Dual Role: Senior Project Manager Biosafety / Veterinairy Virology Researcher

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) is on the brink of a major transformation: the development of a brand-new High Containment Unit (HCU) in Lelystad. As Senior Project Manager Biosafety you will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and biosafety standards within this ambitious project. Your expertise will help drive the successful realization of this state-of-the-art facility, which is expected to be fully operational by 2035/2036 and will include advanced laboratories for diagnostics and research, cutting-edge biosafety systems, and complex technical infrastructure. Alongside your involvement in the HCU project, you will be the Veterinairy Virology Researcher. Your will play a key part in expanding WBVR’s contract research, particularly in vaccine and antiviral efficacy studies.

As Senior Project Manager Biosafety, you are the subject matter expert in (inter)national biosafety and biosecurity legislation relevant to the design, construction, and operation of the new HCU 2035, and In addition to her responsibility for biosafety and security, she also provides input on user requirements (URS) and design. As part of the Core Project Team.

Your Responsibilities (70%)

• Lead and coordinate the development and implementation of a regulatory roadmap aligned with Dutch and EU legislation (e.g. EuFMD, GMO regulations, BSL-3/4 permit frameworks, and veterinary and public health laws).
• Contribute to the development of design and operational requirements to ensure compliance from the earliest stages of the project, including input into the User Requirement Specifications (URS).
• Define the team structure and ensure its effective functioning.
• Maintain close working relationships with relevant authorities and stakeholders, including permit-issuing agencies, competent authorities, biosafety committees, ethical review boards, and ministries.
• Contribute to risk identification and mitigation strategies, particularly related to biosafety, biosecurity, and emergency response protocols.
• Organize international site visits to comparable facilities to identify and integrate best practices.
• Participate in design reviews and project risk sessions to embed biosafety and biosecurity standards in key decisions.
• Serve as a liaison to internal, national, and international networks in the field of biosafety and biosecurity.
• Support communication and reporting to internal governance bodies and external oversight entities.

Responsibilities (20-35%)
In addition to your core role in the HCU project, you will dedicate approximately 20-35% of your time to contribute to WBVR’s growing portfolio of contract research for both veterinary and human biomedical companies. A key focus lies in the execution of preclinical and clinical studies in viral infection models, aimed at evaluating the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral agents. These studies often involve interdisciplinary collaboration combining virological, veterinary, pathological, and immunological expertise.

Your tasks will include:

• Preparing, organizing, executing, and reporting on (clinical) studies for a variety of external clients.
• Maintaining client relationships and contributing to the acquisition of new research assignments.

Your Team
The HCU Core Project Team is led by the Project Director and includes the Manager Project Bureau, the Technical Project Manager, the Senior User, and the Senior Project Manager Biosafety. You as Senior Project Manager Biosafety report directly to the Project Director and advises the team on legal and regulatory frameworks related to biosafety, biocontainment, biological and zoonotic risk management.

The research department Virology is your home base for the execution of preclinical and clinical studies in viral infection models.

You are a strategic thinker with strong planning and analytical skills, and you excel at stakeholder engagement and relationship management across disciplines and cultures.

You also bring:

• A PhD in Virology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or a related field;
• Over 10 years of experience in high-containment environments, including research, project leadership, and regulatory advisory roles;
• Proven expertise in biological risk management, including the design and operation of high-containment facilities;
• Familiarity with EU and international biosafety standards and regulatory systems, including experience with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), EuFMD, or similar organizations;
• Experience working with or advising on complex, multidisciplinary projects in the public health or veterinary sectors;
• Demonstrated ability to translate scientific and legal requirements into practical project specifications and operational protocols;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (Dutch is an asset);
• Independent, proactive, and solution-oriented approach;
• Strong sense of integrity, responsibility, and professionalism;
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary and international environment;
• Willingness to work on site in Lelystad at least three days per week.

Location: Lelystad, Houtribweg 39.

Some of the work will take place in buildings subject to quarantine regulations. As a result, contact with FMD-sensitive animals and poultry production facilities is not permitted for one to three days following such activities.

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;
• 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 year-end 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 €3.868,- and €6.831,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 11-12). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

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. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.

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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account 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.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

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

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

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Ine van’t Land, Corporate Recruiter, via ine.vantland@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

We will look at the applications continiously, so it pays to respond quickly

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

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.