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.

Please refer the Job description for details