Data Protection Officer

As Data Protection Officer (DPO), you are the independent internal supervisor of compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), paying particular attention to the responsible development and use of generative AI (AI Act and Data Act) within Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in relation to personal data. You identify risks and advise the Executive Board.

The position focuses on both Wageningen University and the research institutes of Wageningen Research foundation. Both organizations are supported by WUR corporate staff. Your place of work is Wageningen. 

The DPO has four main responsibilities:

1. You will supervise the application of and compliance with the GDPR in various areas, including education, research, valorization, and business operations. You will strengthen the culture of personal data protection within WUR.
2. You will advise and inform the Executive Board and staff directors, both on request and on your own initiative, about obligations arising from the GDPR. You are responsible for risk assessment and advise on the implementation and safeguarding of technical and organizational measures to minimize and control risks. You ensure periodic reporting on the status of the application and compliance with the GDPR and report on this to the Executive Board.
3. You assess policies, DPIA's, guidelines, and processes in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. You identify specific bottlenecks and advise on them, if possible in collaboration with the Corporate Privacy Officer (CPO) of WUR and make proposals for immediately applicable risk-mitigating measures, in consultation with the controllers.
4. You are responsible for handling any complaints about the handling of privacy issues within WUR. You maintain contact with the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) on behalf of WUR, where necessary.

The DPO works closely with the CPO, each from their own role. The CPO is responsible for the development, implementation, and execution of the privacy policy and the operational privacy organization. The DPO independently supervises this, provides solicited and unsolicited advice, and assesses whether policy and implementation are in line with the GDPR. 

The independence of the DPO is guaranteed by a direct reporting line to the Executive Board and access to all relevant information and employees.

Your team

The Data Protection Officer is organizationally placed in the staff department Corporate Governance & Legal Services (CG&LS). This staff department consists of approximately 20 independently working professionals.

Effective supervision requires good cooperation, both with the privacy team led by the CPO and with the Chief Information & Security Officer (CISO).

You will be part of an external network of Data Protection Officers of Dutch Universities.

You have demonstrable and relevant experience in independent GDPR assessment and reporting at both operational and administrative levels. You are a discussion partner at the level of the board of directors and directors.

You have good analytical skills and, at the same time, the ability to draft practical advice in memos and reports. You are a good listener, have strong communication skills, and are context-aware, which means you are perceived as constructive and effective in both conversations and your advice. Your approach to privacy issues is pragmatic in nature, with a focus on advising on how the objective at hand can be achieved within the framework of the GDPR.

Your knowledge of information management and security is at such a level that you are a good discussion partner for the CISO. 

In addition, you have: 

• Academic working and thinking level, obtained through education or relevant work experience.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the GDPR and related national and European legislation and regulations.
• Experience with privacy policy, data protection, and assessing DPIA's, preferably gained as an DPO or CPO. Privacy officers with at least 5 years of relevant work experience are also welcome to apply.
• Knowledge of education systems and structures is an advantage.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1. If you have not reached this level yet, we’d be happy to support you further through our language center, Wageningen in'to Language.

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 “orientationyear” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”

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 € 4.741,- and € 7.068,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 12). Additionally, for this role we offer a contract for 8 hours, with the possibility of a temporary extension to 12 hours during peak periods.

We offer you a one-year contract with the intention of converting it to an indefinite contract. If you are an internal candidate, your current contract is the starting point. We are happy to help 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. 

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 Jacqueline Girbes, corporate director Governance & Legal services, via +31 317-481473 or e-mail: jacqueline.girbes@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Please contact Edvard Jongschaap, Sr Corporate Recruiter, via edvard.jongschaap@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 respond up to and including Monday April 20, 2026. Internal candidates are advised to respond before March 28, 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.

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