Are you a Contract Manager who doesn’t wait for movement to happen, but creates movement yourself? Do you gain energy from complex collaborations in which sustainability, business operations, innovation and diverse interests come together? As a Contract Manager at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), you work on strategic facility contracts that contribute to a future-proof, sustainable and circular organization.
As a Contract Manager, you will contribute to the further professionalization of contract management within WUR and to achieving sustainable impact through intensive collaboration with suppliers and internal stakeholders. You are responsible for contracts in the areas of Business Travel, Mobility as a Service (MaaS), Cleaning and Furniture. These contracts play an important role in realizing future-proof facility services, sustainable mobility solutions, a pleasant and healthy working environment, and supporting WUR’s circular ambitions.
Within the Contract Management team, you are responsible for steering performance, collaboration and continuous improvement of strategic contracts. You are not only responsible for contract monitoring, but especially for realizing value: you translate ambitions into concrete agreements, stimulate innovation and ensure that suppliers and internal stakeholders work together to achieve sustainable results.
Your tasks and responsibilities as Contract Manager:
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you steer the realization of contract objectives in the areas of quality, cost, service delivery, collaboration and sustainability;
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you translate organizational goals and sustainability ambitions into contract agreements, KPIs, improvement initiatives and concrete results;
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you lead contract reviews, performance meetings and improvement processes with suppliers and internal stakeholders;
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you develop and implement improvements and innovations within contracts in the areas of Business Travel, Mobility as a Service (including the car-sharing project), Cleaning and Furniture;
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you connect internal stakeholders and suppliers and create collaboration focused on continuous improvement, innovation and societal value.
You work according to the CATS-CM methodology, in which contracts are seen as dynamic steering instruments for collaboration and development. You combine performance management with relationship and impact management and ensure that contracts contribute to WUR’s strategic goals.
Your team
The Procurement & Contract Management department is part of the Facility Services division of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Our department consists of two teams: Procurement and Contract Management. Both teams are supported by legal advisors and a data analyst.
The Contract Management team is developing rapidly. WUR is working on further centralization and professionalization of contract management and contract administration. As a Contract Manager, you work together with fellow contract managers, contract owners, internal stakeholders and strategic suppliers to realize added value from contracts.
In your role, you collaborate closely with disciplines such as Procurement, Facility Management, Finance, Real Estate & Housing, IT, HR, Legal and the business. You also work closely with colleagues responsible for mobility, real estate, facility services and sustainable operations. Together, you ensure that organizational goals and sustainability ambitions are translated into concrete services and measurable results.
The working atmosphere is professional, open and informal where possible. We take our profession seriously, but value trust, collaboration and helping each other just as much. You are given space to take initiative, propose improvements and truly make an impact.
You are an entrepreneurial and results-oriented contract manager who gains energy from realizing change. You move easily between strategy, tactics and operations and know how to connect different interests. You are convincing, organizationally sensitive and able to engage people in sustainable transitions.
You also bring:
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higher professional or academic working and thinking level, and experience with contract management;
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experience in managing complex contracts and strategic collaborations with external partners;
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experience with stakeholder management and connecting different disciplines within an organization;
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affinity with facility services, mobility, sustainability and achieving societal impact;
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experience with the CATS-CM methodology or willingness to further develop in it.
You are analytical, proactive and pragmatic. You see opportunities and know how to turn them into concrete improvements. You feel comfortable in an environment with diverse interests and where influence, collaboration and perseverance are needed to achieve results.
You are someone who does not shy away from tension in collaboration, but uses it as a starting point for improvement. You do not wait for others to move — you initiate movement yourself.
If you do not fully meet the profile but strongly recognise yourself in this role, we explicitly encourage you to apply.
You can see that there are plenty of challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be viewed as development opportunities. So if you do not yet have the full track record described in the vacancy, but you do have solid work experience, we warmly invite you to apply.
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 € 4,045.- and € 6,228.- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 11). Additionally, for this role a contract for 32 to 36 hours can be discussed. We initially offer a one-year contract, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the organisation’s financial situation.
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 Pim van Benthem, Head of Procurement and Contract Management, via phone number: +31 317 480028 or via email: [email protected].
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Conny Scholtens, HR Business Partner, 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 Monday August 31, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before Monday August 3, 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.
