As a coordinator (executive secretary) of the Wageningen Institute for Environmental and Climate Research (the WIMEK Graduate School), you will, in consultation with the director and the WIMEK team, develop PhD policies and share responsibility for ensuring the scientific and societal quality of research conducted by participating chair groups. Your responsibilities include organizing the peer review of the WIMEK Graduate School (once every six years) and conducting interim evaluations. Additionally, you will represent the WIMEK Graduate School in national and international networks.

As a coordinator, you will prepare meetings and decisions of the WIMEK board and coordinate visits from the International Advisory Board. You will participate in various meetings and committees related to WU's research policies and be responsible for external reviews of PhD project proposals. You will encourage collaboration between chair groups and enhance the societal impact of research. Furthermore, you will serve as the secretary of appointment advisory committees for new WIMEK chair holders.

In your role as coordinator, you will, together with the PhD education coordinator, lead a team of six WIMEK staff members, including course coordinators, a communication specialist/data analyst, an (administrative) assistant, and a financial staff member. You will conduct part of the team meetings and, as a supervisor, engage in performance and development discussions with some of the team members.
Finally, you, along with the WIMEK Director, are responsible for coordinating, implementing, and monitoring the sector plan for Earth and Environmental Sciences within WUR.

For this position, we are seeking a professional with affinity for the WIMEK field, preferably holding a Ph.D., who is independent, proactive, and results-oriented. Your approach is characterized by a service-oriented, communicative, analytical, and collaborative mindset. You excel in planning and organizing, demonstrate creativity, and are capable of leading the WIMEK team. You possess knowledge of research schools, research policies, and the supervision of doctoral candidates. Familiarity with the organization of WUR and its graduate schools is advantageous. Furthermore, you have excellent oral and written communication skills in both Dutch and English.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a a gross salary of between € 5,247,- and € 6,747,- based on a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 12). Initially, we offer you a one-year contract for 32 hours per week, which will then be extended to an open-ended contract if there is mutual enthusiasm. Of course, we would be happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.
Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.