As an inspiring leader in a dynamic, innovative and practice-oriented research environment, you make a difference in the integrated sustainability of arable production systems.

As a Senior Researcher, you’re a key innovator shaping the future of Dutch agriculture, representing Wageningen University & Research's Field Crops Business Unit in Lelystad. With your broad future-oriented vision you initiate innovative projects and programs with a focus on arable production systems. Examples include the Farm of the Future, PPP (public private partnership) Farming with Biodiversity, PPP Agroforestry and projects in the field of organic agriculture and strip cropping. In such projects you will work on translating science into practice for both farmers and other stakeholders. You work from a systems perspective on both short- and long-term solutions, both one on one with farmers as well as with the supply chain, NGOs and other networks. You cooperate with these actors to develop new perspective for the sector and achieve various sustainability goals.
You and the team will work on the development of promising innovations in the field of sustainable farming systems in arable farming with a focus on the Netherlands. This requires a good understanding of challenges and different trade-offs in the system.

Your duties and responsibilities as a senior researcher are:

• devising and developing new projects that complement the vision of Field Crops and your own vision for sustainable agriculture. With this you inspire stakeholders and funding agencies to realise promising routes towards integrated sustainability for agriculture;
• leading large projects and programs in which you pay attention to the fine details of communication, connecting and gaining support from entrepreneurs, funding agencies and other stakeholders;
• connecting and working closely with entrepreneurs from the primary sector and companies in the field of new techniques and cultivation systems based on agroecological principles, such as strip cropping and agroforestry;
• presentation of results to clients, the trade press, scientific reports and contributing to the societal debate from a scientifically independent position.

Team Farming Systems and Soil Quality:
You work together with more than 30 experts in various fields (soil, water, organic matter, fertilisation, farming systems, agroecology) on innovations in field crops. Together with the government, industry and practitioners, we work on solutions for both the short and long term. With an integrated approach to soil (management), fertilization, crop health and cultivation measures, we offer solutions for the sector. Within the business unit we cooperate with other teams that specialise in crop health and socio-economics.

You can inspire a broad group of stakeholders/actors with your vision for sustainable agriculture and the necessary farming systems research. You are a creative and analytical team player with a proactive results-oriented attitude.

You also possess:

• strong conceptual skills with a relevant academic education;
• experience in studying interactions between cop growth and soil, ecology, climate, fertilisation is a plus;
• extensive experience in (international) acquisition and initiating and leading projects;
• a relevant network in the sector;
• a good command of the English language, both verbally and in writing;
• proficiency in the Dutch language is a plus. Otherwise willingness to learn it.

For this position mastery of the English language at language level C1 is desired. More information about this level can be found in the document Language level.

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

• 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 hours by working more;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• 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. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between € 4.344,- and € 7.306,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 12-13). You will initially receive a one-year contract, which will be extended to an open-ended contract upon in mutual enthusiasm.

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 multi-faceted 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 with your work you have a clear and positive impact on society. At WUR we work on the most pressing challenges of our time, like climate change and feeding the world in a sustainable way.

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.
Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands 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, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 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.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves and do not appreciate unasked for services from recruitment agencies. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

For more information about this position, please contact John Verhoeven, teamleader by mail: john.verhoeven@wur.nl, or phone: +31 320-291349

For more information about the procedure, please contact Dax Teunissen, corporate recruiter via vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl.

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including June 10 2024.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.