Programme Leader WOT Nature & Environment

Are you able to bridge the gap between science, policy and practice? Would you like to ensure the effective planning and execution of research related to the implementation and further development of legislation and regulations? Can you mobilise research and policy and ensure that sharp insights make an impact where it truly matters? Become Programme Leader WOT Nature & Environment and make an important contribution to the future of nature and the environment in our country.

As Programme Leader WOT Nature & Environment (WOT‑NM), you provide direction for the reliable execution of the statutory research tasks (WOT) for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) within the policy domain of nature and the environment. You coordinate closely with LVVN regarding the required tasks and steer towards strategic coherence, scientific quality and societal relevance in a complex environment where science, policy and implementation come together.

Your Role

In the role of Programme Leader, you are the face of the WOT‑NM programme both within and outside the organisation and act as a sparring partner for the Ministry of LVVN, in close collaboration with external parties, including PBL, RIVM and CBS. You are responsible for the strategic, substantive and organisational management of the WOT Nature & Environment programme. You are able to position the programme within a dynamic context of policy, research and society, making well‑considered assessments of internal and external dependencies.

You are capable of anticipating future scientific and societal developments, as well as developments in policy and legislation, and translating these into existing and new tasks within the programme. Naturally, the programme complies with the requirements set out in the WOT Statute and the WOT‑NM Implementation Agreement, and you ensure the achievement of the established programme objectives. The WOT‑NM programme delivers the appropriate level of quality in research, data and models, thereby advising and supporting the Ministry of LVVN in meeting statutory national and international obligations.

Your Tasks and Responsibilities

• Representing and positioning the WOT programme within and outside the organisation.
• Developing vision and strategy and keeping the programme up to date, integrating future scientific, societal and policy developments.
• Providing functional leadership to theme leaders and the programme office, stimulating collaboration, quality and innovation.
• Ensuring the independent, transparent and quality‑defined specification and execution of all programme tasks in accordance with the WOT Statute and the WOT‑NM Implementation Agreement between WR and LVVN.
• Formulating, updating and implementing internal and external communication policy, ensuring that knowledge and results are shared clearly and accessibly in line with applicable guidelines.
• Coordinating strategy and required capacity for the reliable execution of the WOT programme with the involved research institutes.
• Being responsible for managing and safeguarding the ISO quality management system, including the quality of models, data files and work processes.

Where You Will Work

The Statutory Research Tasks for Nature & Environment (WOT‑NM) form one of the six WOT units of Wageningen University & Research. For the development, implementation and further advancement of policy and legislation, the government requires knowledge on nature, landscape and the environment. WOT‑NM provides this information, enabling government to base its policy on reliable data.

WOT‑NM is a programme‑based organisation, divided into six themes, each led by a theme leader. For a description of the different themes, see: WOT Nature & Environment | WUR.

The primary task of WOT‑NM is to unlock, develop, integrate and apply scientific knowledge from disciplines relevant to the statutory tasks. This concerns knowledge about the physical living environment and the interaction between the physical and socio‑economic environment, and the effects on people, nature and the environment. This results in a range of products such as models, publications and advice.

How Do You Work With Us?

WOT‑NM is organised as a programme with a network structure. With a budget of over €10 million and approximately 50 FTEs, around 200 experts from Wageningen Research work annually on the execution of the statutory research tasks in practice. Within the WOT‑NM programme, you work together with the research institutes of Wageningen Research, in particular Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR), as well as with external partners, including PBL, RIVM and CBS. You report functionally to a member of the WENR Management Team, as delegate of the WOT Coordinator, and to the LVVN Programme Council regarding the planning and realisation of the annual activities.

You are able to maintain the balance between independence and client orientation, between delivering high‑quality products in the short term and anticipating future knowledge needs. You find the right balance between scientific quality and results orientation, and are proficient in financial management and the mandate over the budget at your disposal.

You facilitate collaboration within and between sub‑programmes (themes) and beyond. You are a connector, both internally within Wageningen Research and externally with the commissioning body LVVN and external partners.

In addition, you have:

• A relevant academic background and a mission‑driven mindset in the field of nature and the environment (a PhD in one of the sub‑themes is an advantage).
• Affinity with policy‑supporting research, policy processes and legislation and regulations.
• Extensive, demonstrable experience in leading a complex, multi‑ and/or interdisciplinary programme.
• Excellent command of the Dutch language, both spoken and written.
• The ability to develop a forward‑looking vision and translate this into a concrete and feasible strategy.
• A strong focus on measurable results and safeguarding high quality in everything you do.
• The ability to connect people, stimulate collaboration and create an environment in which teams grow and excel together.

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 €5.294,- and €7.905,- 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 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 Communitypage 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 Simon Moolenaar, via e-mail: simon.moolenaar@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jouke van Oostenbrugge, corporate recruiter, via Jouke.vanoostenbrugge@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 18 May 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before April 25th, 2026.

We review applications on a rolling basis, including before the closing date. As a result, the vacancy may close earlier than indicated.

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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