Technical Services Assistant

Do you have a technical background and do you thrive in an inspiring and technically challenging environment such as a High Containment Unit can offer? Then apply for the position of Maintenance Technician at WBVR in Lelystad!

We are looking for an enthusiastic technician with a background in electrical engineering or mechanical engineering.

Following a thorough induction period, as a Technical Services Assistant you will be able to work on all aspects of installations, equipment and systems. This often involves complex tasks which, partly due to biosafety requirements, demand a multidisciplinary approach and for which there are often no explicit standard working methods or instructions.

Your duties and responsibilities as a Technical Services Assistant are:

• you are responsible for identifying, isolating and resolving faults;
• you inspect installations, draw up maintenance plans and carry them out independently in accordance with applicable standards and (biological) safety requirements;
• you will make suggestions for improvement to optimise the buildings, systems and processes, and will be involved in carrying out work yourself and in supervising activities carried out by external contractors;
• you will handle the technical administration associated with the work, manage the necessary materials and tools, and arrange for repairs or replacements where necessary;
• you carry out activities in accordance with the applicable quality and safety procedures and make suggestions for improving the current procedures in the areas of safety and quality;
• you keep abreast of relevant current developments, particularly in the field of HCU-related equipment, installations and systems, and contribute to working and project groups regarding the preparation, design, implementation and follow-up of innovation, expansion or modification projects. 

Your team

The Technical Services team consists of eleven all-round staff members; they all have their own specific areas of responsibility but are nonetheless versatile when it comes to the building and its utilities. To this end, they possess a basic understanding of how to maintain the facilities. This versatility is essential for ensuring effective fault response both during and outside normal working hours.

You will work here 

The Technical Services Department is managed on a day-to-day basis by the Technical Services Team Leader and is responsible for all maintenance tasks relating to the facilities, both preventive and corrective. 

The Facilities and Services Department is responsible for the (technical) security of the High Containment Unit (HCU), logistics activities, Services, (technical) operations and the implementation and/or monitoring of maintenance, refurbishment and/or innovations. 

You work with precision and a focus on quality, combining this with a positive attitude and a sense of humour.

You also posses:

• you have completed a technical qualification at MBO level 4 (preferably with a background in mechanical or electrical engineering);
• you preferably have experience of working in a pharmaceutical, food or hospital environment or similar conditions;
• you are available for on-call duty and can be on site within 30 minutes during this period;
• you hold a Category B driving licence;
• you possess problem-solving skills and are able to work well as part of a team;
• you have a good command of the Dutch language (spoken and written) due to procedures and communication. 

The work will take place in buildings subject to additional quarantine restrictions after you leave (in accordance with EU regulations). This means that you are not permitted to keep animals of the same species. Furthermore, for 72 hours after the work, you are not permitted to have contact with these animals or visit poultry production facilities. You are willing to adhere to these rules.

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”.

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;
• 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 maximum € 4,374.- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 8). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended 

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

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 Martin Schutte, Head of Department, via email: martin.schutte@wur.nl or via phonenumber: +31 320 - 238 689. 

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Ine van ‘t Land, Corporate Recruiter, via email: ine.vantland@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 May 18, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before April 24, 2026.

We review applications on a rolling basis, including before the closing date. As a result, the vacancy may close earlier than indicated.

Procedure
Upon joining the company, we require a Certificate of Good Conduct.

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 Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) is ‘A society in which animals and humans live together in good health’. Based on this mission, WBVR carries out projects for the Dutch and European governments, as well as contract research assignments for a large number of international clients. WBVR focuses in particular on research into (notifiable) infectious diseases in animals and on infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses).

​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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