Sr Payroll Specialist

As Payroll & Tax Specialist Sr. with a special interest in foreign payroll, you and your two team members take pride in a monthly timely and correct payroll in the Netherlands and abroad. You are an expert on Dutch payroll processes for Wageningen University and Research (WUR). Additionally, you and another team member manage the Working Abroad Services (WAS) for expats (around 30-50 per year) and collaborate with an external partner to monitor their service delivery and direct related processes within the organization, including billing.

You will work closely with two other Senior team members on the Dutch payroll, a remote-working team member on WAS and an external partner on Working Abroad Service delivery as well as the Pension Fund, Tax authority and Insurance companies when relevant. The Payroll & Tax team is one of four teams within HR Operations, alongside HR Services (payroll administration), HR Contact Centre, and Processes & Applications. An interdisciplinary team (TOP) works in an agile way on the change portfolio on HR processes and applications. You will also collaborate with HR Legal, Welcome Center Food Valley professionals, and other HR colleagues within HR Operations, Centers of Expertise, and HR Business Partners.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• Responsible for payroll in the Netherlands and abroad for Wageningen University and Research (four entities including internships) and the Working Abroad Services delivery on all requests from the business.
• Advise on and supervise the correct application of schemes, procedures, systems, and regulations, and communicate when this is not the case.
• Inform and advise managers, colleagues, or individual employees on the interpretation and application of methods, regulations, and rules, including maintaining the online Knowledge Base.
• Co-develop and implement collective terms of employment and legislation, and prepare, develop, and implement applications, policy tools, or regulations in the field of labor and income.
• Coach and train colleagues.

• Minimum hbo working and thinking level (Bsc);
• Current knowledge of Dutch law/regulations in the social tax field, at least PDL (with 5 years of experience) or VPS
• Awareness on differences in laws/regulations in other countries;
• Oral communication: Dutch and English in word and writing level C1;
• Knowledge of Payroll software (ADP Multipay preferred), Core HR applications and interfaces, Pensions & (Social) Insurances in the Netherlands
• Experience in configurating, testing and implementing payroll software in a multi CLA business

As a professional, you demonstrate integrity and are sensitive to both internal and external developments. You are cooperative and result-oriented, always committed to customer satisfaction. Your accuracy, initiative, and decisiveness ensure that you consistently deliver high-quality work.

Wageningen Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labor Agreement include:

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for a good  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 € 3.399 and € 5.548 for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (Scale 10). 

Additionally, a contract for 32 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that with the intention to convert it into a permanent contract. 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.

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 Centre Food Valley. 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 Brigitte Bancken, Head of HR Operations, via +31 6 34 32 99 12 or email: Brigitte.bancken@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Edvard Jongschaap, Sr. Corporate Recruiter, tel: 0317 – 489 178 or by email: edvard.jongschaap@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 Monday 8th of June. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 9 May 2026.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure. Additionally, presenting a positive Certificate of Conduct (VOG) that is no older than three months is part of the screening process.

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.

​