Are you a people manager looking for socially meaningful work? Then this role as a team leader of a group of high-quality and innovative socio-economic researchers might be something for you! You will have plenty of flexibility and autonomy in shaping your work and responsibilities.

This vacancy is for the Sustainable Value Chains (SVC) expert team, where around 30 enthusiastic professionals work on research projects related to transitions within and of the food system in terms of sustainability, health, and economics in agri-food markets and value chains. Examples include:

• Social impacts of food production, measuring these (s-LCA, e-LCA), and monetizing external effects (True Cost Accounting);
• Prices and margins in the chain and their distribution;
• Effects of structure and behavior on the economic performance of actors and Fair Pricing;
• Value chain analysis, including chain structure and contextual factors;
• Behavior of actors, value chain performance, and market functioning;
• Transition to a sustainable food system and the role of chain actors in this (both nationally and internationally).

The Sustainable Value Chains team focuses its research results and advice on a national and international market of governments, NGOs, and businesses. Within the network organization Wageningen Economic Research (WEcR), researchers from all expert teams and WUR departments collaborate in multidisciplinary project teams, program teams, sector teams, and theme teams. Additionally, they work with experts from other Dutch or foreign universities, institutions, and companies. As a team leader, you will be a sparring partner for project leaders and researchers, and you will be responsible for their deployment and development.

Job Description:
As the team leader of Sustainable Value Chains, you will coordinate and organize the research process effectively and efficiently. You will ensure a professional and well-functioning team and will be ultimately responsible for your team’s operations. Your main tasks are:

• Motivating and encouraging researchers in their responsibility for result-oriented and high-quality research, products, and services through collaboration and development. You will set an example in terms of attitude and behavior, in collaboration with other team leaders;
• Based on sufficient domain knowledge and research experience, you will act as a sparring partner for researchers on strategic research questions and communication;
• Planning and managing research capacity and maintaining the quality of our products;
• Facilitating and promoting the professional competencies of the team through ‘life long learning’ and innovation;
• Connecting research capabilities and qualities with customer needs. This sometimes requires active participation in the network and market activities;
• Together with the other team leaders, developing and sharing a vision of customer-oriented research.

You will become part of Wageningen Economic Research (WEcR), which consists of nine expert teams. As of January 1, 2025, WEcR will merge with Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation. The new institute, Wageningen Social & Economic Research, will consist of twelve expert teams and approximately 475 employees. We are looking for an inspiring, creative, and resolute leader with a focus on quality, results, and the development of people. You should have:

• A minimum of an MSc in economics or social sciences with a demonstrated affinity for economic research;
• Experience as a leader in a research organization or university setting. Experience leading a team of highly educated professionals is required;
• Excellent skills in project and people management;
• Familiarity with the policy development process in government and business, both nationally and internationally;
• Experience with and a keen eye for effective and efficient operations management in a research environment;
• Approachability and social skills to connect, inspire, and energize your team;
• A collaborative spirit to develop new and creative solutions for team development and the advancement of Wageningen Economic Research;
• Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English (C1 level);
• The team members of Sustainable Value Chains work from The Hague and Wageningen. You will regularly be present at both locations.

When it comes to employment conditions, Wageningen University & Research offers an excellent package. Highlights from our collective labor agreement (CAO) include:

• Working hours that can be set in consultation, allowing for an optimal work-life balance;
• The opportunity to accrue additional compensation hours by working more, up to a maximum of 40 hours per week;
• Sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• A strong focus on vitality, with access to campus sports facilities at an attractive rate;
• A guaranteed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• An excellent pension scheme through ABP;
• The possibility to work from home up to 50% of the time.

Along with these excellent secondary employment conditions, we also offer a competitive salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a salary ranging from a minimum of € 5,042.- to a maximum of € 7,576.- for a full 36-hour workweek, in accordance with the Wageningen Research CAO (scale 13). Additionally, a part-time appointment of 0.8 FTE is negotiable.

Our offices, both in The Hague and Wageningen, are easily accessible by car and public transport. Wageningen University & Research encourages internal growth opportunities and mobility through an internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we offer excellent training opportunities. You will find a diverse role in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

Wageningen University & Research

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.