Do you have a passion for practical work, and does the idea of working with seeds from old, new, and wild crops interest you? Would you like to play an active role in preserving and spreading genetic diversity? Do you enjoy working in a close-knit and small team, and can you work with focus and precision, even when tasks become routine? Are you proficient in Dutch?Then this position at the Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands, might be something for you!
What will you do?
As a Technical Assistant at the gene bank of the Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands (CGN), you will support the collection managers to ensure that our valuable genetic material – 25,000 accessions of agricultural and horticultural crops – is stored and monitored properly.

Your tasks will include, among others:

• Registering, cleaning, packaging, storing, and shipping seeds;
• Working in our seed storage facility, including about one hour per day in the freezer room (-20°C);
• Preparing and evaluating germination tests;
• Propagating and describing the diversity of more than 30 different crops;
• Registering all actions in our database.

Your efforts are crucial for the safe preservation of our genetic resources, ensuring that they remain available worldwide for research and use.

Your team
CGN is a small, close-knit team of motivated and passionate employees with diverse backgrounds. The work environment is collaborative, with a practical, hands-on approach where scientists, collection managers, and support staff work closely together to preserve and make genetic resources accessible efficiently.
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 December 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 €2.496,- and €3.365,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 6). We offer you a temporary contract for the duration of one year. 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 multi-faceted 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 with your work you have a clear and positive impact on society. At WUR we work on the most pressing challenges of our time, like climate change and feeding the world in a sustainable way. 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. You can work well within a team and have good communication skills. You work accurately and are able to perform routine tasks well. Above all, you are motivated to work at CGN!
You also possess:

• An intermediate vocational education (MBO) level of thinking and working;
• Affinity or interest in gene banking and biodiversity conservation;
• Basic digital skills;
• Proficiency in the Dutch language.

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. For more information about this position, please contact Rik Lievers, 0317 34510697, rik.lievers@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Dax Teunissen (recruiter), email: vacaturemeldingen.psg@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 11th, 2024

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.