and society on the other hand. Thereby, the research manager will attract, initiate and coordinate new research, consultancy and capacity building projects.

You will fit the SADL- team if you are an experienced researcher with a track record and a keen interest in the institutional and policy aspects of geospatial data and data infrastructures but foremost in the technical aspects, and are eager to work in an international setting.

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Responsibilities

• Play an active role in the acquisition of national, European and other international research funding in the field of geospatial data and data infrastructures, with a main focus on the environmental domain, remote sensing technology, artificial intelligence and institutional and policy aspects
• Build capacity, coordinate, manage and contribute to the execution of a dynamic portfolio of national and international research and consultancy projects. Collaborate with, coach and supervise other researchers within and outside the division, including PhD students
• Develop a network of national and international potential partners for participation in regional (Flanders), national (Belgium) and EU- and beyond EU-funded projects
• Contribute to strategies and programmes for skills development in the geospatial and downstream space sector. Contribute to vocational training initiatives
• Disseminate results via active participation in (inter-)national/regional professional bodies, active participation in international scientific conferences and peer-reviewed publications
• Actively contribute to the reflection on the strategic and tactical priorities for the division
• Support the operational, financial and human resources management of SADL

Profile

Only applicants meeting all of the following criteria will be considered:

• A PhD degree in Science and/or Technology encompassing Geomatics and Ecosystems Management
• At least 5 years of experience after obtaining the PhD degree having resulted in (i) a track record of acquired and conducted quantitative and qualitative research projects on/with Geomatics and Ecosystems Management and Policy in the  context of the digital transformation of society and (ii) proven experience in managing research and consultancy projects involving academic and non-academic partners
• Convincing motivation
• Creative, critical, analytical and innovative mindset
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Experience and ambition to supervise and  work with PhD-students and other junior staff

Offer

• Full time position as research manager for an open-ended period with start date 1 December 2024
• Multi-disciplinary and international academic and professional environment
• Leuven, a charming historical university town, with a central location in Western Europe

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Jos Van Orshoven, tel.: +32 16 32 97 40, mail: jos.vanorshoven@kuleuven.be or Mr. Glenn Vancauwenberghe, tel.: +32 16 37 90 69, mail: glenn.vancauwenberghe@kuleuven.be.

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