Would you like to work part-time as an executive secretary, advising and supporting the Works Councils of the Plant Sciences Group (PSG) and the Social Sciences Group (SSG) at WUR?
As executive secretary, you serve as a key point of contact for council members and play a vital role in ensuring effective employee participation. In this role, you’ll work closely with the executive committees of both Works Councils and coordinate communication with the directors.
In this role, you will be supporting two different Science Groups within WUR. The PSG Works Council consists of 13 members and represents nearly 1,600 employees. The SSG Works Council also has 13 members, representing 950 employees. The working language of the Works Councils alternates between Dutch and English. Documents are prepared in both Dutch and English, or in English only.
You will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.
You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.
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. The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.
We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated. You bring strong organizational awareness, a confident and resilient personality, and a creative mindset. You are also known for your integrity, decisiveness, and excellent communication skills. These qualities enable you to thrive in a dynamic environment and take initiative where needed.
In addition, you have:
Scale 7 up to and including 10
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 “orientation year” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”. For more information about the position, feel free to contact:
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
This vacancy is open internally until 4 August 2025. If no suitable candidate is found, it will be published externally until Monday 28 August 2025. The first interviews are scheduled to take place in the third and fourth week of August 2025.
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.
As executive secretary, you serve as a key point of contact for council members and play a vital role in ensuring effective employee participation. In this role, you’ll work closely with the executive committees of both Works Councils and coordinate communication with the directors.
In this role, you will be supporting two different Science Groups within WUR. The PSG Works Council consists of 13 members and represents nearly 1,600 employees. The SSG Works Council also has 13 members, representing 950 employees. The working language of the Works Councils alternates between Dutch and English. Documents are prepared in both Dutch and English, or in English only.
You will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:
- Organising, preparing, reporting the internal Works Council meetings, executive committee meetings, and consultation meetings with the directors of the Science Groups
- Supporting the Works Councils in drafting advisory reports and consent decisions, as well as handling correspondence with the directors
- Monitoring processes, (legal) procedures, and deadlines, staying up to date with relevant legislation and regulations, and safeguarding agreements and relationships within the Councils and with directors.
- Co-organising the onboarding of new council members and initiating and coordinating training sessions for the Councils.
- 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;
- 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.
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.
You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.
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. The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.
We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated. You bring strong organizational awareness, a confident and resilient personality, and a creative mindset. You are also known for your integrity, decisiveness, and excellent communication skills. These qualities enable you to thrive in a dynamic environment and take initiative where needed.
In addition, you have:
- A bachelor's or academic (HBO/WO) level of working and thinking;
- Strong organizational skills;
- Good written and verbal communication skills in both Dutch and English, at a minimum B2 level.
Scale 7 up to and including 10
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 “orientation year” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”. For more information about the position, feel free to contact:
- Annemarie Baaijens, Executive Secretary of PSG, via annemarie.baaijens@wur.nl
- John ten Bohmer, Executive Secretary of SSG, via john.tenbohmer@wur.nl
- Harry Kortstee, Chair of the SSG Works Council, via harry.kortstee@wur.nl
- Hein Stallinga, Chair of the PSG Works Council, via hein.stallinga@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.
This vacancy is open internally until 4 August 2025. If no suitable candidate is found, it will be published externally until Monday 28 August 2025. The first interviews are scheduled to take place in the third and fourth week of August 2025.
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.