Your function

The Chair in Executive Coaching is an appointment aimed at strengthening the department’s Center for Executive Coaching (CEC). This Center is the knowledge center within the VU School of Business and Economics with an annual intake of 42 participants and an active network of circa 500 CEC alumni. Its ambition is to strengthen the academic foundation of the executive (team) coaching profession and build a sustainable bridge between science and practice.

The Chair will be responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of the Center for Executive Coaching. In the coming years, the Chair is expected to take the lead as program director in building and firmly positioning the CEC as the knowledge center for research, teaching and valorization in the field of executive (team) coaching, anchored in the academic context of the department and SBE. It is also expected that the Chair expands SBE’s existing network to business, universities, and other societal stakeholders. The CEC has growth ambitions and the Chair is expected to explore coaching developments – such as e-coaching and artificial intelligence – and develop educational, research, and outreach initiatives targeting executives working for corporations and/or public organizations.

There are a few professorships in the Netherlands specifically dedicated to coaching. This scarcity creates a strategic opportunity for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam to assume a thought-leadership role in shaping the academic discipline of executive coaching, both nationally and internationally. With its strong emphasis on societal impact, interdisciplinary research, and leadership for the common good, VU Amsterdam is uniquely equipped to lead the academic advancement of executive coaching. The Chair will not only enhance the visibility and academic standing of the CEC but also attract top-tier talent, foster impactful academic-practice partnerships, and elevate the university’s profile within the global leadership and coaching ecosystem. At a time when organizations face unprecedented challenges and transformational demands, VU’s investment in this Chair affirms its commitment to equipping current and future leaders with the reflective, adaptive, and ethical capacities required to navigate complexity. The Chair in Executive Coaching will be central to this mission—delivering scientific rigor, practical relevance, and long-term societal value.

Your profile

In light of the above description, the Chair needs to meet the following criteria:

the candidate is a recognized expert in the field of Executive Coaching, proven by formal qualification as a coach and extensive knowledge of the context of Executive Coaching through ample experience in the business and/or public sector. The candidate can relate effectively with practitioners by translating insights from research into recommendations and applications for practitioners
holds a PhD degree in the field of organizational theory or business administration
demonstrates excellence in teaching through a track record of creating and delivering high-impact courses particularly in education for professionals
demonstrates educational leadership, for instance, through serving on educational committees and/or having established and managed (professional) programs
demonstrates research excellence, as evidenced by publications in top-tier academic journals and having successfully supervised various PhD candidates
demonstrates commitment and experience in the practice of Executive Coaching
has knowledge of the context of Executive Coaching through ample experience in business or public sector and can relate effectively with practitioners by translating insights from research into recommendations and applications for practitioners
is visible outside of academia to create impact, for example, through media appearances (e.g., newspapers)
has a strong network with professionals, businesses, and academics particularly in the areas of Executive Coaching
is able to acquire external funding and has a demonstrated record of managing external relationships
the candidate is in possession of basic teaching qualifications
fluent in both English and Dutch

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

a salary of minimum € 6.963,00 (H2) and maximum € 10.138,00 (H2) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Professor 2. The exact salary depends on your education and experience
a position for at least 0.4 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last Undetermined periode

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata
8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
solid pension scheme (ABP)
contribution to commuting expenses
optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

About us

Department of Management and Organization (M&O)

The Department of Management and Organization of SBE at the VU is engaged in a wide range of Bachelor’s, Master’s, Executive and MBA programs in the broader Business domain. Its mission is to lead scholarly and practitioner conversations on the topic of organisation and organizing in the globalized world. The department is organized around five research areas: Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship, HRM/OB, Organization Theory and Leadership. These research areas are closely connected to the VU theme of ‘Governance for Society’, as they all deal with the way organizations are governed to reach particular goals. The Department’s members are involved in both fundamental and applied research, as well as valorization activities.

Members of the department have a strong track record in research by publishing regularly in leading journals such asAcademy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management Studies, Strategic Management Journal, and Organization Science. Many of the colleagues received prestigious research and teaching awards. Indeed, two of the Best Teachers of the entire VU are working in the department. The Department has a collaborative ethos with staff actively working together on research projects and papers. The group is highly diverse in terms of cultural backgrounds and enjoys working in an international environment. It has a high international visibility with many members holding visiting professorships at leading business schools worldwide.

The Department has grown significantly from 60 to 90 fte in the last five years. The Department currently contributes and coordinates courses in four BSc programs (including the University Honors program), and in five specializations of the MSc in Business Administration (International Management, HRM, Leadership and Organization, Management Consulting, and Strategy & Organization). The student numbers in the Master’s program have increased in the past five years, from 200 to over 500. The Department is also responsible for the Master in Entrepreneurship together with the University of Amsterdam. The Department is further instrumental in offering doctoral education for PhD candidates in Business, as part of the Amsterdam Business Research Institute (ABRI). In addition, the department is very active in Education for Professionals, contributing to two MBA programs, the MSc part-time Business Administration program, the MSc Change Management and the VU Center for Executive Coaching.

School of Business and Economics

SBE offers five Bachelor of Science programs, eighteen Master of Science programs, and about two dozen programs for professionals in and across a wide range of business and economics. In addition, SBE offers two research masters, one for economics (including Finance) and one for business data science, both in cooperation with Erasmus University and University of Amsterdam. Doctoral education for PhD students is organized in the Tinbergen Institute for research in economics and in the Amsterdam Business Research Institute for research in business administration. Together with the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, SBE also hosts the prestigious multidisciplinary bachelor’s programme in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).

Since its establishment in 1948, SBE has evolved into a large faculty with about 7500 bachelor’s and master’s students, more than 1500 executive students and over 500 academic and non-academic members of staff. SBE is organized into ten academic departments that are the intellectual homes of its researchers, lecturers and Ph.D. students. In addition to national NVAO accreditation for its BSc and MSc programmes, SBE also has AACSB Business, AACSB Accounting as well as EQUIS accreditation.

SBE strives to combine high-quality education with excellent research, both connected with real engagement and impact, both academically and within the wider community. In doing so, scientists and students disseminate, acquire, and retain fundamental knowledge in business and economics in order to respond effectively to the economic and social challenges facing our world. SBE believes that collaboration, openness, and social responsibility are the only way forward for science, business, and humanity – in line with SBE’s vision and strategy to pursue Science with Purpose.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity

Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Candidates who are interested in applying for this position are requested to send a detailed resume containing educational data, a list of publications, teaching experience and evaluations, administrative experience as well as any other information that may be relevant for the position. Please upload above information and a personal motivation letter. Deadline for application is August 31, 2025.

Submitting a diploma, a reference check, a Certificate of Conduct (VOG), and a knowledge security screening are part of the application procedure.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

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Full Professor of Executive Coaching