Researcher – project “Wageningen strengthens livelihood security".

For the project “Wageningen strengthens livelihood security,” we are looking for a Postdoc or Senior Researcher.

The Chair Group Health and Society at Wageningen University will soon start the three-year research project “Wageningen strengthens livelihood security: Learning and evaluating together.” Since 2025, Wageningen has implemented the Social Participation Budget with the aim of ensuring that citizens experience greater income security, can participate more fully in society, and enjoy better health. In this project, we facilitate and evaluate this new policy and its supporting community.

The project is funded by ZonMW and carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Wageningen, Wageningen Social Services, the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), experts by experience, citizens, and various other local and national organisations.

Your tasks and responsibilities as a researcher include:

• Encouraging and facilitating collaboration and project progress with all stakeholders at different levels.
• Conducting research in close cooperation with partners and citizens, and analysing and reporting the findings.
• Contributing to the scaling up and broader implementation of the Wageningen Social Participation Budget policy.
• Contributing to the development of the programme theory and publishing in (academic) journals.

You are a motivated researcher who is eager to contribute to livelihood security, social participation, and people’s health. Above all, you are a connector who enjoys collaborating with people from different organisations, both within and outside Wageningen. You are flexible and have experience with qualitative research methods, such as conducting interviews, focus groups, and participatory action research. You are also proficient in quantitative research methods.

You also possess:

• Experience in research and/or a completed PhD in the field of health sciences or social sciences.
• Experience in designing, conducting, and analysing social science research.
• You are a driven researcher with an awareness of rapidly changing practice and can adapt to its demands.
• Ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and an interest in understanding what motivates them.
• A team player who is willing to make decisions and take responsibility.

In our international work environment, English is increasingly the language of communication. For this position, a C1 level of English is required. If you have not yet reached this level, we will of course support you, and you can make use of our language centre, Wageningen in’to Language.

You will find that there are plenty of challenges awaiting you, which can also be seen as opportunities for development. If you do not yet have the full track record specified in the vacancy but do have solid work experience, we would still be very pleased to invite you to apply.

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• 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. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.546,- and € 6.433,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10/11). With regard to your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract with the possibility of extension. The total duration of the appointment will be a maximum of three years. 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.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment.

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.

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