Are you an experienced manager looking to lead a team of skilled and driven project leaders, team leaders, and analysts? Are you the department head who ensures reliable diagnostics and serves as a pillar of support for our crisis organization in Lelystad? If so, keep reading!The Role As Head of Department, you have a clear strategic vision and stay up to date with the latest developments. You have a strong affinity for diagnostics and managing a diagnostic department.
You combine strategic insight with entrepreneurship: you identify opportunities, make decisive choices, and continuously seek innovative and efficient solutions within the department. You are responsible for the department’s annual plan, developing and maintaining knowledge and expertise within the team in the field of diagnostics. Additionally, you manage the department's budget and financial planning. You represent the interests of various stakeholders and stand firm when these interests conflict.
As Head of the DCO (Diagnostics and Crisis Organization) department, you are a member of the WBVR management team and report directly to the institute’s director. You will lead approximately 50 dedicated researchers, team leaders, and analysts.
Your Responsibilities - Leading the department in alignment with WBVR’s mission and goals.
- Ensuring quality and optimal deployment of department staff.
- Driving the professional development of the field, the department, and its employees.
- Taking final responsibility for executing diagnostic tests under ISO17025.
- Expanding diagnostic activities through acquisition and client relationships.
- Implementing new tests and techniques and advancing automation and digitalization in the lab.
- Initiating and maintaining collaborations with WBVR researchers at national and international levels.
- Maintaining contact with the head of statutory research tasks at WBVR, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LVVN), the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), and industry stakeholders.
About Us Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) is a leading research institute in the fields of animal and public health. WBVR’s unique strength lies in its interdisciplinary approach and focus on innovative solutions for complex challenges in these domains.
WBVR holds a unique position in the Netherlands as the only research institute authorized to work with most animal viruses and bacteria up to biosafety level vBSL4 (vDM4), such as foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever, in laboratories and animal facilities housing large livestock (e.g., cattle) and small rodents. Facilities for research and animal testing with BSL3 pathogens, such as avian influenza and Coxiella, are also available.
Our experts in pathogens, host responses, bioinformatics, pathology, epidemiology, and diagnostics enable WBVR to fulfill its mission and vision. WBVR contributes to a society where animals and humans live healthily by conducting scientific research to prevent the spread of animal diseases and promote health.
Through contract research, R&D, and statutory research tasks, WBVR adds value to the agricultural and life sciences sectors. We advocate for the interests of the Dutch agri-food sector, (veterinary) public health, and the life sciences and health industries. As a contract research organization, we focus on market-driven research in animal and human life sciences.