Scientific researcher in roughage and grazing

Your job

As a scientific researcher in roughage and grazing within the Animal Nutrition department of Wageningen Livestock Research, you will apply your expertise in soil, forage production, and feeding strategies to address the challenges of climate change and nitrogen losses in the dairy sector.

You will work with colleagues in multidisciplinary research projects focusing on the role of grassland and forage in a sustainable dairy farming system. Depending on your own expertise and interests, this may involve projects on grazing management, forage crop cultivation (e.g., silage maize), and species-rich grassland. Examples of research programmes you may contribute to include Cow & Protein and/or follow-up projects from Forage, Soil and Circular Agriculture.

We work on a project basis for the dairy sector, commissioned by farmers' organisations, national and international companies, the Dutch government, and NGOs.

Your key tasks and responsibilities as a researcher include:

• Leading projects and being substantively involved as a researcher;
• Building relationships with clients and maintaining a network of stakeholders in the sector;
• Data analysis, reporting, and presenting results both in practice and in scientific publications;
• Further development of the research field.

Your Team
Within the Animal Nutrition department (~40 staff), you will work in an expert team of around 10 researchers specifically focused on forage and grazing. You will collaborate with colleagues from your own team and with colleagues from other departments or research institutes within project teams. We work from the Wageningen Campus as well as our research locations in Leeuwarden (Dairy Campus) and Hengelo Gld (De Marke).

Your qualities

You are a results-oriented and enthusiastic researcher with knowledge of the dairy sector and a passion for scientific research. You want to apply your knowledge of crop production to a sustainable livestock farming system and enjoy transferring that knowledge to practice. You are well-organised and have a talent for connecting people.

You also have:

• Experience as a researcher with expertise in grass, grazing, soil management and forage cultivation, with knowledge of the dairy sector;
• A relevant MSc or PhD qualification;
• A professional network in the dairy sector;
• Good command of both English and Dutch.

We offer you

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 €3.234 and €6.831 for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 10 - 12). Additionally, a contract for 28 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.

Coming from abroad
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.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Roselinde Goselink (roselinde.goselink@wur.nl) and/or Bert Philipsen (bert.philipsen@wur.nl).

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Dax Teunissen, Corporate Recruiter, via vacaturemeldingen.psg@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 May 25th 2025

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.

We are

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.