Academic Position in Operations Management

Role: Academic Position in Operations Management
Organization: KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business
Location: Belgium (Leuven campus, with collaboration on Brussels campus)
Contract Type: Full-time
Start Date: 1 Sep 2027
Application Deadline: 14 Sep 2026

Role Overview
KU Leuven is seeking an ambitious, internationally oriented researcher in the domain of operations management. The position is open to both junior and senior researchers, with appointments as Assistant Professor (tenure track), Associate Professor, or Full Professor depending on qualifications. Junior researchers will be appointed as assistant professor in tenure track for a period of 5 years, which, in case of a positive evaluation, is followed by an appointment as a tenured associate professor. The successful candidate will join the Operations Management Research group within the Faculty of Economics and Business, contributing to the faculty’s high reputation in research and teaching.

Responsibilities
Research:
- Publish in international top journals within the field of operations management.
- Attract external research funding and develop international research projects.
- Advise doctoral students.
- Strive for excellence in research to contribute to the reputation of the Faculty of Economics and Business and KU Leuven.
- Show an outspoken interest in fundamental scientific research and perceive opportunities for valorization of research findings and applied research.
- Put research activities at the service of society and aim to contribute to the broader social debate.

Teaching:
- Teach courses in the field of operations management at the campuses in Leuven, Antwerp, Brussels, and/or Kortrijk. Course assignments will take the candidate’s profile and experience into account.
- Contribute to the optimization and continuous development of educational programs for which the operations management department is responsible.
- Supervise bachelor’s and/or master’s theses.
- Develop teaching methods in line with the KU Leuven approach of research-based education with an emphasis on activating students.
- Take advantage of opportunities to further develop teaching skills and contribute to the educational philosophy of the university.
- Uphold the high standards of the university’s programs.
- Note: Tenure track candidates start with limited teaching duties.

Service and Collaboration:
- Integrate into the research group, actively participate in and contribute to professional group activities, and take up internal service duties.
- Note: Tenure track candidates start with limited service duties.

Requirements and Qualifications
Education:
- A PhD or will earn it before 1/7/2027 in Economics or Business with an emphasis on operations management, or a PhD in a related domain (e.g., operations management, supply chain management, operations research) with evidence of expertise in this field of research.

Research Profile:
- Excellent research output or research potential.
- Quality of research demonstrated by publications in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, promising research projects, work-in-progress papers, and/or international research experience.
- Junior applicants must show research potential through the quality of their PhD dissertation or job market paper, and academic references.
- Experience in writing grant proposals and a strong international network are recommended.

Teaching Profile:
- Evidence of strong didactical skills.
- Preferably have teaching experience in the field of operations management.

Skills and Attributes:
- Necessary communication and organizational skills.
- Team player.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Research expertise and/or teaching expertise in port logistics is a plus.

Language Requirements:
- The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, you can follow language training provided by KU Leuven to enable you to take part in administrative meetings. Before teaching courses in Dutch, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required standard.

What They Offer
- A dynamic and internationally oriented research environment.
- Initial commitment to the Leuven campus of the Faculty of Economics and Business, with close collaboration with colleagues on the Leuven and Brussels campuses.
- Membership in a faculty systematically ranked highly by independent accreditation committees, holding EQUIS accreditation and benefiting from extensive national and international networks.
- Practical support for foreign professors and their families regarding immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, and partner career coaching.
- A starting grant of 110,000 euro to facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase, offered to new professors without substantial other funding, appointed for at least 50%.
- A policy of equal opportunity and diversity, explicitly encouraging underrepresented groups to apply.

Application Information
Candidates are asked to submit two additional documents beyond the standard requirements:
1. A document focusing on research background, including a complete publication list and a research plan.
2. A document highlighting teaching experience, including teaching evaluations, an overview of teaching activities, and perspective on academic education.
External academic reference letters (required for junior applicants) can be sent directly to evi.fosse@kuleuven.be.

For more information, contact:
Prof. dr. Jannik Matuschke, chair of the search committee: jannik.matuschke@kuleuven.be
Prof. dr. Sophie De Winne, dean, Faculty of Economics and Business: sophie.dewinne@kuleuven.be