Key Skills

Job Description

Your job Are you an organised professional who enjoys bringing structure, connecting people and keeping things running smoothly? Would you like to work in an inspiring environment where science contributes to solutions for climate, nature, water and the living environment? At Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR), part of Wageningen University & Research, we are looking for a proactive Management Office Assistant who thrives in a dynamic and international setting. In this role, you will provide essential support to our two Institute Managers and five Programme Managers, helping them focus on what matters most: creating knowledge and innovations for a more sustainable world. As a Management Office Assistant, you are the central point of coordination within the team. You create overview, anticipate upcoming needs and ensure that administrative and organisational processes run efficiently. Thanks to your support, colleagues can work effectively and meetings, projects and processes are well organised. No two days are the same. One day you are coordinating a strategic meeting, the next you are supporting programme management activities, preparing presentations or helping colleagues with practical and administrative matters. You enjoy taking initiative, managing multiple priorities and building strong working relationships throughout the organisation. As Management Office Assistant, You Will Coordinate meetings, agendas and logistics. Manage complex calendars and help prioritise requests. Support programme managers with project administration and financial processes. Organise business travel, order supplies and coordinate practical arrangements. Support HR-related administrative processes. Act as a contact person for IT-related questions and requests. Take minutes and ensure clear follow-up of actions and decisions. Create and improve professional PowerPoint presentations and other documents. Support document management, archiving and collaboration within Microsoft Teams. Proactively identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and ways of working. Your team You will work closely with two Institute Managers and five Programme Managers within WENR. Together, you form a professional and collaborative team that values initiative, reliability and mutual support. You will work here Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) is part of Wageningen University & Research and is located on the Wageningen Campus. Our researchers work on solutions for challenges related to climate adaptation, biodiversity, water quality, soil health, sustainable land use and resilient cities. By joining WENR, you become part of an organisation where science, innovation and societal impact come together. Your work will contribute indirectly to research and projects that help create a more sustainable future. Your qualities You are service-oriented, proactive and highly organised. You enjoy working with people, taking ownership and maintaining an overview in a fast-paced environment. You communicate professionally and easily switch between different tasks and stakeholders. In Addition, You Have An MBO or HBO degree in secretarial, administrative or related studies, or equivalent relevant work experience. Experience supporting managers, teams or organisational processes. You communicate confidently in Dutch (C2) and English (B2) and feel comfortable working in an international environment. Strong digital skills and experience with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel. Affinity with administrative systems and digital tools, including AI-based applications, or a willingness to learn. Strong planning and organisational skills with attention to detail. The ability to work independently while remaining a reliable team player. Even if you do not meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply if you recognise yourself in the role and are motivated to grow further in a professional support position. We offer Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment (https://www.wur.nl/en/jobs/conditions-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 €3.173,- and €3.785,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 6). Additionally, for this role a contract for 32 hours can be discussed. We initially offer a one-year contract, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the organisation’s financial situation. We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help. Important information For more information about the position, please contact Johan Warringa, Instituutsmanager, via email: [email protected]. Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jouke van Oostenbrugge, Corporate Recruiter, via [email protected]. Ready to apply? Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered. You can apply up to and including 16 November 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 23 October 2026. Applications are reviewed regularly. Therefore, the position may be filled before the stated closing date. 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. We are 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 (https://www.wur.nl/en/Jobs/Why-choose-WUR.htm) 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.

Core Responsibilities

Coordinate meetings, calendars, travel, and practical arrangements for two Institute Managers and five Programme Managers. Support programme administration, financial and HR processes, IT requests, document management, presentations, and follow-up of decisions while improving administrative workflows.

Requirements

Applicants should have an MBO or HBO qualification in secretarial, administrative, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience, and experience supporting managers, teams, or organisational processes. They should communicate confidently in Dutch at C2 and English at B2 level, have strong digital, planning, organisational, and interpersonal skills, and be able to work independently as a reliable team member.

Benefits

• Flexible Working Hours
• Sabbatical Leave
• Study Leave
• Partially Paid Parental Leave
• Campus Sports Facilities
• Year-End Bonus
• Pension Scheme
• Professional Development
• Internal Mobility