We are looking for a lab technician for the department of Food Quality and Design (FQD) at Wageningen University. Your job will be to assist in analytical activities in the laboratories of FQD including: working with a wide range of instruments for food analysis, focusing on (but not limited to) chromatography (GC, LC).

It is a perfect job for an MSc graduate who is willing to develop oneself within an education environment. Within this job you will have a variety of responsibilities, in which you can develop yourself on the spot. To be eligible, you should have a natural interest in education (development) and have a background in Food Science. Familiarity with Wageningen education is a plus, but candidates with a similar background are also invited to apply. You will preferably be available from January 2025.

What we expect:

• work with different analytical instruments, especially in the area of chromatography (LC, GC);
• able to analyse diverse samples using standard/routine methods, process the acquired data and present/report the findings;
• develop, validate and document new methods to enable and support the research of the chair group in the areas of plant-based, dairy-based and novel protein foods;
• assuring the quality of the methods and the quality of subsequent obtained data;
• contribute to continuous improvement of the existing analytical methods;
• pro-active and hands-on mentality for supporting the collective effort of the FQD lab technician team, such as monitoring the status of analytical equipment;
• able to work with various people; supervision of practicals during courses, BSc/MSc thesis students, Ph D students, and your colleagues in the lab technician team.

You will work here
You will work at Food Quality and Design group, which is a large multidisciplinary chair group. The vision of the group is that health, sustainability, and quality aspects of food products are fundamental "to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life", i.e. the mission of Wageningen University and Research. The objectives of FQD are to develop new scientific knowledge on food design and quality management and to train future generations for positions at the boundary between food technology and other disciplines. We are looking for a team player who is motivated to advance the quality of the group’s education. 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;
• 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 €3186,- and €4255,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 8). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

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 19th consecutive time. 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, 7,700 employees (7,000 fte), 2,500 Ph D and Eng D candidates, 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.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves and do not appreciate unasked for services from recruitment agencies. However, sharing in your network is appreciated. For this position we are looking for someone with the following qualities:

• education background (HBO/BSc level) in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, or food chemistry with proven hands-on experience on diverse analytical instrumentation;
• some years of relevant work experience, ideally with knowledge on and experience with laboratory standards (e.g. GLP, ISO17025);
• preferably hands-on experience with gas and liquid chromatography;
• affinity with working in a multidisciplinary group in an international context;
• command of written and spoken English is mandatory, and for Dutch is appreciated.

Please note: due to immigration restrictions it is not possible to obtain a working permit for this specific position if you are from outside of the European Union. If you are eligible for a search year or already are in possession of a work permit without sponsorship we welcome you to apply.

You can see that there are plenty of challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be seen as development opportunities. So if you do not yet have the track-record required in the vacancy, but do have solid work experience, we would also like to invite you to apply. For more information about this position, please contact Kasper Hettinga, by e-mail: kasper.hettinga@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Rutger Voorrips, corporate recruiter, by e-mail: rutger.voorrips@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 November 4th, 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on shortly 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.