Research Internship Water and Space

24-40 hours per week | Utrecht | Hybrid | € 600,- internship allowance | Bachelor's/Master's degree

Your progress starts at Berenschot

Water management has made living, working, and life in the Netherlands possible. That system has been built up over hundreds of years and is designed for a temperate climate. With sea-level rise, drought, and heavy rainfall, we are now reaching the limits. Drinking water companies are sounding the alarm about security of supply, and peak showers alternate with extreme drought. Water is decisive for where we can build, work, and live. To become resilient, we must make different choices about the design and use of our living environment, with functions better aligned with the carrying capacity of the water and soil system.

Every day, new spatial choices are made, for example, regarding housing construction, business expansion, or the energy system. To better account for water and soil in these choices, the world of water and soil and the world of spatial planning must cooperate better and learn to speak each other's language. Instruments, methods, and approaches, such as Roundtables, the Water Test, blue spatial visions, and water and soil system analyses, already exist for this purpose. But do these instruments really work, and what is needed to make them better align with practice? We are investigating that.

Do you want to contribute to shaping the course of the Netherlands with research at the beginning of your career? At Berenschot, you will work in a dynamic team of water and spatial planning consultants. You will have the opportunity to develop yourself and make a societal impact at the same time.

This is what you will do

Your research:

You will conduct an inventory of existing and new, innovative instruments and methods, and/or formulate success factors for a specific instrument (a best practice). Together with you and your supervisors, we will determine the precise scope.

Your research is part of the project "Kwartiermaker water- and bodemsysteemanalyses" (Interprovincial Council and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management). Possible results include a contribution to the analysis and toolbox of the "kwartiermakerschap", a publication on best practices, or an instrument toolkit for water boards, provinces, and the Ministry of IenW.

You will thus be part of the "kwartiermaker" story, but will not be confined to a single project. For your research, you can also draw on other ongoing projects of our team, such as the Delta Programme for Spatial Adaptation (DPRA). Similar questions arise there about how to make cooperation between governments and regions truly effective. This way, you will gain extra insights and practical examples and see how different dossiers reinforce each other.

In addition to your own research, you will work with a team of experienced consultants on societal dossiers for ministries, provinces, water boards, and drinking water companies:

• Participate in working sessions and the reflection circle: you will see how meetings with administrators, policymakers, and scientists are structured and process the outcomes into clear syntheses.

• Analyze and write: you will conduct interviews, analyze policy documents, and contribute to reports and publications.

• Take initiative: you will contribute to substantive knowledge sessions and networking events to put Berenschot's water cluster on the map.

This is where you will end up

Berenschot is an independent and autonomous Dutch organization consultancy firm in Utrecht, where over 500 driven colleagues work on sustainable solutions for our clients' issues. We contribute to progress in organizations and society with our advice and solutions. Our organization has a flat structure without partners, giving you influence over the projects you carry out. We always strive for surprising and innovative solutions, which makes us unique. With an open and informal culture, collaboration between different disciplines, and a lot of freedom and responsibility from day one, you will have the opportunity to discover what you consider important, where your strengths lie, and in which areas you want to develop.

These are your direct colleagues

You will be part of the Sustainable Living Environment team; a group of 22 passionate consultants with specializations in spatial planning, urban planning, and public administration. This team is part of the Energy and Living Environment consultancy group, where seventy consultants collaborate on various issues in the physical living environment. You will work in varied project teams to optimally staff each assignment, incorporating governance, organizational design, change processes, and regional cooperation into our advice, in addition to the substantive issue.

This is what you bring

You are a curious and analytically strong student who can connect societal issues with research and practice.

In addition:

• You are pursuing a Master's degree in urban planning, water management, environmental sciences, or a similar field.

• You have an affinity with issues related to water, climate adaptation, spatial planning, or public cooperation.

• You possess strong analytical and communication skills.

• You work independently but actively seek collaboration.

• You have a good command of the Dutch language, both spoken and written.

To be eligible for an internship at Berenschot, you must be enrolled at a higher education institution for the entire internship period. Students from Wageningen University & Research, University of Groningen, University of Amsterdam, TU Delft, and Radboud University are explicitly invited to apply.

This is what we offer you

• A challenging research internship for 5 to 6 months.

• A market-conform internship allowance of € 600,- per month (on a full-time basis).

• Intensive guidance from experienced consultants and subject matter experts.

• The opportunity to make a direct contribution to current societal challenges.

• A valuable professional network within ministries, provinces, water boards, and knowledge institutions.

• An internship where research and practice are closely linked.

• The chance to gain experience in a dynamic consulting environment and further develop yourself as a researcher and consultant.

Stageplusprogramma (Internship Plus Program)

In addition to your internship, you can participate in Berenschot's Stageplusprogramma: a training program of approximately 3.5 months offering training in consultancy knowledge, skills, and personal development. This requires an average of half a day every two weeks. You can read more about the program via this link. All about our Internship Plus Program | Berenschot

Apply immediately

Does this internship appeal to you? Don't wait any longer and apply! Contact Oumnia Makrani via WhatsApp (06 13 33 87 70) or email () for information about the procedure. Oumnia is available on Fridays. Do you have an urgent question? Then email . .

In your motivation letter, do not forget to mention the period for which you are seeking an internship and how many hours per week you are available. This will allow us to assess your application as well as possible.

This is what the application process looks like

After your application, you will receive a response within one week. If your initial impression is positive, we will invite you for an introductory meeting with fellow consultants and your future manager. If this is a good fit, you will receive a concrete offer.

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