Senior HR Business Partner

As a Senior HR Business Partner, you act as a sounding board, adviser and process facilitator for management and line managers of various education and research groups within SSG. Together with your colleagues, you are responsible for ensuring that HR services and instruments align as closely as possible with SSG’s strategic ambitions. You build professional working relationships with managers and, together with the Centres of Expertise (CoE), contribute to Recruitment, Vitality & Health, and Learning & Development.

Your tasks and responsibilities as Senior HR Business Partner include:

• Acting as a sounding board and adviser for managers (and the executive team) on a wide range of HR issues, providing both solicited and unsolicited advice;
• Contributing ideas and playing an active role in the development, execution and implementation of HR policy within the groups, strategic workforce planning, team casework and organisational issues;
• Coordinating and facilitating the execution of HR (annual) processes in close collaboration with HR colleagues, HR specialists and other partners, and supporting the organisation in successfully managing change processes;
• Proactively contributing to the further development of the HR team and HR policy, thinking and acting from a broader and more strategic perspective;
• Shaping the HR agenda and (co-)responsibility for the successful SSG-wide implementation of WUR HR policy. 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 harmonisation of services;
• Participating in various HR domains and acting as lead for an HR domain and several projects. The domains are: People Services, People Growth, Culture, Organisation Development and Talent Attraction;
• Having a substantive coaching role towards fellow HR Business Partners.

Your team
You will work closely with our dedicated HR team, consisting of a Head of HR and four (Senior) HR Business Partners. 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 undergoing significant change and development. As a team, we strive to create a culture in which collegiality, authenticity and collaboration are key values. An informal way of working together and a sense of humour are very important to us. Together, we aim to create an open and transparent culture. As a team, we value people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the continued professionalisation of our services.

The Social Sciences Group (SSG) consists of the university-based Department of Social Sciences (21 chair groups) and the Wageningen Social & Economic Research Institute (13 research teams) that conducts applied research. SSG has a strong international orientation in terms of staff, education and research.

You are innovative and curious, enabling you to stay up to date with new developments. We expect data-driven advice and proactive solutions. With your advisory skills, empathy, diplomacy and powers of persuasion, you are able to create support and initiate (organisational) change. You are a critical discussion partner and do not shy away from robust conversations.

You also have:
• HBO/WO (higher professional/university) level of working and thinking;
• At least 8 years’ experience as an HR Business Partner or HR adviser;
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in organisational development and design, strategic workforce planning, leadership and team development, and complex casework (performance and social safety), preferably gained in an academic and/or complex working environment;
• A strong personality with initiative and persuasive ability; you are empathetic, able to connect and manage differing interests;
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English.

In our international working environment, English is increasingly the main language of communication. For this position, English proficiency at C1 level is required.

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 € 4.045 and € 6.228 for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 11). Additionally, For this role a contract for 32 and 36 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.

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, via +31 0317 48 56 77 or 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 until January 25, 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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