Research Manager, FAMFLEX Centre of Excellence

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Departement: Departement Sociologie
Regime Voltijds

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. 

The Centre for Population, Family and Health (CPFH) and the FAMFLEX Centre of Excellence are seeking to fill the following full-time (min 80%) vacancy:

Research Manager, FAMFLEX Centre of Excellence

The FAMFLEX consortium aims to advance our understanding of how increasingly complex and flexible family practices unfold across time, life domains and levels of analysis within established institutional frameworks. The University of Antwerp has recognised the FAMFLEX consortium as one of its Centres of Excellence 2026-2031. FAMFLEX brings together the expertise of the Centre for Population, Family and Health (CPFH) (CoE PI prof. Dimitri Mortelmans), the research group Personal Rights and Property Rights (PR²) (CoE co-PI prof. Frederik Swennen) and the Antwerp Centre for Digital Humanities and Literary Criticism (ACDC) (CoE co-PI’s prof. Vanessa Joosen & prof. Mike Kestemont). Bridging the extensive knowledge and skills of these groups, FAMFLEX will develop and apply state-of-the-art social science methods, socio-legal and literary approaches, uniquely embedded in a legal consideration of the constraints of contemporary family complexity. The innovative integration of classical (longitudinal) methodology with digital humanities tools and methods (especially large language models) at the intersection of theoretical frameworks on life course, gender and ethnic diversity will advance our sociological, legal and literary understanding of what ‘doing family’ means today. Within this framework, we seek to fill a vacancy (minimum 80 %) for a Research Manager.

Position

  • You explore new funding possibilities and support the process of writing fundamental research proposals for the FAMFLEX PI and co-PI’s.
  • You follow up on innovations in research of family sociology, family law, literature studies and digital humanities.
  • You coordinate and manage national and international scientific projects.
  • You represent the consortium at project information meetings.
  • You extend the international networks of the consortium and identify new opportunities. 
  • You actively promote the consortium research with the public and with funding agencies.
  • You assist with the publications of the consortium.
  • You coordinate the consortium’s quarterly meetings and organise project meetings, workshops and congresses.
  • You attract PhD students and postdocs for fundamental research and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise between participating groups and researchers.
  • You maintain a website presenting the consortium.

Profile

  • You hold a doctorate (PhD), ideally in the social sciences. You have demonstrable experience in the research domain of the CoE’s PI (family dynamics) and a clear interest in the domains of the co-PI’s (family law, youth literature studies and/or digital humanities).
  • You are an excellent communicator.
  • You have experience writing research grant proposals, preferably in an international context.
  • You have good knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods and/or digital humanities methodology.
  • You can maintain a website.
  • You are aware of the latest developments in family dynamics, social inequality and research methodology.
  • You are highly motivated and eager to engage in several scientific projects.
  • You are fluent in English.
  • You are quality-oriented, conscientious, creative and cooperative.
  • You are a team player.
  • Your academic qualities comply with the requirements stipulated in the university’s research policies; 
  • You have demonstratable organisational skills.
  • Management experience in research is an advantage.

What we offer

  • We offer a full-time contract as a research manager starting from January 1st, 2026 until December 31st, 2026. This period can be extended after a positive evaluation (up to six years in total).
  • Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scale for a principal research fellow in the Contract Research Staff category (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
  • You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, a group insurance, an income protection insurance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
  • An exciting job opportunity in a dynamic, stimulating, multidisciplinary and top international work environment.
  • A dynamic and stimulating work environment at the university’s City Campus;
  • Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

  • You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to 12 November 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the ‘Apply’ button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include all of the following attachments:
    • A motivation letter
    • Your CV
    • A statement (max 1 page) on your vision on interdisciplinary research
    • A statement (max 1 page) on how you see the role of the research manager in this Centre of Excellence
  • The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you (not earlier than November 17th). If you have been pre-selected, you will be invited to a job interview. The interviews will take place in the afternoon on 19 November 2025. (Online participation is an option.)
  • If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be.
  • For questions about the profile and the description of duties, please contact Prof. Dr. Dimitri Mortelmans (dimitri.mortelmans@uantwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

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