Are you an experienced manager with strong communication and organizational skills? Are you fluent in both Dutch and English? Do you enjoy initiating and implementing organizational change? Are you interested in healthy and safe food? And do you also have an affinity for working in a microbiological laboratory? We, Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), have a vacancy for a Team Leader for the Microbiology Analyses team.
What will you do?
As a Team Leader, you combine clarity with connective leadership: you inspire while also providing direction. You are energized by coaching and developing professionals.
As Team Leader Microbiology Analyses within WFSR, you will focus on the optimal functioning of the employees within your team and on the development of the team as a whole. You ensure that team members can perform their work effectively in a pleasant, physically safe, and socially safe working environment. As Team leader, you will have integral responsibility for a team of approximately 30 professionals. Your team performs accredited methods for bacteriology, antibiotic screening, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and molecular techniques related to microbiology.
Your tasks and responsibilities include:
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supporting the personal development, effectiveness, well-being, and job satisfaction of your team members, as well as carrying responsibility for HR-related tasks such as implementing HR policies, conducting development interviews, managing absenteeism and reintegration processes, and creating and executing training and development plans;
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safeguarding the technical research quality of the microbiological analyses, expertise, and output delivered by your team; monitoring progress, identifying bottlenecks, and making adjustments where necessary;
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effectively deploying team members in projects and other tasks essential to achieving team results;
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building and maintaining valuable relationships with other teams and experts;
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contributing to and implementing changes in working methods.
In addition, together with your fellow team leaders, you will be part of the management team of the business unit and act as an important sparring partner for the business unit manager. You will contribute substantively to translating the WFSR vision and strategy into an annual activity plan and strategic workforce planning for your team. You will also represent the business unit in one or more internal working groups.
Where will you work?
Wageningen Food Safety Research conducts research into safe and reliable food. We specialize in (forensic) measurements and develop analytical methods to detect undesirable substances in food. The Microbiology Analyses team focuses on microbiological analyses of feed and food in the broadest sense of the term, from “farm-to-fork.”
Together with four other teams, the Microbiology Analyses team forms the business unit Microbiology & Agri-Chains. In addition to microbiological research, this business unit also conducts research into predicting food safety risks within the continuously changing agri-food chain and applies and develops machine learning for food safety issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iz29PiSiE0
You are a people manager: you understand the individual needs and motivations of your employees, while also keeping the needs of the team and organization in mind. You do not shy away from technically or socially complex situations and, as a true connector, you are able to work together toward sustainable solutions. As a team leader, you encourage an open work culture in which colleagues are given the opportunity to learn and develop. You are quality- and customer-oriented, capable of managing processes effectively, and able to deal appropriately with strict deadlines. You have successfully completed a university degree (WO level) related to the team’s field of work (life sciences or microbiology).
You also have:
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experience in coaching and change management;
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experience managing professionals in a laboratory environment;
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excellent command of both Dutch and English;
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experience with LEAN working methods is considered an advantage;
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knowledge of quality systems (e.g., ISO 17025), occupational health and safety, environmental management, and safety regulations.
In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1.
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
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working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
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sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
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there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
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a fixed year-end bonus of 8,3%;
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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 € 5,294.- and € 7,905.- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 13). Additionally, for this role a contract for 32 hours can be discussed. You are present in the office at least 3 days per week. Working from home can be discussed in consultation with your manager and the team.
As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance.
We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.
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.
For more information about the position, please contact Marlou van Iersel, Business Unit Manager, via email: [email protected] or by phone: +31 6-54906167.
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, via email: [email protected].
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
You can apply up to and including June 29th, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before June 2nd, 2026.
We review applications on a rolling basis, including before the closing date. As a result, the vacancy may close earlier than indicated.
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.
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.
