Postdoc: Mediterranean Community of Practice on Social Innovation & NbS

We are seeking an enthusiastic, research-dedicated postdoctoral researcher to lead the development of a Mediterranean-wide Community of Practice on social innovation and nature-based solutions (NBS), as part of the Horizon Europe-funded CARDIMED project (Climate Adaptation and Resilience Demonstrated in the Mediterranean region).

Your job

CARDIMED brings together nine demonstration sites across the Mediterranean — from the Aegean Islands and Central Greece to Sardinia, Catania-Ferla, PACA, Aragón, Alentejo, İzmir, and Nicosia — to scale up nature-based solutions for climate resilience, combining ecological, digital, and socio-economic approaches. Within this consortium, Utrecht University leads the work on the governance and social innovation dimensions of NBS.

This position centres on “Task 3.3 – Establish a Mediterranean NBS Community of Practice as a Social Innovation Network”. Building on insights from earlier translocal social innovation research (TRANSIT, URBANA, ARTS), the postdoc will kickstart and facilitate a translocal Community of Practice (CoP) of NBS social innovation initiatives across the MED region. Rather than building a new network from scratch, the ambition is to connect and weave together existing communities, NGOs, and local entrepreneurs active in and around the CARDIMED DEMO sites into a "community of communities" — a trans-local metanetwork for sharing knowledge and experience on NBS across the Mediterranean.

Concretely, the postdoc will:

• Design and facilitate translocal community interactions, including social innovator dialogues and workshops, combining online, onsite, and hybrid formats to ensure meaningful, face-to-face connection alongside digital reach;
• Co-organise a conference in spring 2027 (probably in Spain), bringing together Cardimed DEMO site communities, researchers, and practitioners to strengthen the Community of Practice and share emerging insights;
• Lead the writing of Deliverable 3.4: Report on the Mediterranean NBS Community of Practice, synthesising the process and outcomes of the Community of Practice for the wider consortium and EU;
• Work closely with the DEMO site partners across Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Turkey, and Cyprus to ensure the CoP is genuinely co-created and locally rooted;
• Contribute to the wider dissemination and academic outputs of the CARDIMED project, including a peer-reviewed publication on translocal social innovation networks for NBS.

This is a 17-month, full-time (1.0 FTE) position starting 1 October 2026, running until the end of the CARDIMED project (with Deliverable 3.4 due February 2028). It is a unique opportunity to combine hands-on community organising and network facilitation with rigorous, publishable research on social innovation and environmental governance in a truly Mediterranean-wide setting.

Your qualities

Knowledge, skills and experience:

• A PhD (awarded or in the final stages of completion) in sustainability science, urban planning and governance, human geography, policy studies, sustainability transitions, environmental policy and planning, environmental governance and politics, resilience studies, or a closely related field;
• Demonstrated experience with social innovation networks, communities of practice, or transdisciplinary/collaborative research processes;
• Proven ability to design, organise, and facilitate workshops, dialogues, or similar participatory formats, for both online and in-person/hybrid audiences;
• Excellent research skills, particularly in gathering and analysing qualitative data following ethical research practices;
• Experience publishing as lead author in international peer-reviewed journals;
• Excellent written and spoken command of English; working knowledge of one or more additional Mediterranean languages (Spanish, Italian, Greek, French, Portuguese, or Turkish) is an asset;
• Strong organisational, coordination, and time-management skills, including the ability to manage relationships across a large, culturally diverse international consortium;
• Ability to work independently while also facilitating collaboration between many different partners and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the concept and practice of nature-based solutions and their social/institutional dimensions;
• Experience or at least affinity with participation, social innovation or community-based initiatives;
• Experience co-organising international conferences, seminars, or multi-partner events;

The ideal candidate should:

• Be committed to research excellence and impact-oriented research, in line with Utrecht University's mission;
• Actively engage with the CARDIMED consortium and the Utrecht University CARDIMED team;
• Take ownership of organising and facilitating the Mediterranean NBS Community of Practice, including the spring 2027 conference in Spain;
• Lead the drafting of Deliverable 3.4 and contribute to at least one high-quality academic output as lead author;
• Conduct research in line with ethical standards and good research practice;
• Bring a positive, collaborative, and responsive attitude that fosters safe and constructive working relationships across a diverse, international network of partners and communities;
• Show integrity and professionalism throughout.

Our offer

We offer:

• a full-time (1.0 FTE) postdoctoral position for 17 months, starting 1 October 2026 and ending with the conclusion of the CARDIMED project.
• a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.706 and €5.760 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning runs the ‘Urban Futures’ research programme, in which faculty from different human geography and spatial planning disciplines work on urban inequalities, geographies of digital transitions, and urban environmental change. The Department is responsible for the undergraduate programme in Human Geography and Spatial Planning, and for graduate programmes including Spatial Planning, Human Geography, International Development Studies, and Geographical Information Management and Applications, as well as the Research Master's programme Global Urban Transformations.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact Prof. Dr Niki Frantzeskaki via n.frantzeskaki@uu.nl and Prof. Dr Flor Avelino via f.r.avelino@uu.nl

Before contacting via email, please note:

• Interested candidates who contact with general inquiries (rather than specific questions) will not receive a reply;
• Applications will not be pre-assessed or pre-evaluated via email or phone;
• Only applicants with research experience (during or after their PhD) related to nature-based solutions, social innovation, or community/network governance will be considered;
• Only applicants who hold a PhD, or who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting defence, will be considered.
• The 1st of October as a start is non-negotiable.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

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To apply, please send, via the ‘apply now’ button:

• A one page letter of motivation describing your interest in the position and one concrete idea for how to organise or strengthen a translocal community of practice on NBS social innovation across the Mediterranean (max. 1 A4 page);
• Your CV and list of publications;
• Names and contact details of two referees;
• One published paper relevant to social innovation, community networks, or nature-based solutions governance.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we aim to fill this position as quickly as possible, interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.

Interviews will be held on Friday 28th of August between 10:00-13:30 CEST.

Start date: 1 October 2026.