Technical Services Assistant

From troubleshooting technical issues to improving installations: as a Technical Services Technician at WBVR, you help ensure that complex technical systems continue to operate safely and reliably. You will work on installations and systems within a High Containment Unit, where no two days are the same.

Do you enjoy working with technology, solving technical problems and finding ways to improve systems and installations? At WBVR, you will receive a comprehensive onboarding programme and plenty of opportunities to further develop your skills and pursue additional training in this unique technical environment.

Then apply for the position of Technical Services Technician at WBVR in Lelystad!

Please note: Proficiency in Dutch is essential for this position, as the role involves working with Dutch-language procedures, documentation and communication.

We are looking for an enthusiastic technician with a background in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.

Your duties and responsibilities as a Technical Services Assistant are:

• you troubleshoot and resolve technical faults. You analyse the issue, make the installation safe and ensure it is returned to service as quickly and responsibly as possible;
• you inspect installations, develop maintenance plans and carry out maintenance independently in accordance with applicable standards and biological safety requirements;
• you contribute to the improvement of installations, systems and processes, carry out technical work yourself and supervise work performed by external contractors;
• you maintain technical records and ensure that the necessary materials, spare parts and tools are available. When equipment needs to be repaired or replaced, you take the appropriate action;
• you carry out activities in accordance with applicable quality and safety procedures and contribute suggestions for improving these procedures, particularly in the areas of safety and quality;
• you keep up to date with relevant technical developments, particularly those related to equipment, installations and systems used in High Containment Units (HCUs). You also contribute to working groups and project teams involved in the preparation, design, implementation and follow-up of innovation, expansion and modification projects.

Your team

You will become part of the Technical Services team, a team of 11 colleagues. Everyone has their own area of expertise, but you support one another and are able to work across a broad range of technical disciplines. Together, you ensure that the technical installations and facilities remain reliable, safe and operational.

This flexibility is also essential for responding effectively to technical faults, both during and outside regular working hours. You will have plenty of scope to apply your technical expertise while continuing to develop and expand your skills.

You will work here 

The Technical Services team reports to the Technical Services Team Leader and is responsible for all maintenance activities across the facilities, including both preventive and corrective maintenance.

We value your expertise and sense of responsibility. That is why you will have plenty of freedom to organise your work and manage your own time. You also have flexibility in planning your days off, so you can maintain a good balance between work and your personal life, including caring responsibilities. And thanks to WBVR’s location in Lelystad, you can often travel to work outside the busiest traffic periods.

The Facilities and Services department is responsible for the technical and physical security of the High Containment Unit (HCU), logistics, services, technical operations, and the implementation and monitoring of maintenance, refurbishment and innovation projects.

You are not expected to know everything about our installations and the High Containment Unit from day one. You will receive a comprehensive onboarding programme, during which you will become familiar with our installations, systems, safety procedures and ways of working. As you gain experience, you will gradually take on more responsibility.

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 € 4,560.- 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 2 November, 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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