Researcher on sustainability-oriented innovation in food value chains

Job description

Do you hold an MSc or PhD degree in Business studies, Organisation studies, Innovation management or Economics, and have experience in qualitative research methods? Are you passionate about sustainability-oriented innovations in crops production and developing food value chains?

The Business Management & Organisation (BMO) Group at Wageningen University is looking for a researcher to be a part of the Horizon Europe project CO- FRESH. The CO-FRESH project is a EU-wide innovation action project to promote sustainability-oriented innovations in crops production in Europe. Within the CO-FRESH project, BMO chair group is closely collaborating with The Protein Community, a division of Foodvalley.

The main tasks of the BMO group within CO-FRESH are the following. First, we develop tools to assess and support collaboration among actors in innovative food value chains in Europe. Second, through action research we co-design and co-develop with companies in the Protein Community food value chains based on locally produced faba beans. The researcher will be involved in both tasks, but the emphasis will be on the faba bean value chain design and development

The researcher will be supervised closely by dr Jos Bijman and dr. Maral Mahdad.

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Requirements

The relevant qualifications for this position are:

Relevant MSc or PhD degree in Business studies, Organisation studies, Innovation management or Economics.

Keen interest in organisation, sustainability, innovation, collaboration, business models and ecosystem research;

Affinity with agri-food value chains and specifically the protein transition is a plus;

Knowledge and experience with qualitative research methods;

Experienced in working in international and multidisciplinary projects is an advantage;

Familiarity with engaged scholarship is an advantage;

Strong oral and written communication skills in Dutch and English.

Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

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Conditions of employment

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

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, up to 40 hours 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%;

holiday allowance of 8%;

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 €2960 and €4670 for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO- NU) (scale 10).

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 18th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad Wageningen University & Research is the university and research center 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. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. 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 and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling. For instance under the "30% rule", certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.

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Employer Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research 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, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 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 this video 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.

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Additional information

For more information about the job, please contact dr Jos Bijman, Project Manager for the Wageningen University contribution in CO-FRESH, by e mail : [email protected]

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, Email: [email protected]

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 research position is for one year. The vacancy is already open, up to and including March 21st 2023. The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.

Equal opportunities Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.