Business developer

As a Business Developer for Wageningen Livestock Research (WLR), you are responsible for developing new and existing partnerships between WLR and private and public organizations. In doing so, you ensure that WLR’s research and services are positioned in the market as effectively as possible.

Your tasks and responsibilities as a Business Developer include, among others:

• Developing our market by analysing (potential) clients and research and innovation needs, and translating these into a market strategy;
• Supporting project leaders in their client interactions and translating market demands into impactful research and innovation projects;
• Promoting entrepreneurship, market orientation and customer focus within our organisation;
• Playing a role in drafting or reviewing contracts and agreements, and negotiating with partners to achieve win-win situations with clear arrangements;
• Advising on the acquisition of project funding and subsidies.

You will work closely with two fellow Business Developers within WLR, the management team, the contract office and project leaders, and you will participate in the “BD network” within WUR. You will report to the Director of WLR and be part of the staff team.

Wageningen Livestock Research

Wageningen Livestock Research offers innovative research and practical solutions for sustainable and profitable livestock farming. Our experts tackle complex challenges such as the increasing demand for animal-based foods and animal welfare. We investigate the role of livestock in food systems and improve the quality of life for animals, society and nature.

As a Business Developer, you have a proven track record in successfully bringing together scientific Research & Development activities and relevant (private) market parties. You do this with a strong commercial mindset and an energetic, enthusiastic drive. You are collaborative, self-directed and enjoy working in a dynamic environment with short lines of communication.

In addition, you have:

• A completed university-level (Master’s) degree in a relevant field, and training in business development or an MBA, and/or business development expertise gained through work experience;
• Extensive work experience and a proven commercial track record, preferably in a market-oriented R&D environment;
• Excellent command of the Dutch and English languages, both spoken and written;
• Knowledge of and affinity with the markets in which WLR operates;
• Experience in building public–private consortia;
• Experience with various forms of knowledge valorisation and value creation.

In our international working environment, English is increasingly used as the main language of communication. For this position, a B2 level of English is required.

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 € 4.741 and € 7.905 for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 12/13). Additionally, For this role a contract for 32 tot 36 hours can be discussed. 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.

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. 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.