HR Business Partner

Are you looking for a challenging position as an HR Business Partner and would you like to work in a scientific environment? Do you have broad knowledge of and experience with HR processes and services, and experience advising managers on the implementation of integrated HR policy? Would you like to proactively contribute to shaping HR services? Then you are the colleague we are looking for for the HR team of the Social Sciences Group!

As an HR Business Partner within the Social Sciences Group at Wageningen University & Research, you act as a sparring partner, adviser and process facilitator for managers of various education and research groups. You build strong professional working relationships and support managers in implementing HR policy. With your advice, sharp insight and connecting style, you respond to the needs of managers and the challenges they face, helping them move forward. In addition, you work closely with colleagues from the Centres of Expertise to support Recruitment, Vitality & Health, and Learning & Development.

Your tasks and responsibilities as an HR Business Partner include:

• Acting as a sparring partner for managers on HR issues and organisational development, providing both solicited and unsolicited advice;
• Playing a proactive role in the development and implementation of HR policy within the groups, advising on strategic workforce planning and organisational issues, individual and team-related cases, and being actively involved in change processes;
• Coordinating and supporting the execution of HR (annual) processes in close collaboration with colleagues, HR specialists and other internal partners;
• Contributing to the HR agenda and being (co-)responsible for the successful implementation of WUR HR policy across the Social Sciences Group. In the coming years, the focus will be on organisational development, cultural change, leadership development, social safety, implementation of the Academic Career Framework, and further standardisation of HR services;
• Participating in various HR projects within WUR and/or SSG, particularly within the People Services domain, including topics such as the application and implementation of HR policy, data-driven decision-making, analytics, job evaluation and process improvement.

Your team

You will work directly with our driven HR team, consisting of a Head of HR and four HR Business Partner colleagues. The HR team is supported by a centrally organised team of HR services and specialists in Recruitment, Vitality & Health, Learning & Development and Occupational Health & Safety.

The WUR HR organisation is continuously evolving and developing. As a team, we strive to create a culture in which collegiality, authenticity and collaboration are key pillars. An informal atmosphere and a sense of humour are important to us. Together, we aim to foster an open and transparent culture. As a team, we value colleagues who are willing to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the further professionalisation of our HR services.

The Social Sciences Group (SSG) consists of the university-based Department of Social Sciences (21 chair groups) and Wageningen Social & Economic Research (13 research teams) conducting applied research. SSG is highly internationally oriented in terms of staff, education and research.

You are curious and proactive, stay up to date with the latest developments, and continuously look for opportunities to contribute and improve. With your sharp insight and proactive, pragmatic approach, you provide well-considered, data-driven analyses and advice that align with organisational needs. Thanks to your persuasive skills, empathy and strong communication abilities, you are able to engage people, build support and drive change. You are a critical discussion partner and do not shy away from constructive, robust conversations.

You also bring:

• A relevant completed higher professional education (HBO) qualification;
• At least 3 years’ experience as an HR Adviser / HR Business Partner;
• Demonstrable experience advising managers on a wide range of HR-related cases;
• Experience with and affinity for HR data, dashboards, analyses and process improvements;
• Experience working in a complex organisation is an advantage;
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English.

In our international working environment, English is increasingly the primary language of communication. For this role, a C1 level of English proficiency is required. If you do not yet meet this level, we will of course support you, and you can make use of language training at Wageningen in’to Language.

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 €3.399,- and €5.478,- 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 32 hours 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.

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

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 de Vries, manager HR SSG e-mail: nicole.devries@wur.nl

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Dax Teunissen, Corporate Recruiter, via dax.teunissen@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 March 16, 2026.  Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 21 February 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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