Quality specialist WFSR

Are you a quality specialist with experience in an ISO-certified and/or accredited laboratory environment? Do you enjoy working together with colleagues on quality improvement, and are you able to raise awareness of the importance of quality in daily practice? Would you like to be part of a team of driven QHSE (KAM) professionals? Then take a look at the vacancy for Quality Specialist at Wageningen Food Safety Research.

Your tasks and responsibilities as a Quality Specialist include:

• Carrying out (risk-based) internal audits based on ISO standards (ISO 9001/17025/17043) to verify correct system implementation and identify areas for improvement;
• Acting as the contact person for accreditation and certification bodies during audits and other accreditation-related activities;
• Advising, training, and supporting colleagues in accreditation/certification-related activities and process improvement;
• Investigating deviations and complaints, identifying root causes, and implementing corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence;
• Implementing an online quality management system for the registration, monitoring, and evaluation of deviations, complaints, and improvements, in collaboration with other partners within Wageningen University & Research. This includes testing the system prior to release and training/supporting colleagues.

In several improvement projects, you will participate as a quality specialist in a working group to advise on and support the (re)design of processes and procedures. In doing so, you will help assess compliance with the requirements of ISO standards 9001, 17025, and/or 17043. In other projects, you will act as a project coordinator, guiding the working group and leading the process of implementing improvement actions.

Where you will work

Wageningen Food Safety Research conducts high-quality, independent research on safe and reliable food. We work primarily for the Dutch government and operate as an official control laboratory. We measure residues, toxins, contaminants, and microbial and viral contamination in food and animal feed.

Our tasks include performing risk analyses, monitoring trends in the food production chain, identifying emerging risks, verifying food authenticity, and conducting forensic investigations. We advise governments and offer a wide range of training activities. In addition, WFSR is a national and European reference laboratory.

WFSR is part of the international knowledge organization Wageningen University & Research.

The QHSE (KAM) team consists of quality specialists, occupational health and safety coordinators, environmental coordinators, and a QHSE (KAM) manager. Within WFSR, the team carries out the following activities:

• Advising and supporting the continuous improvement of the (quality) management system;
• Supporting the execution of risk assessments related to safety, health, environment, and quality;
• Providing advice on and monitoring WFSR processes and compliance with quality, occupational health, and environmental requirements arising from legislation, certification, accreditation, and the WUR organization.

What do you bring?

• HBO/WO (Bachelor’s/Master’s) level of working and thinking;
• At least 5 years of experience as a quality specialist within a (laboratory) environment with a certified/accredited quality management system (preferably ISO 17025/17043/9001);
• Experience in conducting internal audits, with a curious mindset and the confidence to ask critical questions;
• Familiarity with QA methodologies such as root cause analysis, trend analysis, and risk analysis;
• Preferably experience with implementation trajectories of innovations and guiding improvement projects;
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team;
• Proficiency in both Dutch and English;
• Affinity with setting up and managing (registration) systems; you are able to give these a structured and practical design using your analytical skills and organizational sensitivity.

You will see that there are plenty of challenges for you. These challenges can also be viewed as development opportunities. Therefore, if you do not yet have the full track record described in the vacancy, but do have solid work experience, we would still very much like to invite you to apply.

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 €3.339,- and €5.478,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 10). Additionally, For this role a contract for 24 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. 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.

WUR welcomes applications from international candidates. However, for applicants for this specific position from outside the EU/EFTA zone, immigration restrictions may apply based on Dutch and EU immigration laws. Such candidates may be eligible for an “orientationyear” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”.

For more information about the position, please contact Petrouchka Kaasenbrood, KAM manager WFSR, via 0643449081 of e-mail: petrouchka.kaasenbrood@wur.nl

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, via 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 26 January 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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