Are you a professional in the field of quality, working conditions, environment and safety – and do you want to further develop your expertise? Would you like to work in a research environment where safety, compliance and societal impact come together?
The Environmental Sciences Group (ESG) of Wageningen University & Research is looking for a QHSE Coordinator who will contribute to a safe and responsible research environment.
The role
As QHSE Coordinator, you will work at the interface of legislation and regulations, research and practice. You will translate complex legislation and regulations into workable solutions and support colleagues in carrying out their work safely. Within this role, you will also, after appointment, fulfil the role of prevention officer, as referred to in the Dutch Working Conditions Act.
You will be part of the Risk & Compliance team and report to the Chief of Staff. Together with your colleagues, you will be responsible for further professionalising the QHSE domain within ESG.
The position is for 0.6–1.0 FTE, to be agreed.
What will you do?
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you will act as a point of contact, together with others, for quality, occupational health and safety, environmental and safety-related matters, such as biological safety, permits and hazardous substances;
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you will advise researchers and staff on legislation and regulations and help translate these into day-to-day practice;
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you will contribute to drafting, implementing and safeguarding policies, reports, procedures and work instructions, and will take personal responsibility for specific QHSE themes;
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you will be involved in carrying out Risk Inventories and Evaluations and keeping the plan of action up to date;
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you will, after appointment, fulfil the role of prevention officer.
In accordance with the Dutch Working Conditions Act, you will be responsible for:
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helping to prepare and carry out the RI&E;
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advising and working together with occupational health and safety experts and the Works Council;
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helping to implement the measures.
In accordance with ESG policy, you will also be responsible for:
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monitoring and recording incidents in the incident monitor;
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organising cooperation with the emergency response service coordinator;
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you will play a role in incident investigation and in improving safety processes;
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you will support internal and external audits and the maintenance of quality systems;
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you will coordinate, together with colleagues, matters relating to research material and working with Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). Knowledge of biological agents and chemicals is an advantage;
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you will work together with colleagues within WUR and with external parties.
WUR welcomes applications from international candidates. However, for applicants for this specific position from outside the EU/EFTA zone, immigration restrictions may apply based on Dutch and EU immigration laws. Such candidates may be eligible for an “orientation year” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”
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you have a higher professional education level of working and thinking, preferably with a qualification such as HVK, occupational hygiene or a comparable field;
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you have knowledge of, or an affinity with, quality, occupational health and safety, environmental and safety-related issues;
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you have experience in an experimental research environment, preferably laboratories;
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you have knowledge of relevant topics such as hazardous substances, biological safety and/or regulations, or you are motivated to develop in these areas;
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experience with audits and quality systems is an advantage;
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we are explicitly not looking for a ‘perfect profile’, but for someone who wants to continue developing across the full breadth of the field;
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you have knowledge of, or an affinity with, the role of prevention officer.
Who are you?
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you work independently, in a structured and careful manner, and you are a connector and team player;
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you are a strong communicator and move easily between researchers, staff and management in a dynamic and complex organisation;
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you are decisive, proactive, eager to learn and development-oriented;
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you can analyse regulations and translate them into workable solutions;
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you have a well-developed awareness of risk and act pragmatically.
In our international working environment, communication increasingly takes place in English. For this role, the required language level is C1. Do you not yet meet this level? Then we will naturally help you, and you can take advantage of our language centre, Wageningen in’to Language.
You can see that there are sufficient challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be seen as development opportunities. So, should you not yet have the track record requested in the vacancy but do have solid work experience, we would still very much like to invite you to apply.
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A role offering ample opportunity for development and specialisation within the QHSE domain;
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active support for pursuing further training and qualifications (e.g. higher safety qualifications, occupational hygiene, or specialised courses);
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you will join a team where a range of expertise comes together (occupational health and safety, environment, safety, information security, privacy, quality management and compliance).
We do not expect you to have expertise in all these areas already: we work collaboratively where needed, while also giving you the freedom to take independent responsibility for your own domain. At the same time, we actively invest in knowledge sharing and development, enabling you to deepen and broaden your expertise within the profession.
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 € 3,399.- and € 6,228.- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 10-11). Additionally, for this role a contract from anything between 24 and 36 hours per week 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 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 Laura Schellingerhout, Head of Department Risk & Compliance, via telephonenumber: +31 651582301 or via email: [email protected].
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Edgar Tijhuis, 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 Monday June 8, 2026.
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.
