Project Leader Radioactivity

Do you have knowledge of radioactivity and its analysis? Are you able to find a good balance between organizational and team needs? Are you someone who can connect stakeholders?
We, Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), are looking for a Project Leader Radioactivity. Will you be our new colleague?

Please note; given the interactions with certain stakeholders, fluency in Dutch is essential. Applying without fluency in Dutch will be a reason for rejection.

What will you do?

As a project leader and expert in radioactivity at WFSR, you will focus on the optimal functioning of your projects within the team. You ensure that deadlines are met and that clients are satisfied with the delivered results. You support team members where necessary so that they can successfully carry out their work for your projects.

Your tasks and responsibilities as project leader include:

• safeguarding the scientific and technical quality of the radiochemical analyses delivered by the team. You organize the work processes in such a way that the team can achieve optimal results, with everyone taking responsibility;
• monitoring the quality of project execution. You maintain oversight of all projects within the team, monitor progress, identify bottlenecks, and adjust where needed;
• responsibility for the financial project results;
• ensuring the effective allocation of team members to projects, making sure the planned hours are managed;
• identifying opportunities for new research projects and acquiring new projects.

In addition, you will:

• take part in national and international working groups or networks in the field;
• be part of the national crisis team;
• support the functioning of the National Monitoring Network for Radioactivity in Food (LMRV) and contribute to renewing this network.

For research involving radionuclides and equipment using ionizing radiation in other university departments, WUR holds a complex permit. Within the management group of this permit, there is also room for a coordinating or general coordinating expert (ACD). Depending on your educational background, this may also be a (future) responsibility for the project leader radioactivity.

Where will you work?

Wageningen Food Safety Research conducts research into safe and reliable food. We are specialists in (forensic) measurement of large numbers of samples, and we develop analytical methods to detect unwanted substances in food. In the Contaminants-2 team, we analyze contaminants in food products, animal feed, and their raw materials. The main groups of contaminants are heavy metals, radioactive substances, and process contaminants such as acrylamide. We also develop new methods to detect these contaminants.

The team is part of the Contaminants & Toxicology business unit, which consists of six teams in total. Within this unit, in addition to contaminant research and routine analyses of food and feed, analytical-chemical research and the development of new chemical analysis methods are carried out. You will be working in the Radiochemical Analysis subteam.

You have:

• a completed higher professional (HBO+) or academic (WO) degree, preferably related to the field of radioactivity;
• experience in leading projects, preferably in a laboratory environment;
• a good command of Dutch and English;
• knowledge of quality systems (e.g., ISO 17025) and of occupational health and safety, environmental, and security regulations;
• our preference is for a candidate who is at least a Coordinating Expert (formerly level 3).

As a project leader, you maintain full oversight of everything happening within your projects, both in terms of people and numbers. You are attentive to the individual needs and motivations of team members, as well as the needs of the team and the organization. You know how to create a socially and physically safe environment with open communication. You are quality- and customer-oriented, skilled in process management, and capable of working effectively under strict deadlines.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level B2.

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 €4045,- and €6228,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 11). In the future additional role of ACD could lead to a scale 12 (max €7068,-).

Additionally, For this role a contract for 32 hours a week can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with 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. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

For more information about the position, please contact Jaap van den Blink, Teamlead Contaminants 2, via email: jaap.vandenblink@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, via email: Rutger.voorrips@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 until January 19th, 2026. Don’t wait with your application. As soon as we have suitable candidates we will initiate the first interviews.

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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