Scientific Director Donders Institute

1. Introduction

We seek to appoint a new Scientific Director to lead the internationally oriented and interdisciplinary organised Donders Institute.

2. Job description

We are looking for a proven research leader in a field represented in or relevant to the Donders Institute with a strong academic track record and demonstrable leadership skills. As a key figure in our institute, you will help shape the future of collaborative interdisciplinary research, foster innovation, and create an environment in which people and ideas can thrive.

The Donders Institute is a vibrant network organisation that unites six partner institutes engaged in cutting-edge brain and behaviour research. As Scientific Director, you will chair its Executive Board and guide the institute’s overall scientific and strategic direction. You will do so in close collaboration with the Managing Director and the experienced teams at the Donders Institute and her partners. Your responsibilities include overseeing the institute’s scientific programme and shaping a diverse portfolio that encompasses talent development, expanding societal impact, building external partnerships, advancing public outreach, driving diversity, and promoting sustainable science. A key part of the role will be to strengthen the institute’s capacity to attract external research funding and to position Donders competitively in national and European funding landscapes.

Researchers affiliated with the Donders Institute (approximately 300 faculty, 300 postdocs, and 600 PhD candidates) are based within its partner organisations — including the Faculties of Science, Social Sciences, and Arts, the Radboud University Medical Center, the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. Your leadership will therefore be highly collaborative and integrative, bringing together colleagues from different institutional backgrounds and fostering shared purpose, trust, and collective ambition across the Donders community. In addition, you will maintain constructive links with education within the partner faculties.

You will nurture a strong, forward-looking academic environment and represent the Donders Institute with visibility and credibility in national and international arenas – from international research collaborations to Dutch science policy and broader public dialogue. In the coming years, a key focus will be to strengthen the institute’s strategic engagement and visibility at both national and European levels, and beyond, leveraging strategic networks and partnerships to advance the institute’s mission.

3. Profile

• You are an excellent researcher in a field relevant to the Donders Institute.
• You have an interest in collaborative interdisciplinary science and an excellent international reputation.
• You have experience in academic leadership and the ability to guide teams and programmes.
• You possess the ability to build networks that contribute to the (inter)national visibility and positioning of a research organisation.
• You have a collaborative, empathetic, and empowering leadership style.
• You have the ability to lead with steadiness, clarity, and integrity, balancing long-term ambition with practical decision-making.
• You inspire trust and connection, bringing together a diverse community and representing it externally with credibility and enthusiasm.
• You have the potential to develop a clear and forward-looking vision for the institute’s research, and the capacity to translate this into shared priorities and strategy.
• You possess the skills to navigate complex governance structures, connect across disciplines, and build alignment between autonomous partners.
• You have a genuine commitment to developing talent and team science and actively nurturing an environment that values collaboration and individual growth.
• You show dedication to a culture of social safety, inclusion, open dialogue, and mutual respect, where diverse perspectives are encouraged and heard.
• You have experience fostering productive links between research and education, ensuring that scientific excellence informs and enriches teaching environments.

4. We are

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 4 years, with the possibility of an extension for another 4 years. You will dedicate 0.5 FTE to leading the Donders Institute and 0.5 FTE to your own research and/or teaching activities. The appointment will be at the level of Full Professor at one of the partner Faculties.
• Your salary within salary scale H1 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. 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. 
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. 
• 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. 

6. Practical information and applying

An executive search exercise is being undertaken by Perrett Laver to assist the Appointment Committee in identifying the widest possible field of qualified candidates and assisting in the assessment of candidates against the requirements for the role. All information regarding the application procedure can be found on Perrett Laver's website. Please click on the button below. 

Informal enquiries and questions can be directed to Erik Hafner at +31 (0)202 404 379, or by email at erik.hafner@perrettlaver.com.