Are you an experienced manager with strong communication and organizational skills, and do you have experience within the Quality, Health, Safety & Environment (QHSE) domain? Do you have knowledge of (laboratory) accreditation and certification, and are you able to motivate and challenge the professionals in your team? We have a vacancy for a Head of the Quality, Health, Safety & Environment (QHSE) Department at Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR).
Please note; fluency in Dutch is a must have for this position.
What will you do?
As Head of the QHSE Department, you are responsible for ensuring the optimal performance of your team members and for the development of the team as a whole. You create the conditions that enable them to perform their work effectively in a pleasant, physically safe, and socially secure working environment. People management is an important part of your role. You build support and awareness around compliance-related topics and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
In addition, you are responsible for the implementation and execution of the QHSE policy, the coordination of all compliance processes, privacy and information security activities, and part of the legal support function.
Your team consists of eight direct reports, each with their own area of expertise. You also provide functional leadership to approximately five additional employees based on their specific roles. Furthermore, you are a member of the WFSR Management Team, advise the WFSR Executive Board, and are able to engage the organization in understanding the importance of compliance. You contribute substantively to translating the WFSR vision and strategy into an annual activity plan and a strategic workforce plan for your team. You serve as the link between WFSR and the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) compliance network and policies, and you participate in WUR-wide consultation structures.
In your day-to-day work, you will be involved in:
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supporting the personal development, effectiveness, and well-being of your team members, as well as overall team development; being responsible for HR-related tasks such as implementing HR policies, conducting performance and development reviews, managing absenteeism and reintegration cases, and developing and executing training and development plans;
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developing and ensuring the implementation of policies related to quality, health & safety, environmental management, privacy, and information security within WFSR, while ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, and standards;
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identifying risks and supporting their mitigation, while also responding to opportunities;
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designing and managing the WFSR quality management system based on ISO 17025, ISO 17043, and ISO 9001 in collaboration with stakeholders, and translating these requirements into the primary operational processes;
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initiating and leading improvement projects within both WFSR and WUR;
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monitoring registrations and processes and optimizing the systems available to support them.
In summary, you promote a culture in which continuous improvement and awareness of compliance-related topics are an integral part of daily practice.
You are a people manager who recognizes the individual needs and motivations of employees while also understanding the needs of the team and the organization. You do not shy away from complex professional or interpersonal situations and, as a true connector, you are able to work collaboratively toward sustainable solutions. As a manager, you encourage an open working culture where colleagues are able to learn and develop. You are quality- and customer-oriented, capable of effectively managing processes, and able to perform well under strict deadlines.
You have successfully completed an academic degree (Master’s level or equivalent) and have several years of experience in a laboratory environment.
In addition, you have:
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proven experience as a driven and motivating manager who ensures the right person is in the right position and who supports the development and growth of individual employees as well as overall team performance;
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the ability to provide direction on a range of compliance topics and to coach employees both on content and working methods;
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knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations and experience in quality management, occupational health and safety, environmental management, privacy, and information security;
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knowledge of ISO 17025 and ISO 17043 accreditation requirements and ISO 9001 certification;
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knowledge of and experience with LEAN methodologies is considered an advantage;
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a results-oriented, solution-focused, and pragmatic approach, with the ability to consider the perspectives of different stakeholders;
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excellent communication skills and strong interpersonal sensitivity. You know how to get things done;
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strong analytical skills and a helicopter view that enables you to connect information from different sources and systems.
You have an excellent command of both Dutch and English. For Dutch, proficiency at CEFR level C1 is required. Applying without C1 in Dutch is not useful.
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 €4741,- and €7068,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 12). Additionally, For this role a contract for 32 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
We encourage development and internal mobility within our organization. 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.
Questions about the position or 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 July 5th, 2026.
Applications are reviewed regularly. Therefore, the position may be filled before the stated closing date.
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.
