Head of the Sports Centre

As Head of our university Sports Centre, De Bongerd (SCB), you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Sports Centre. You will lead a diverse team of professionals. You are visible, inspiring, approachable and committed -  a true people manager who fosters autonomy and a sense of ownership, whilst also providing direction and demonstrating decisiveness at crucial moments. 

You are the figurehead of SCB, both internally and externally. You are aware of current trends in the academic world, have an eye for social developments and are a bridge-builder who fosters collaboration. 

Your duties and responsibilities as Head of SCB are: 

• developing and promoting a forward-looking vision for sport, wellbeing and social interaction within WUR;
• drawing up and implementing strategic policy in collaboration with stakeholders and your team;
• maintaining relationships with stakeholders, students, sports clubs, and national and international networks such as SSN and ENAS;
• ensuring a safe, inclusive and motivating working and sporting environment;
• managing SCB’s finances, including budgeting and reporting;
• linking sport to current issues such as student wellbeing, sustainability, technology and internationalization. 

Your team

The Bongerd Sports Center (SCB) at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is the heart of sport at WUR and is responsible for the sports program for WUR students and staff. A total of 6,500 students and 900 staff members actively use the Sports Center, which is staffed by 45 specialist sports instructors and 9 management and administrative staff. The SCB plays an initiating and active role in the implementation of the Vital@work health program. 

The Sports Center is situated on the edge of the campus and serves as the base for the various student sports clubs. Due to the large number of international students and staff, the main language spoken on campus is largely English. With 73 specialist instructors and around 30 on-call staff in administration, reception, fitness and the Sport Pub, the SCB offers a wide range of sports and exercise activities for students and staff. SCB is a vibrant meeting place where vitality, innovation and inclusivity take center stage. 

Within the SCB, you will directly manage three Sports Coordinators, an Operations Coordinator and a management assistant.

You will work here 

Facilitair Bedrijf is a broad-based organizational unit within WUR and is responsible for a wide range of services: from accommodation to IT, from sports facilities to coffee machines, and from reception services to procurement and library services. Facilitair Bedrijf aims to provide students and colleagues with a learning and working environment in which they can work together towards the future and achieve their full potential. An inspiring environment that fosters interaction, collaboration and relaxation. Our mission is to proactively support and advise WUR so that WUR can make a difference in the facilities sector too.

You have a collaborative leadership style with an eye for the person behind the employee. You are environmentally and organization-focused, proactive and have good communication skills. 

You also have: 

• a completed higher professional education (HBO) or university (WO) degree;
• 5–10 years’ managerial experience;
• demonstrable experience in managing sports instructors;
• strategic insight and experience in policy development;
• a network within the sports world and/or the ability to build one;
• experience with complex sports organizations or university sport is an advantage;
• financial acumen and experience with complex budgets;
• an affinity with students and student sports clubs; 

Excellent command of Dutch and English, both spoken and written is mandatory.

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 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. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 4,728.- and € 7,298.- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11/12). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended on good performance. 

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

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 center 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 Loura Bos, head of Operational Services, via phone: +31 317-484104 or via email: loura.bos@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Yvette van Veldhuizen, HR Business Partner via email: yvette.vanveldhuizen@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 up to and including Monday August 17, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before Monday July 23, 2026.

Applications are reviewed regularly. Therefore, the position may be filled before the stated closing date.

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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