Postdoc Position: Public Toilet Governance, Social Infrastructure and Inclusive Cities

Radboud Universiteit; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 44,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance 8%

Year-end bonus 8.3%

Extra leave days 30/41 days

Good pension plan

Job summary

Radboud University’s Nijmegen School of Management invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to address urban inclusion, health inequalities and social justice within the TOILED project. You will join an international team and collaborate with partners in the Netherlands, Belgium and Türkiye, delivering policy-relevant insights and scholarly outputs.

The role combines fieldwork in Rotterdam with comparative research across cities, employing qualitative methods, ethnography and policy

Qualifications

• PhD in Human Geography, Urban Studies or related discipline.
• Experience with qualitative/ethnographic methods.
• Strong publication record.
• Excellent English and Dutch language skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and coordinate comparative urban research across Rotterdam, Ghent and Ankara.
• Conduct fieldwork and interviews with policymakers, toilet providers and communities.
• Publish findings and contribute to policy-relevant outputs.

Skills

Qualitative methods

Ethnography

English & Dutch

Project planning

Independent & teamwork

Education

PhD in Human Geography, Urban Studies or related

Job description

Postdoc Position: Public Toilet Governance, Social Infrastructure and Inclusive Cities

Nijmegen School of Management

At Nijmegen School of Management , one of the seven faculties within Radboud University in the Netherlands, we have a clear aim: we enable students, institutions and companies, social actors, and governments to play their part in the transformations towards a sustainable society through high-quality scientific research and education. With more than 4,500 curious students and more than 450 dedicated employees, we form a dynamic community.

Our mission ‘Responsible governance for sustainable societies’ is driven by the ambition to make a difference in the world. At Nijmegen School of Management, we understand management as a broad concept referring to the collective and organised pursuit (responsible governance) of a better world (sustainable societies). We study and teach management at the level of public and private organisations. In this context, we examine how to balance economic, ecological, and social values in a sustainable way. This aim is in line with Radboud University's mission to contribute through teaching and research to a ‘free, healthy world with equal opportunities for all’.

At Nijmegen School of Management, academic research and teaching are carried out in following areas: Business Administration, Economics and Business Economics, Political Science, Public Administration, Human Geography, Spatial Planning and Environment. Our approach to teaching and research is evolving from multidisciplinarity, where we study societal challenges from different disciplinary backgrounds, to interdisciplinarity (integrating disciplinary perspectives for synergy) and transdisciplinarity (involving non-academic stakeholders).

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an important source of inspiration for our work. Our work focuses on the themes Social economy, Resilient society and Sustainable environment . At Nijmegen School of Management, we have our eyes on the world of the future, in which sustainability and responsibility are central values. Together we are creating a better world for everyone.

Radboud University

At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.

If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account and read stories from our colleagues.

1. Introduction

As a postdoctoral researcher you will be addressing pressing questions of urban inclusion, health inequalities and social justice. You will join an ambitious and international team, and you will be offered opportunities for international collaboration, academic publishing, conference participation and meaningful engagement with policymakers and community organisations.

Radboud University is seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the European DUT research project TOILED (Towards More Resilient Urban Infrastructures through Toilet-Led Research and Policy on Provisioning, Accessibility and Maintenance of Public Toilets). The project is coordinated by Dr Rianne van Melik and brings together researchers and urban partners from the Netherlands, Belgium and Türkiye. Project outputs include academic articles, city reports, policy briefs and a Toilet Manifesto. Join us in challenging the neglect of sanitation in urban research and policy, and help shape more inclusive cities for all.

Public toilets are essential yet often overlooked urban infrastructures. They shape who can access and participate in urban life, particularly older adults, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, and people with digestive illnesses. TOILED aims to understand how more resilient, inclusive and equitable cities can be created through improved public toilet governance. The project investigates three interrelated themes: provisioning, socio-spatial accessibility and maintenance of public toilets in Rotterdam (Netherlands), Ghent (Belgium) and Ankara (Türkiye).

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will play a central role in the project. You will contribute to the design and coordination of comparative research across the three cities and conduct fieldwork in Rotterdam. The project employs a qualitative and interdisciplinary methodology, including policy and institutional analysis, mapping exercises, ethnographic observations and interviews with policymakers, toilet providers, maintenance workers, advocacy organisations and particular populations that need toilets more than others (older adults, homeless individuals, disabled people, and people with digestive illnesses).

You will collaborate closely with international academic partners at the University of Antwerp and Middle East Technical University, as well as with municipal authorities (those of Rotterdam in particular) and civil-society stakeholders. Together, the consortium seeks to generate new knowledge on urban inequalities, social infrastructure and public space, while translating research findings into practical recommendations for policy and practice.

3. Profile

• You hold a PhD in Human Geography, Urban Studies, Urban Sociology, Spatial Planning or a related discipline.
• You have proven interests in and knowledge of theories on public space, social infrastructure, social inclusion and/or diversity, and preferably an affinity for public toilets as a research topic.
• You have experience with qualitative and/or ethnographic research methods.
• You can demonstrate an excellent academic publication record relative to your career stage.
• You have strong organisational and communication skills and proficiency in both English and Dutch (to conduct empirical research in Rotterdam).
• You are interested in co-creation, stakeholder engagement and policy-relevant research.
• You can work independently and collaboratively in an international research team.
• You have good skills in project planning.

4. We are

You will join the internationally oriented department of Geography, Planning and Environment (GPE) , more specifically the Human Geography group. We value interdisciplinary approaches and encourage collaborations that connect geography with fields such as sociology, anthropology, spatial planning, environmental studies and development studies. You will become part of the TOILED consortium, collaborating with Dr Rianne van Melik and international partners.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 3 years.
• Your salary will start at scale 10, grade 5 (€4,599). The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Type of employment Temporary position

Employment expires 2029-12-31

Contract type Full-time/Part-time

First day of employment 01-01-2027

Number of positions 1

Full-time equivalent 0,8

Country Netherlands

Reference number 27.021.26