Laboratory manager/Technician in Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation

Your job

Join Our Team as a Laboratory manager/Technician in Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation!
Do you have a passion for plant analysis, soil chemistry, and nature? Are you an experienced lab professional who enjoys helping students and supporting researchers in their projects? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

We are looking for a Laboratory manager/Technician to join our dynamic team in the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group. In this role, you will be responsible for managing your own lab and assist with research in the lab, field, and greenhouse, supporting a wide range of projects from student projects to scientific experiments.

What You'll Do:
As a Laboratory manager/Technician, you will have a variety of responsibilities. You will be responsible for the overall proper management and maintenance of the laboratory and will liaise with other people within WUR on laboratory related issues. You will prepare and conduct chemical analyses of water, soil and plant samples, using key instruments such as AutoAnalyser, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and CN elemental analyser. Additionally, you will manage the chemical inventory, ensuring the lab is well-stocked with necessary chemicals and consumables, and that equipment is properly maintained to ensure a high standard of technical quality across our environmental and plant-soil laboratories. Beyond these technical tasks, you will assist with fieldwork and provide support to students (BSc, MSc, and PhD) in their research. Your contribution will be essential to both research projects and teaching activities.
 

Your qualities

We are looking for someone who is self-motivated and self-directed, resourceful, and enjoys practical problem-solving. This role is ideal for someone who can handle a variety of technical methods and thrives in a dynamic research environment. Our ideal candidate has a passion for chemical analysis, a keen attention to detail, and enjoys working collaboratively with students, staff, and researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. You are hands-on, creative, independent, and comfortable managing a small lab.

• You are / You have: Chemical Technician diploma at HBO level;
• 5+ years of experience in water/soil/plant chemical analysis;
• Experience working with laboratory equipment, including AutoAnalyser, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, and CN elemental analyser;
• Excellent communication skills, with a passion for mentoring students;
• Fluent in Dutch and English;
• Driver’s license;
• Experience with insects and the operation and maintenance of microscopes is a plus.

Enthusiastic MBO candidates with over 10 years of relevant experience are also encouraged to apply.

You will work here
You will be part of the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group (a diverse, interdisciplinary team focused on understanding and preserving biodiversity. The group has led extensive research on the relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and ecosystem services, with emphasis on natural and agricultural landscapes. The research covers a wide range of topics, including plant responses to climate change, restoration ecology, ecosystem services, and the sustainable management of (semi-) natural landscapes. The group is actively involved in fieldwork, experimental research, and modeling, with the goal of safeguarding ecosystem sustainability and ecosystem services in a changing world and informing conservation practices. You will play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and integrity of this important research. If you’re eager to apply your technical skills in a meaningful and supportive academic setting, we encourage you to submit your application!

We offer you

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more,  per week;
• 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 December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €3.502 and €4.812 for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 9 ). Additionally, a contract for 0.8  FTE can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended on good performance. Of course, we would be happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19^th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
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.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact prof.dr.ir. David Kleijn, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, telephone +31317485807 or by e-mail: david.kleijn@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, by email: noorien.abbas@wur.nl .

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 18 November 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews soon after the closing date.

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.

We are

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.