Do you see yourself as a food safety expert and do you want to make an impact on food safety in the Netherlands and Europe through your strategic insight and helicopter view? Are you skilled at connecting science and policy and are you fluent in Dutch and English? Would you like to help shape our research into contaminants in food products? We, Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), have a vacancy for a Programme Leader “Contaminants”!
Together with three other programmes, we carry out our Statutory Research Tasks (WOT). Within WFSR, these are referred to as sub-programmes and sub-programme leaders. As Sub-programme Leader Contaminants at WFSR, you will be responsible for a portfolio of approximately 50 projects. You will be the face of the sub-programme. We therefore expect you to be customer-oriented (internally and externally), capable of strategic thinking, and to act as a leading figure within the contaminants field — or to be able to develop into one.
The Contaminants sub-programme focuses on substances that are intentionally applied (including plant protection products in agriculture and horticulture), substances that unintentionally enter food products (including environmental contaminants such as PFAS and process contaminants formed during food production), and natural toxins produced by fungi, plants, and algae. The sub-programme deals both with substances that have long been known and for which legal limits have been established, as well as with new substances, mixtures of contaminants, or contaminants not initially expected to occur in food products.
The programme contains a wide variety of projects, including:
-
routine and ad hoc analytical projects for which sampling plans and related activities are coordinated with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA);
-
development and validation of analytical-chemical tests, bioassays, and biosensors across the full breadth of the programme;
-
applied research into topics such as exposure to and transfer of contaminants, early detection of new chemical hazards before they lead to consumer health issues, and the phase-out of laboratory animal testing for risk assessment purposes;
-
crisis networks (environment and drinking water, radiation and nuclear safety, terrorist attacks) and ad hoc projects resulting from food safety incidents.
In this role, you will collaborate with WFSR project leaders and experts in analytical chemistry, bioassays, toxicology, and food supply chains. You will ensure alignment between project leaders and coordinate and programme project activities. You will do this in close cooperation with the WOT programme leaders and our external partners: the NVWA and the Dutch Ministries of LVVN and VWS.
What will you do?
-
you will liaise with various clients and stakeholders (primarily the Dutch Ministries of LVVN and VWS, and the NVWA), identify priorities and new research needs, and provide advice to these parties;
-
together with the programme leaders, you will develop the strategic direction of your sub-programme and steer towards the defined objectives to maximise the impact of your sub-programme;
-
you will shape the projects within your sub-programme in line with the strategy, monitor progress (together with project leaders and team leaders), and be responsible for the quality of the overall programme outcomes;
-
you will lead and coach project leaders and, together with them, oversee the scientific and financial results of the projects. Part of this responsibility includes reviewing all project outputs;
-
you will be a member of the management team of one of WFSR’s business units.
-
you hold a completed academic degree (MSc or PhD level) in a relevant field, such as Molecular Sciences, Analytical Chemistry, Toxicology, or an equivalent level of expertise and experience;
-
you are capable of building and maintaining a network with all relevant stakeholders (including policymakers and supervisory authorities);
-
you have experience with programme management or project management, and with connecting and coaching project leaders and staff members;
-
you have experience in developing strategic plans and implementing them successfully;
-
you possess political sensitivity and are able to provide policy advice;
-
you have broad knowledge of contaminants (preferably related to food production) and of analytical techniques used to monitor food safety and quality, or you are willing to develop this expertise.
In summary, the following competencies are important: strategic thinking, teamwork, organisational awareness, resilience under pressure, entrepreneurship, and persuasiveness.
In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1. Because of communication with Dutch stakeholders, fluency in Dutch is a must have! Applying without this skill is not useful.
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 €4741,- and €7905,- 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 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a two-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.
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.
For more information about the position, please contact Charon Zondervan, Business unit manager, via email: [email protected].
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 August 3rd 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before June 8th 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.
