Assistant Professor (0.75 FTE)

Vacancy number:  16718

Job type:  Academic staff

Contract hours min:  28

Contract hours max:  29

Location:  Leiden

Applying is possible up to and including:  16 juli 2026

The International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL) and Europa Institute at the Faculty of Law seek to recruit an

Assistant Professor (0.75 FTE)

Vacancy number 16718

What you will do

The Assistant Professor (universitair docent) is expected to teach and conduct research in EU law, with a focus on competition law and environmental law related to air transport.

The Assistant Professor will contribute to a focused research agenda, contributing to the Faculty’s research focus area on sustainability and law and the research programme on the progression of EU law: accommodating change and upholding values and within the.

The Assistant Professor will be expected to supervise doctoral work and seek out, secure and perform external research funded by third parties.

In terms of education, the Assistant Professor in Space Law will contribute to the Advanced Master of Laws (LL.M.) programme in Air and Space Law, including the blended learning variant, and a bachelor’s course on Aerospace Law, and the Advanced LL.M. programme in European and International Business Law; teaching is conducted in English. The Assistant Professor will also supervise bachelor and master theses.

The IIASL and Europa Institute benefit from extensive networks of alumni and professionals working in the aviation and space sectors and EU law and policy, respectively.

The Assistant Professor will be appointed 0.5 FTE at the IIASL. The IIASL regularly organises international activities and engages in collaborative and contract research. The Assistant Professor will help to maintain and grow the network and support its activities. The Assistant professor will be appointed for 0.25 FTE at the department of European law, and will also contribute to the broader activities of this department, as well as bridging the work of the IIASL and the department of European law.

Where you will work

The Faculty of Law is based in both Leiden and The Hague and, with over 7,000 students and approximately 600 staff members, is one of the largest law faculties in the Netherlands. Yet, in all its diversity, it is still known for its ability to provide education on a small scale. The Faculty focuses on multi-faceted high-level teaching and research, both nationally and internationally. It does so by working with talented people and stimulating and supporting them in their professional and personal ambitions. The Faculty is housed in the beautifully restored Kamerlingh Onnes Building on the Steenschuur in Leiden. Working for the Leiden Law School means working in an inspiring scientific environment. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/law.

Lectures in Air Law began at Leiden University in 1938, with a Chair created in 1947. In 1961, lectures in Space Law began, and Space Law was added to the Chair, becoming the world’s first in Air and Space Law. Since 1985, the IIASL conducts teaching, research and other academic activities such as the organisation of conferences, moot courts and participation in foreign academic activities related to Air and Space Law. The activities carried out by the IIASL enjoy an outstanding reputation worldwide.

The Europa Institute is one of the oldest academic institutes specialised in the law of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights; it was established in 1957, the same year as the European Economic Community itself. Maintaining a standard of excellence, the Europa Institute engages in academic research, provides teaching and offers legal advice to the private and public sectors. Through its activities, the Europa Institute contributes to the understanding and development of the rapidly evolving integration in Europe. The Europa Institute is home to the pre-eminent journal on European Union law, the Common Market Law Review, and to the Centre for Legal and Comparative Studies of the East African Community (LEAC). It is supervised by a Curatorium of leading figures in the world of EU law.

What you bring

The successful candidate must have:

• completed a Ph.D. in the field of EU competition and/or environmental law as applied to air transport or is nearing completion of doctoral work (note: an appointment as Assistant Professor upon approval of doctoral manuscript);
• contributed to the field through high-quality peer-reviewed publications;
• sound teaching experience, including assessment design and hybrid education or e-learning;
• ideally, a minimum of 3-5 years of prior experience working in higher education; and
• excellent oral and written communication skills, and strong interpersonal skills.

The candidate must also be:

• willing to travel and to participate in national and international events and conferences;
• proficient in general computer skills and experience with electronic collaboration tools; and
• willing to learn the Dutch language.

The working language of the IIASL and Europa Institute is English.
 

If you immediately recognise yourself in this profile, or if do you not quite meet all the requirements, but you believe that this is the right job for you, we look forward to your application!

What we offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.

You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer:

• An initial 18-month fixed term appointment with a view to a permanent contract and a long-term academic career trajectory, subject to performance.. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary between €4728 - €6433 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (Scale 11);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme;
• For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/jobapplication-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification. If the successful applicant does not already possess this qualification or its equivalent, the applicant must be willing to obtain this Qualification within two years.
 

For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

What we value

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent.

Want to apply or find out more?

If you want to apply straight away, click the application button.
Applicants should submit online a letter of interest accompanied by a current CV. You should also submit the names and contact details of two (2) referees who will only be contacted later and with your consent.

If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact IIASL Secretariat, at [email protected]. You can apply until 16 juli 2026.

To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions
 

• We ensure that our lecturers have a good level of English competency. Lectures who teach subjects in English have a minimum level of C1 for their English proficiency.
• Leiden University expects faculty members to obtain the Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO). If the new employee does not yet hold this qualification or its equivalent, they must be willing to obtain it within two years.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this.