QESH Advisor

Do you want to play a key role in quality management, safety, and environmental compliance within a leading veterinary research institute (including diagnostics)?

As a QESH Advisor, you will be part of an independent QESH department (Quality, Environment, Safety & Health). You will contribute to ensuring and improving quality standards and support critical processes within WBVR.

The position consists of several key responsibilities:

1. Process Management within WBVR

• Advising and supporting researchers and staff on the necessary quality assurance within the institute (ISO 9001 and ISO 17025).
• Mapping processes and identifying risks.
• Guiding internal and external audits.
• Advising research department heads on process improvements and implementation.
• Evaluating and, where possible, simplifying existing procedures.

2. Functional Management of the Document Management System

• Managing the document management system within WBVR and, in the future, the integrated quality management system.
• Overseeing the incident reporting system.
• Ensuring that system procedures and setup comply with ISO 9001 and ISO 17025.

3. Additional Responsibilities

• Coordinating specific projects, such as the ongoing project "Legal obligations regarding the use of Substances of Very High Concern (ZZS)."
• Collaborating closely with colleagues from Safety & Environment and the central QHSE department within Wageningen UR.

About the QESH Department
The QESH department is responsible for:

• Quality Management: Ensuring compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17025:2018.
• Reporting & Advisory: Advising the management team (MT) on quality system performance and improvements.
• Process Improvement: Optimizing the quality organization and document management system.

The department consists of eight employees, including:

• QESH Advisors (each responsible for a specific department or topic).
• Biosafety Officers & Biosecurity Specialists.
• Prevention Officers.

As a QESH Advisor, you report directly to the QESH Team Leader.

For this role, you should:

• Have an HBO (Bachelor's) or Academic level of thinking and working, demonstrated through a relevant degree.
• Preferably have 2-3 years of experience with quality management systems or process management.
• Have proven experience with ISO 9001 and ISO 17025.
• Be able to positively motivate and persuade colleagues.
• Have affinity with quality improvement and related focus areas.
• Possess strong analytical skills, be able to assess risks, and identify and address improvement opportunities.
• Be able to work independently and communicate effectively in both Dutch and English (spoken and written).
• Enjoy working in a dynamic environment.

Since English is increasingly used in our international workplace, this position requires a B2 language level in English. If you do not yet meet this level, we offer support through Wageningen in'to Language.
We understand that this role presents significant challenges, which can also be seen as development opportunities. If you do not yet meet all the listed requirements but have solid work experience, we still encourage you to apply.

Location: Lelystad

Additional Information
Some of the work takes place in buildings that require quarantine restrictions upon exiting (based on EU regulations). This means that you cannot own even-toed ungulates (such as pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats). Additionally, you must refrain from contact with these animals and poultry farms for 72 hours after working in these buildings. If required, you can schedule these access times yourself.

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 €3.316,- and €4.734,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 9). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be 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.

WUR welcomes applications from international candidates. However, for applicants for this specific position from outside the EU/EFTA zone, immigration restrictions may apply based on Dutch and EU immigration laws. Such candidates may be eligible for an “orientation year” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”.

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 the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

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