Director of Operations Plant Sciences Group

PSG consists of the Department of Plant Sciences and the institute Wageningen Plant Research. PSG employs about 1400 people with several locations in the Netherlands, of which Wageningen, Lelystad and Bleiswijk are the largest. PSG, like the other Sciences Groups at WUR, has a two-person Executive Board consisting of a Managing Director and a Director of Operations.

Position description
As Director of Operations, you are responsible for the management, implementation and evaluation of the operational management processes of the PSG. You are expected to show unifying leadership and promote collaboration between different organizational units, staffs and the primary process, as well as with other Sciences Groups. In addition, you will contribute to One Wageningen and WUR-wide operational management issues.

You set up the processes adequately, ensure that they function successfully and further professionalize them in cooperation with the management of the units. All this to support and implement the mission and strategy of Wageningen University & Research.

The Sciences Groups work within a management model based on integrated management. The management boards take their integral responsibility transparently, inform in a timely manner, report and make adjustments where necessary, within the frameworks set by the board of directors.

The Director of Operations:

• Together with the Managing Director, MT members and employees, the Director of Operations is faced with the task of striving for a balanced budget;
• Is responsible for all business operations processes (HRM, finance, ICT, facility management, housing, legal) of PSG to support the primary processes (education, research and knowledge valorization) and in particular for the professionalization of the business processes;
• Feels responsible for a stimulating working climate and a good working environment, with attention to both the physical conditions and the mutual relationships and the way of working together;
• Directly manages the heads of several support staff departments of the Sciences Group as well as heads of a number of research facilities (such as Unifarm);
• Conducts negotiation and progress discussions on the financial results and other operational management aspects with the management of the PSG units;
• Reports functionally to the portfolio holder for operations in the Executive Board and hierarchically to the Managing Director PSG (as ultimately responsible for the total of the knowledge unit). Replaces the Managing Director in the event of a short-term absence;
• Is a member of the WUR-wide consultation between directors of operations, contributes to more efficient and effective operational management processes WUR-wide.

As Director of Operations, you have the expertise to further professionalize business operations, taking into account the fact that the Sciences Group is part of a larger whole. Operational excellence is an important starting point here. An eye for connecting people and organizational units and the ability to create support are critical success factors.

Level of education, knowledge and experience

• Academic training in the field of business economics or business administration;
• Extensive knowledge and experience in business operations and business processes in a complex (international) project-based organization;
• Demonstrable and proven experience in (change) management, creating support, facilitating bottom-up processes and stimulating collaboration, bringing out the best in the employees;
• Knowledge of employee participation and a sense of proportion.

We offer the space to help build the further development of WUR from an appealing position.

Appointment to this position takes place for a period of 4 years, with the possibility of reappointment. The salary is in accordance with WUR's salary policy for directors of operations (job scale 16), a minimum of € 7,380 and a maximum of € 10,117 gross per month based on 36 hours per week (1.0 FTE). In addition, our collective labor agreement has excellent fringe benefits.

When it comes to terms of employment, Wageningen University & Research is the right place for you. Highlights from our collective labour agreement are, for example:

• working hours that can be determined in consultation, so that an optimal work-life balance is possible;
• sabbatical leave, study leave and partly paid parental leave;
• There is a lot of attention for vitality and you can use the sports facilities on campus at an attractive rate;
• a structural end-of-year bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme through ABP.

Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a learning environment, we offer excellent training opportunities. With us, you will get a versatile job in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

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'. Within Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation are joining forces to contribute to the solution of important questions in the field of healthy food and the living environment.

With approximately 30 branches, 7,700 employees (7,000 FTEs), 2,500 PhD and EngD candidates, 13,100 students and more than 150,000 Lifelong Learning participants, Wageningen University & Research is one of the world's leading knowledge institutions in its field. The integrated approach to the issues and the cooperation between different disciplines form the heart of the unique Wageningen approach.

Our employees indicate these points as good reasons to come and work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come and work at WUR