Coordinator External Collaboration Health

Do you want to make a strategic impact in the transition toward healthier and more sustainable food? As a Coordinator External Collaboration (CEC) Health, you are the strategic connector between WFBR and key stakeholders in the domain of Food for Optimal Diets. You ensure that Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (WFBR) is seen and recognised as a frontrunner in the field of Healthy Nutrition.

In this role, you focus on thought leadership, developing long-term collaborations, and positioning WFBR within an ever-changing food landscape. With your vision and network, you directly contribute to applied research that has global impact on public health, sustainability, and the food system.

Within the theme Food for Optimal Diets, we work on nutrition that respects both human health and planetary boundaries. This includes research on sustainable supply chains, product availability and composition, portion sizes, health effects (direct and via the gut microbiome) and consumer experience. WFBR collaborates with companies, policymakers, NGOs and knowledge institutions in Europe and beyond.

Your tasks and responsibilities:

Strategic positioning

• establishing and maintaining long-term strategic collaborations with companies, NGOs, and ministries within the Food for Optimal Diets domain;
• developing and communicating a clear vision and strategy aligned with the strategic agenda of WUR and WFBR, acting as a thought leader and discussion partner;
• participating in (inter)national projects, advisory boards and initiatives with significant societal and financial impact;
• initiating long-term programmes to further strengthen our knowledge position.

Acquisition:

• acquiring major (inter)national projects and programmes in the field of Food for Optimal Health. You do this together with scientific experts and business developers to successfully seize market opportunities;
• linking market needs to our expertise and stimulating new initiatives (both outside-in and inside-out).

Internal collaboration:

• coordinating with Research Managers and experts on strategic execution related to Food for Optimal Diets;
• ensuring that acquired projects contribute to knowledge development in Healthy Nutrition and strengthen collaboration between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research;
• aligning market approaches with Business Developers and fellow Coordinators External Collaboration.

You have:

• academic working and thinking level, with a background in nutrition & health, preventive medicine or a related field;
• strong visionary and connecting skills: you understand where the world needs to move in the field of Food for Optimal Diets and know how to bring stakeholders along;
• a relevant and strategic network within the Health and Food domain;
• experience in thought leadership in Healthy Nutrition;
• experience in strategy development and translating strategy into propositions and projects;
• a good understanding of societal and scientific developments and the ability to assess market potential;
• a proven track record in acquiring and managing research projects;
• excellent communication skills and a decisive, clear communication style.

Additionally, you are:

• a convincing networker;
• results-oriented and entrepreneurial;
• a team player who enables inspiring projects.

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:

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• 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 year-end bonus of 8,3%;
• 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 €5294,- and €7905,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 13).

Additionally, For this role a contract for 32 hours a 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. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

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.

For more information about the position, please contact Nicole Koenderink, Institute manager, via e-mail: nicole.koenderink@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, via email: rutger.voorrips@wur.nl.

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 until the 19^th of January 2026. If we receive suitable applications before the closing date we might initiate the first interviews. So don’t wait with you application.

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.

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