Game Changer Whole WUR Approach to Sustainability

Are you passionate about sustainability and regenerative agriculture? Can you build strong relationships and connect different people and ideas? Do you enjoy working in complex environments, thinking critically and embracing different perspectives? Then this position may be of interest to you.

In October 2024 a new, large-scale project focused on regenerative agriculture in the Netherlands will commence: ReGeNL. Wageningen University and Research, and higher education in general, has a key role to play in creating a regenerative agriculture sector through its education, research, capacity-building and community outreach. Regenerative often resonates with concepts like integral, transdisciplinary, circular, resilient, reciprocity, holistic and boundary-crossing which imply different ways of teaching, learning and doing research. In this position you will contribute to creating synergies within WUR to help strengthen its contribution to regenerative agriculture.

Wageningen UR has ‘sustainability’ at the core of its mission. Yet, within WUR there are many definitions and activities under the umbrella of sustainability. These definitions and activities do not always align and sometimes lead to (un)healthy tensions, debate and dialogue. Rather than treating sustainability as a topic for education and research that needs to be added to the curriculum or the research agenda, WUR seeks to have an integral ‘built-in’ approach that does justice to the complex and ambiguous, sometimes even contested, nature of sustainability.

There are many parts of the university seeking to meaningfully embed sustainability in research, education, purchasing, contracting and management of buildings and ground, professional development of staff, community engagement and outreach, but there is little connection and coordination between these parts. We are looking for someone who can coordinate, connect and create synergies so that the whole becomes more than the sum of these parts. The Whole University Approach to Sustainability (WUAS) appear to provide a generative framework for a more systemic and integral approach to anchoring sustainability meaningfully in the whole institution.

We are looking for someone who is familiar with the world of WUR or at least with the academic institutional environment in which sustainability is to be embedded meaningfully and effectively. At the same time we need someone who is an energizing communicator who can develop relations and build bridges, someone who is a ‘systems thinker’ who has a passion for sustainability but is also critical and open to multiple perspectives.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair of Education & Learning Sciences of WUR, more specifically, within the section focusing on education, learning and capacity building for sustainability. which is led by personal chair prof. Arjen Wals.

Requirements:

You have/ You are

• developed some expertise in the education and learning sciences and, ideally some experience with education and learning in the context of sustainable development;
• affinity with societal challenges in the domains of agriculture and food systems;
• an understanding of organizational development and change processes, preferably in a higher education context;
• a team player but also an initiator who can create new connections and nurture collaboration and social leaning process.

You also possess:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in: education and learning sciences, sociology, anthropology, cultural geography, political science or an adjacent field;
• the ability to put yourself in the minds/perspectives of others;
• excellent communication skills.
• proficiency in Dutch language is recommended.

Salary Benefits:

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• 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 December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.345,- and € 5.278,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 0.6 -0.8 FTE 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.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
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.

30 hours per week

Droevendaalsesteeg