PostDoc Researcher on Organizational Purpose and Legitimacy Theory (m/f/d)
Your tasks
- Contribute to the development of a grant proposal to be submitted to the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), in close collaboration with the project lead.
- Bring in and develop own ideas to complement and expand the existing research agenda; intellectual initiative is explicitly encouraged.
- Design and conduct initial empirical work, including data collection and preliminary analyses, to support the proposal and future project development.
- Engage with relevant academic literature and contribute to the theoretical and methodological advancement of the project.
- Collaborate on scholarly outputs, including the preparation of joint publications (as applicable to the project timeline).
The position is initially offered for 1 year at 65% employment, with strong potential for extension if external funding is successfully secured.
Project Summary
This project aims to examine how for-profit firms can legitimately implement an organizational purpose that extends beyond profit maximization. While the idea of purpose has gained increasing attention in both research and practice, questions remain about how such purpose can be made legitimate in the eyes of diverse stakeholders. The project draws broadly on literature from organizational legitimacy, purpose implementation, stakeholder perceptions, and moral psychology.
Using a multilevel perspective, we are particularly interested in how individuals and groups form judgments about the motives behind corporate purpose and how these judgments influence engagement and implementation processes. Topics such as institutional entrepreneurship, employee perceptions, and ideological tensions offer promising entry points, but we are also open to new ideas and directions that contribute to this evolving field.
Your profile
- PhD degree (completed or close to completion) in Management, Psychology, Sociology, or related fields.
- Research expertise and profound interest in organizational purpose and/or legitimacy theory.
- Strong quantitative and/or qualitative research skills and experience in designing and conducting empirical research.
- Outstanding English communication and writing skills. Knowledge of German is beneficial but not required.
Application Materials
Please submit the following documents as a single PDF file:
- A short cover letter (max. 2 pages) outlining your motivation, fit with the position, and how your background aligns with the responsibilities and requirements.
- A writing sample (e.g., a published article, manuscript, or a chapter from your PhD thesis).
- Your curriculum vitae (CV).
- Copies of your BA/BSc, MA/MSc, and PhD degree certificates and transcripts. If you have not yet completed your PhD, please indicate your expected completion date.
For any questions about the position, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Dr. Anna Jasinenko at Anna.Jasinenko@unisg.ch
Hiring decisions will be made on a rolling basis. Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview, which will take place either in person at the University of St.Gallen or online via MS Teams or Zoom.
The earliest possible start date for the position is 1 October 2025. Later start dates can be arranged upon mutual agreement.
Inspirational Work Environment
Executive Education
Network
Family & Career
Equal Opportunities
Fit and Healthy
Inspirational Work Environment
At the HSG, as Europe's leading business university, we operate in an entrepreneurial environment where you will meet highly qualified, ambitious experts - both regionally and internationally. For example, you benefit from a modern IT infrastructure and, in our library via HSGswisscovery, from nationwide access to the wealth of scientific information available.
Executive Education
We support internal and external executive education opportunities. Our internal executive education programme offers you a practical, dedicated and didactically mature transfer of knowledge in the form of seminars, e-learning, coaching and collegial advice. We support task-specific external training and executive education financially as well as with regard to the time required.
Network
We promote our culture of cross-functional collaboration and create space for forging valuable relationships - also with external partners. Regular exchanges and internal events help to strengthen these relationships and make them long-lasting.
Family & Career
We provide our employees with flexible work time models with a variable number of hours per week. As a family-friendly employer, we offer part-time positions, 16 weeks of maternity leave and a subsidised crèche, as well as support with childcare during the vacations.
Equal Opportunities
The University enables equal opportunities for all employees and students. This applies to degree courses and work, as well as academic careers, university management positions and the reconciliation of studies, work and private commitments. We are committed to this with various measures in the areas of teaching, research, administration and the Presidency.
Fit and Healthy
We help you stay fit and healthy. In addition to our diverse range of sports activities at the university, most of which are free of charge, and campaign weeks for corporate health management, we also offer you fruit in the workplace. In our canteen you will find a wide selection of freshly prepared meals - from vegetarian to fish dishes - at discounted prices.
Further information on working at the HSG can be found here.
For job-related questions
Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior
For any questions, you are welcome to contact me at Anna.Jasinenko@unisg.ch
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Your place of work
University of St.Gallen
«A place where knowledge is created» - As one of Europe's leading universities of economics and business administration, the University of St.Gallen (HSG), Switzerland, is committed to the education of over 9800 students. The HSG is one of the largest employers in the region and provides an attractive and innovative environment for more than 3300 researchers, educators and professional staff.
