Do you have experience in applied quantitative economic analysis or want to develop in this field? Do you have a background in the analysis of the determinants and outcomes of agricultural commodity markets, such as price formation and supply and demand evolution? Are you an expert in partial equilibrium (PE) modelling, and interested to improve the conceptual underpinning and the empirical justification of an in-house simulation model?

Wageningen Economic Research has an extensive international network and a proven ability to lead research consortia in the area of international and national studies on agricultural market outlook topics. We perform contract research in cooperation with public and private actors in various disciplines.

We are seeking a quantitative researcher who can support the agricultural market outlook modelling team at the international policy division of Wageningen Economic Research in The Hague. The successful candidate will develop and/or improve data and modelling tools and analyse the impacts of scenarios on production, consumption, trade, prices, incomes and a range of other indicators (productivity, environment) for a wide and extending set of agricultural commodities with an internationally well-known team of experts. The focus of the research position is on the analysis of policy-economic commodity market dynamics in the EU and its member states, using the AGMEMOD simulation model, based on combining the application of econometric methods with good agricultural sector knowledge.

Our modelling team includes experienced sector experts, micro modellers and policy experts. We also collaborate intensively with experts in other divisions and institutes within Wageningen University & Research and beyond. We are looking for a researcher with the ability to improve the quality and plausibility of agricultural market outlook projections and to discuss model outcomes with market experts. You are output-driven, independent and a team player, who can connect across various national and international research institutes working in the area of agro-food markets.

The position will be based in our main office in The Hague. You collaborate in (inter)national socio-economic research teams focused on agro- food systems for healthy living environments.

Job description:

• You collaborate in socio-economic research projects focused on economic and policy topics related to agro-food markets. This applied research provides private and public players in the sector, high quality data and analysis to support formulation of business strategies and government policies.
• You master a wide range of quantitative tools/software and can apply these to specific research cases in a cost-effective way.
• Within national and internationally funded projects, you have contacts with research institutes, umbrella organisations and public and private sector organisations. In your role as project member, you communicate regularly with clients in order to respond proactively and adequately to their wishes and needs.
• Alongside your research, you expand your network further in both the public and private sectors to generate new opportunities to expand your area of research.

Requirements

• About 1-3 years relevant work experience in fields related to the analysis of agro-food systems and its market outlook outcomes and (inter)national related policies using socio-economic, environmental and policy data.
• Academic background and knowledge of quantitative economic modelling. A PhD in a relevant discipline and experience in project-oriented work is considered a strong advantage.
• Client oriented with good communication and acquisition skills.
• Able to express yourself clearly in Dutch and English, both orally and in writing. An additional language is considered an advantage.

Salary and conditions etc.

• Wageningen Economic Research offers a combination of a good basic salary with excellent secondary labour conditions:
• Gross salary of € 4847 max (scale 10/11 DLO) per month based on 36h working week.
• Wageningen Economic Research offers 23 days holiday per year with an optional extra 25 more compensation days in a 40h working week.
• An annual 8% holiday allowance and 3% end of year bonus.
• Flexible working hours, and excellent training opportunities.
• This is a permanent position based in The Hague. Initially a one year contract will be signed.
• Membership of one of the graduate schools of Wageningen University, allowing access to PhD supervision projects, is an option.

Wageningen University & Research

We are
an independent and internationally leading socio-economic research institute. Wageningen Economic Research offers governments and companies (socio)economic insights and integral advice for sound policies and better decision-making in an innovative way. We have been an expert in the field of sustainable agriculture & food, healthy nutrition, lifestyle and the living environment for over 75 years, and are known as a knowledge institute that provides insight into the capacity of our planet on the one hand, and human actions on the other. For this we make use of and develop, among others, policy analysis, future studies, chain and consumer research, evaluations and monitoring systems, based upon our data, models and knowledge.

Within Wageningen UR and together with the Centre for Development Innovation (CDI) and the University's Department of Social Sciences (DMW), Wageningen Economic Research is part of the Social Sciences Group. DMW, Wageningen Economic Research and CDI comprise the entire knowledge chain of fundamental scientific research (DMW), applied scientific research (Wageningen Economic Research) and consultancy and capacity building (CDI). As a result, Wageningen Economic Research provides access to this comprehensive range of expertise.
www.wur.nl/en/Expertise-Services/Research-Institutes/Economic-Research.htm