Managing Director, Environmental Sciences Group

Your job

On behalf of Wageningen University & Research, Perrett Laver is recruiting for this position. For more information, please visit: Perrett Laver: Managing Director, Environmental Sciences Group.

Wageningen University & Research is now looking to appoint a new Managing Director for the Environmental Sciences Group (ESG). Holding final responsibility for the strategy and operation of the group, the Managing Director will lead on promoting a structurally strong scientific and market position of the Environmental Sciences Group, while also ensuring a strong orientation in the national and international domain and public dialogue. Leading efforts to foster cross-unit cooperation and WUR-wide synergies, the Managing Director will act as a connector and team player, with a leadership style that is both inspiring, guiding, and supportive. This role will involve fostering an environment where individuals feel free to contribute innovative, ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas and engage in critical reflection . With strong interpersonal skills, they will bring teams together, motivate others, and exemplify a people-centred, approachable, unifying, and coaching leadership style. The Managing Director is also a member of the Wageningen Management Board with responsibility for the overall strategy of WUR in collaboration with his/her colleagues from other science groups. 

Key Responsibilities

The Managing Director holds final responsibility for the strategy, positioning and functioning of ESG in the areas of research, education, business development, marketing, finance, organizational development, personnel, communication and culture within the complex (matrix)organization of Wageningen University & Research. The Managing Director leads the development of an inspiring vision for ESG and creates support for this vision across the Environmental Sciences Group. ESG contributes to the WUR’s ambition and mission of creating societal impact, promotes and ensures a structurally strong scientific position as well as a national and international market orientation for ESG. With respect to education (for which the strategic responsibility lies with the WU vice-dean on Education and the department of Education and Students Affairs), the Managing Director holds final responsibility for the implementation of education policy within ESG.

Reporting to the President of the Executive Board, the Managing Director is a member of the Wageningen Management Board. In this role, the Managing Director is responsible for the Group’s contribution to the wider WUR strategy and is expected to develop cross-unit initiatives that contribute to strengthening WUR as a whole.

Your qualities

The ideal candidate:

• is a team player and connector both externally (clients and partners) and internally (ESG leadership and employees) with strong interpersonal skills, who fosters and enables collaboration across disciplines and promotes cooperation;
• is result-driven and has proven leadership skills, with experience in management of academic and/or complex organizations;
• is a transparent and approachable leader who leads based on mutual trust and can listen, guide, inspire and stands behind decisions taken;
• is outward-facing and sensitive to the public and political debate, and at the same time is visible in the organisation and connects to the employees;
• is open to and responds proactively to change, and can translate this into innovative solutions;
• has an affinity with the scientific domain of ESG, and preferably has working experience in academia;
• has a relevant regional, national and international network (including government, industry, academia and other public partners) and is expanding this constantly;
• recognizes and values the role of the Works Council (employee participation) in the governance of ESG and is able to maintain constructive relations with it;
• is fluent in English and Dutch, or willing to learn Dutch (C2 level) within two years.

Wageningen University & Research explicitly strives for diversity in the composition of the workforce, including in senior management. Applications from female and international candidates are therefore actively encouraged.

We offer you

The position offered is on a full-time basis (a 4 day working week can be discussed) for a period of four years, with the possibility of one extension of four years. Salary is competitive and depends on qualifications and experience. Salary (Scale 18) and benefits are based on the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities. Additionally, Wageningen University & Research offers an attractive package of secondary employment benefits.

Do you want more information?

An executive search exercise is being undertaken by Perrett Laver to assist the Appointment Advisory Committee. Applications should consist of a covering letter addressing motivation and suitability against the person specifications and a full curriculum vitae.

Perrett Laver may be contacted for informal enquiries and questions about the post at +31 20 2409 344 or feride.yetis@perrettlaver.com. Applications can be uploaded at https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/, quoting reference number 7580. The deadline for applications for this position is 9 am CET on 21st November.

Applications will be considered by the Appointment Advisory Committee in early November. Perrett Laver will conduct preliminary discussions with longlisted candidates, and the Committee will then meet to decide on a shortlist of candidates at the end of November. Shortlisted individuals will subsequently be invited for formal interviews in December. Selection of and negotiations with the preferred candidate will take place thereafter. A development assessment is part of the process.

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We are

Wageningen University and Research (WUR) is recognised worldwide as the leading education and research centre for knowledge and innovation development in the domains of food, the natural environment and societal change.

WUR’s integral and interdisciplinary approach, combining fundamental scientific research and education at Wageningen University with the market focus of the Wageningen Research Institutes, leads to scientific breakthroughs that can quickly be translated into practice and incorporated into education. More than 7,600 employees and 13,100 BSc and MSc students together “explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”.

WUR is driven by the desire to understand and contribute to the world’s challenges and facilitate the transitions. The WUR strives for environmental and societal impact by transforming current food systems in inclusive, healthy and sustainable food systems. Wageningen University & Research provides innovative technological solutions, yet fundamentally they are about societal change.

The Environmental Sciences Group (ESG) at Wageningen University & Research is a leading institute focused on developing (nature-based) solutions for global environmental challenges. The group conducts fundamental and applied, interdisciplinary research across various areas, including biodiversity, sustainable land use, water management, and climate resilience. ESG addresses critical issues ranging from local to global ecosystems, helping to create a healthier, greener, and more resilient living environment.