Flexpool – sr. HR Business Partner

Are you an experienced and flexible HR Business Partner who wants to be available on short notice across WUR’s various organizational units? This is a great opportunity to get an inside look at different departments and gain new experiences.

For HR, this is the first time we’re working with a flexible pool in this way. The reason for this is the ongoing demand for (temporary) HRBP capacity due to illness, peak workloads, bridging vacancies, or projects. We expect this to bring many benefits, such as better availability of interim HRBP capacity, rapid deployment (due to familiarity with the WUR organization), and knowledge-building within the organization. In addition, we will more quickly achieve uniformity across the various units, and this will contribute to knowledge sharing and collaboration within the HR function. Are you that pioneer, and would you like to help make this initiative a success as a Senior HR Business Partner?

As a Senior HR Business Partner within the Flexpool, your role is equivalent to that of a “regular” HR Business Partner. 

• You serve as a sparring partner and advisor to managers in the business unit on tactical and strategic HR and organizational issues, and you provide support and guidance on (complex) individual and team cases.
• You can initiate, design, and oversee complex organizational change processes or projects.
• You will temporarily be part of an HR team, and together you will be responsible for providing appropriate and high-quality HR services. 

Your team

You will be assigned from the HRBP team within the Corporate Staff to work for one or more business units, each time for a period of two to six months (with the option to extend twice for three months each). During your assignment, you will be a full member of the local HR team, and they will be your colleagues. A request for the deployment of the “flying keeper” is always discussed and approved by the HR Management Team; naturally, we also take your own wishes regarding your development and interests into account.

You are flexible, innovative, curious, and proactive, which means you stay well-informed and can proactively offer appropriate advice or solutions. Through your advisory skills, empathy, diplomacy, and persuasiveness, you know how to build support and drive change. You are a critical discussion partner for our managers and do not shy away from a tough conversation. You quickly grasp new concepts, allowing you to get up and running fast. The great thing about this job is that you get an inside look at various HR teams and can share and disseminate best practices. 

You also posses:

• University-level education and analytical skills;
• At least 8 years of experience as an HR Business Partner or HR Consultant;
• An affinity for scientific research or a university background
• Experience in a complex project organization is a major plus;
• Fluency in Dutch and English.

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.

Of course, these excellent fringe benefits also include an appropriate salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive salary of a minimum of € 4.374,- to a maximum of € 6.228,- for a full working week of 36 hours in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Wageningen Research (scale 11). A contract of 24 to 36 hours is negotiable for this role. When it comes to your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended if you perform well, if this is possible within the (economic) organisational conditions. 

We encourage development and mobility within our organization. In our recruitment and selection policy,  you can read which conditions apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions about this, we are happy to help you.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working atmosphere. 

For more information about the position, please contact Micheline Horstman, Head of HR Corporate Staff, via 0317-480050 or e-mail: micheline.horstman@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Please contact Edvard Jongschaap, corporate recruiter, via edvard.jongschaap@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button for the vacancy on our website. Only applications via our website will be processed.

You can respond up to and including 8 June 2026. Preferably, internal candidates apply before 19 May 2026.

We assess incoming responses on an ongoing basis, even before the closing date. Therefore, it is possible that the vacancy is closed earlier than stated.

Procedure
Within our selection procedure, an assessment may be included as part of the process.

Welcome, safe and appreciated
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) attaches great importance to diversity and inclusion. This is because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We therefore create a working environment where everyone feels welcome, safe and valued, regardless of background, identity or experience. Together, we are building a culture in which everyone's unique contribution contributes 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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