PhD Position in Management — Purpose-Driven Companies & the Belgian SMIC Model
lourim | Louvain-la-Neuve, Mons
PhD Position in Management — Purpose-Driven Companies & the Belgian SMIC Model
UCLouvain (Louvain School of Management) & ICHEC Brussels Management School
About the Project
The Louvain School of Management of UCLouvain and ICHEC Brussels Management School are seeking a motivated PhD candidate to join a research project on purpose-driven companies and the emerging Belgian Société à Mission d'Intérêt Commun (SMIC) framework.
The project - titled "From Purpose to Accountability: Studying the Belgian SMIC as a Legal and Managerial Transformation Device" - examines how companies design, adopt, and implement purpose-driven legal statuses. It combines comparative legal analysis, longitudinal qualitative case studies, and accountability research to understand whether and how law, governance, performance measurement, and reporting can jointly support credible purpose-driven business. The project is anchored in close collaboration with field actors including Kaya, EcoRes, and Corporate ReGeneration, ensuring direct access to companies at key moments of their transformation.
The research is structured around three interrelated studies: a comparative analysis of purpose-driven legal frameworks in Europe and the US; a longitudinal multiple-case study of companies preparing to adopt the SMIC status; and an examination of how impact measurement, reporting, and accountability systems are built and used in practice.
Please note: Funding for this position is not yet confirmed. The plan is to apply jointly with the selected candidate to the F.R.S.-FNRS FRESH doctoral fellowship (FRESH-B1 instrument). Candidates are encouraged to consult the FRESH program before applying:
- FRESH-B1 instrument details: https://www.frs-fnrs.be/docs/Reglement-et-documents/FRS-FNRS_Mini-guide_Bourses_FRESH_2025_EN.pdf
Your Profile
Required:
- Master's degree (or equivalent) in management, business, law, political sciences, or a related social science — obtained with at least distinction (≥ 14/20 or equivalent) from a recognized university or management school;
- Minimum B2 level in English (written and oral); strong written communication skills in both English and French are an asset;
- Genuine interest in purpose-driven business, corporate governance, sustainability, and/or social enterprise;
- Intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, and capacity for independent work;
- Ability to manage a research agenda, meet deadlines, and work across institutions.
Assets:
- Prior experience with qualitative research methods (interviews, case studies, participant observation);
- Familiarity with corporate law, hybrid organizing, or sustainability performance literature;
- Experience in or affinity for interdisciplinary research environments.
What We Offer
- A stimulating interdisciplinary research environment at the intersection of management, law, and sustainability;
- Close supervision by an experienced academic team across two institutions;
- Privileged access to field actors and companies engaged in purpose-driven transformation in Belgium;
- High-impact research helping for-profit companies adopt social and environmental governance models;
- Integration into a broader research network including international collaborators.
Supervisory Team
- Valérie Swaen (UCLouvain, Louvain School of Management); expertise in CSR and sustainability management;
- Grégory De Boe (UCLouvain and ICHEC Brussels Management School); expertise at the intersection of law, management, and public policy.
How to Apply
Send your application electronically to both supervisors before 15 June 2026:
Application file (in English or French):
- A CV including any publications or research outputs;
- A cover letter (max. 2 pages) describing your academic background, your interest in the project, and your motivation to pursue doctoral research in this area;
- A copy of your master's degree transcript or equivalent, with grades;
- Contact details of two academic references.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (in person in Louvain-la-Neuve or online) in late June 2025.
UCLouvain and ICHEC are equal opportunity employers. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.