Researcher Crop Production and Varieties – Open Field Crops
Your job As a researcher in crop production and varieties in open-field farming, do you find it important to take the cultivation of both conventional and new crops to the next level? Would you like to contribute to crop and variety improvement in Dutch arable farming and roughage production? And would you like to use your knowledge and experience as a project leader and project executor? Are you an enthusiastic and flexible researcher with a sharp eye for detail, who values high-quality work and has a sense of entrepreneurship? Then we are looking for you! What will you do? At the Business Unit Open Field Crops in Lelystad, we are looking for an enthusiastic researcher who can contribute to the field of crop and variety research for arable and fodder crops. You will carry out research on optimizing the cultivation of a wide range of existing and new crops. This includes Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) research for determining variety lists (for example maize and cereals). In addition, you will conduct research on cropping systems and robust varieties in the context of new farming systems (such as Farm of the Future) and climate change. You will often work within large public-private partnerships, collaborating with various stakeholders on today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Within the team, you actively contribute to acquiring new projects and take initiative in consultation with involved partners. You enjoy translating new knowledge into practical applications and sharing this knowledge with practitioners. Your role As a subject-matter expert in crop research, you will have several responsibilities: carrying out projects in terms of content (setting up research, conducting it, and reporting), together with colleagues; leading projects, in cooperation with a project management support officer; acquiring new projects. On average, you will spend most of your time on the research content, while carrying out all three tasks. Depending on your interests and skills, the balance in time spent on these tasks may vary slightly. Your qualities As a researcher, you are the content expert and connecting person in the field of crop research in open-field farming. For this position, we expect that you recognise yourself in many of the following aspects: a completed academic degree in Crop Science (Horticulture & Arable Farming or Plant Sciences); proven affinity with the sector and crop production (arable crops, including fodder crops); the ability to maintain an overview of complex processes, working accurately with attention to detail; willingness to visit field trials across the Netherlands and monitor the progress of your research; a team player who can also work well independently, and who enjoys collaborating with partners inside and outside the organisation; ability to present research results in an attractive and clear way to clients, growers, and other stakeholders; a market- and customer-oriented attitude, with a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset; possession of a valid category B driving licence; good command of the Dutch language (minimum level C2) and English (minimum level B2). About the Crop Research Team The Crop Research team consists of eight people who are jointly, directly or indirectly, responsible for Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) research on various crops (maize, cereals, grass, chicory, fodder beet) and for other projects. These projects range from subsidised projects to Top Sector and public-private partnerships (such as PPS Brewing Barley, PPS Baking Wheat, PPS Roughage), as well as business-to-business projects. Part of the team is based in Vredepeel, where a trial location is also located. For this position, we are looking for someone based at our Lelystad location. Why work at Crop Research: working on projects that are directly applicable in practice; collaborating with passionate colleagues and entrepreneurs who strive for quality; freedom and responsibility to develop new initiatives; a place where agriculture and innovation come together; working in the most important sector: food production; contributing to knowledge in one of the most advanced agri-sectors in the world. Example projects: https://www.maisexpert.nl/rassenonderzoek-mais/ https://uireka.nl/ https://www.wur.nl/nl/nieuws/uniek-onderzoek-van-start-om-toekomstig-biertje-duurzamer-en-lekkerder-te-maken https://www.crkls.nl/project-update/onderzoek-naar-eiwitten-in-graan-biedt-perspectief-voor-nederlands-baktarwe/ https://www.limburg.nl/onderwerpen/land-en-tuinbouw/propositie-heuvelland/ https://farmofthefuture.nl/zuidoostelijk-zand/ Ready to help shape the agriculture of the future? Apply via Wageningen University & Research and work with us towards a fossil-free and circular agriculture. 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 “knowledgemigrant” We offer 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; 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. 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 between €3.399,- and €6.228,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 10 -11). Secondment or a part-time appointment can be discussed. Initially, we offer you a one-year contract, followed by an extension of up to 24 months. After this extension, and subject to mutual enthusiasm and a sufficiently filled project portfolio, a permanent contract will be offered. Of course, we are happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions. 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. 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

