Postdoc in Investor Stewardship and Shareholder Engagement

Tilburg University; Nederland; Hybrid; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Home working allowance

Internet allowance

Vacation pay 8%

Year-end bonus 8.3%

Moving allowance

Job summary

Tilburg University invites applications for a Postdoc in Investor Stewardship and Shareholder Engagement. The role is hybrid or on-site at Tilburg, working 40 hours per week. Start date February 1, 2027, with a temporary contract of two years under UFO-profile Researcher 3.

The project combines theory with empirical methods and aims to publish in international journals. You will study engagement as a relational process, using interviews, case studies, and quantitative analyses.

Qualifications

• PhD or near completion in relevant fields with empirical research capacity.
• Experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.
• Strong interest in governance, institutional investors, stewardship and sustainability.
• Track record or potential of publishing in international journals.
• Excellent command of English (CEFR C1) and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Study engagement trajectories from first contact to voting and escalation.
• Apply empirical methods (configurational analysis, regression, text analysis, coding).
• Publish in international peer‑reviewed journals and contribute to policy outputs.

Skills

Empirical research

Quantitative & Qualitative methods

Interdisciplinary collaboration

English communication

Education

PhD in finance, economics, business ethics, management, organization studies, or corporate law

Tools

Statistical analysis software (R, Stata)

Job description

Postdoc in Investor Stewardship and Shareholder Engagement (24787)

Postdoc in Investor Stewardship and Shareholder Engagement

Department: Private, Business & Labour Law

Hybrid or On site: Tilburg (hybrid)

Contract size: 1.0 fte (40 hours per week)

Intended start date: 1 February 2027

When does shareholder engagement actually make a difference, and for whom? Tilburg Law School is looking for a postdoctoral researcher who wants to answer this question, using, inter alia, empirical data on how institutional investors engage with listed companies. We explicitly welcome candidates with a background in finance, economics, business ethics or management, as well as candidates with a legal background, as long as you can do empirical research.

Your position

Stewardship has become the dominant framework for institutional investors' governance and sustainability responsibilities. Stewardship codes worldwide codify it, and policymakers (including in the EU through the Shareholder Rights Directive) rely on shareholder engagement to improve corporate governance and sustainability. Research mostly studies (public) engagement tools in isolation and measures success narrowly, as value for clients and beneficiaries.

In this project, you will study engagement as a continuous, relational process rather than as a set of separate tools. You will examine how engagement trajectories unfold, from the first contact and private dialogue to escalation and voting, and what makes engagement successful. Central questions may include, for instance:

• What constitutes successful engagement and stewardship, both from the perspective of clients and beneficiaries and from that of the corporate governance system as a whole?


• Which combinations of conditions (such as target company, theme, tools, timing and individual versus collective engagement) lead to successful engagement?


• How does the way investors communicate (argumentation, tone and framing) shape whether engagement works, and why?

The project combines conceptual and normative analysis with empirical methods. Depending on your expertise, these may include configurational analysis (e.g., QCA), regression analysis, (computational) text analysis and coding of engagement communication, interviews and case studies.

You will work in a small interdisciplinary team with Prof. Anne Lafarre and Prof. Christoph Van der Elst (Tilburg Law School). The position is part of a growing line of research on investor stewardship and shareholder engagement within the research program Connecting Responsible Organizations, with close ties to practice. You are expected to publish in international peer-reviewed journals, present your work at international conferences, and contribute to output that is relevant for investors, companies and policymakers. There is room to develop your own research ideas within the theme.

Your profile

• You hold a PhD (or will have completed it by the start date) in finance, economics, business ethics, management or organization studies, corporate law, or a related discipline.


• You have demonstrable experience with empirical research (quantitative and/or qualitative).


• You have a strong interest in corporate governance, institutional investors, stewardship and/or corporate sustainability. If you have a legal background, you are eager to work with empirical methods; if you have a background in economics, finance, business or organizational studies, you are curious about (corporate) legal and normative questions.


• You have a track record, or clear potential, of publishing in international peer-reviewed journals, in line with your career stage.


• You have excellent command of English (at least CEFR level C1). Mastering Dutch is not a prerequisite, but reading proficiency is an advantage for studying the Dutch corporate governance landscape.


• You can work independently as well as in an interdisciplinary team, you enjoy engaging with practitioners, and you handle confidential data with care and integrity.

Our offer

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• Employment of 1.0 fte (40 hours per week).


• Salary between € 4.925,= and € 6.682,= gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile Researcher 3, salary scale 11). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.


• This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 of the CLA for Dutch universities. You will receive a temporary employment contract for 2 years.


• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.


• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.


• Hybrid working with home working allowance (€2 p/day) and internet allowance (€25 p/month).


• Reimbursement sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.


• Options model for additional leave, pension, a bicycle or personal training.


• Moving allowance (subject to conditions).


• 30% rule for international employees (if applicable).


• Pension through ABP.


• Ample training offer: personal development, leadership, education, research or language courses.


• Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities.


• A green, inviting campus that’s easily accessible by public transport.

The selection committee consists of:

• Prof. dr. Anne Lafarre, Professor of Corporate Law, Tilburg University (chair)


• Prof. dr. Christoph Van der Elst, Professor of Business Law, Tilburg University

You will ideally start working for Tilburg University on 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible afterwards.

This vacancy has been published simultaneously internally and externally. In case of equal suitability, our preference is for an internal candidate.

Over Tilburg Law School (TLS)