Senior Projectmanager sustainable agri-chains

Location	Den Haag
Scientific field	Agriculture
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We are looking for

for a Senior Projectmanager sustainable agri-chains

Striking the right balance between sufficiently available, affordable and healthy food and the sustainable use of natural resources is one of the great global challenges. The development of the agri-chain has a central and leading role here. LEI Wageningen UR delivers recommendations and supporting arguments for international policymakers and companies within this subject area to help them reach the correct decisions and policy. A central element is measuring the sustainable performance of the chain and the individual links. Demand for such measurement is increasing rapidly, and for this reason we are looking to strengthen our expertise group with a sustainability expert, i.e. a senior project manager for sustainable agri-chains. Our expertise group leads the way internationally in terms of measuring, monitoring, promoting and advising on sustainability through our knowledge, data, models and networks.
 

Job profile

• As an expert in the field, helps guide the development of sustainability measurement in the agrarian sector/agri-chains research theme and is responsible for embedding that research theme within LEI.
• As a sparring partner for the customer, identifies customer requests and translates them into knowledge products.
• Coordinates large and authoritative national and international research projects for business and heads up multiple project teams in an inspiring and professional manner.
• Actively maintains the network of customers, stakeholders and partners.
• Presents and communicates research results in different ways, ranging from customer presentations to scientific publications.

 

Information about projects

As an applied research institute, we conduct projects for both national and international governments (including the ministries of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure & Environment, and the European Union) and assignments for national and international business (for example, through the Agro & Food and Horticulture & Planting Materials Top Sectors).
LEI Wageningen UR is responsible for the European activities of The Sustainability Consortium (TSC, www.sustainabilityconsortium.org), in which, together with NGOs (WNF), companies (Unilever, Ahold, BASF) and universities, we develop international standards for measuring the sustainability of products as a basis for making production chains more sustainable. The large-scale application of these methods significantly contributes to a more sustainable world. Other examples of prominent projects are ENREMILK (dairy industry LCA) and FLINT (monitoring the sustainability performance of agricultural and horticultural firms in the EU), and at national level the Sustainable Dairy Chain Sector Report (www.duurzamezuivelketen.nl, the Sustainable Agriculture Monitor (www.agrimatie.nl) and Measuring Sustainability (www.metenvanduurzaamheid.nl).
 

We ask

• University level (in terms of work and academic ability), preferably with an economic or business management background.
• Demonstrable relevant knowledge of and experience in sustainability initiatives and methods, such as GRI and LCA.
• A completed doctoral thesis (PhD) in this field is a plus.
• Demonstrable affinity with sustainability issues in the agrarian sector/agricultural chain.
• Access to an extensive network of people within Dutch and international government bodies and companies, and a good networker, able to bring about cooperative relationships through a strong feel for marketing and market development.
• A good track record in the acquisition, establishment and execution of research projects.
• Willing to take an international perspective and make regular trips abroad. A good command of the English language is therefore essential.
• The successful candidate will also have the following personal characteristics: a team player, results-oriented, client-oriented, entrepreneurial and innovative.

We offer

We offer a challenging role in a national/international environment involving varied activities in a pleasant and open working atmosphere with plenty of opportunities for personal development. Initially, we offer you a fixed-term contract (for one year), with the option of extending after you have proved your suitability and filled your order portfolio. Depending on experience, your salary will lie between €3497 and €5247 gross per month (scale 23) on a full-time basis (36 hours). We are open to discussing a 32-hour working week. In addition, LEI Wageningen UR offers good secondary benefits.

Location: The Hague.
 

More information

For more information, please contact Anita van der Knijff (Head of Expertise Group), +31 (0)70-3358181 or anita.vanderknijff@wur.nl.
 

Applications

Please send us your application accompanied by a covering letter and a CV.
Applications may be submitted until 30 June 2014 by clicking on the applications button on the websitehttp://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Jobs/Vacancies.htm  Only applications submitted using this button will be considered.

The first interviews will be held on Monday 7 July 2014.
The second interview round will take place on Thursday 10 July 2014.

We are

The strength of LEI Wageningen UR lies in the combination of developing new insights based on market intelligence and making integrated assessments of economic, ecological and social aspects. We do so within the domain of healthy food, living environment and lifestyle. Based on these two elements, LEI has for nearly 75 years been a leading, independent and reliable scientific research institute that offers government and companies socio-economic insights and integrated advice in an innovative manner to promote correct policy and better decisions.
LEI has a proven track record nationally and internationally and extensive experience of policy analysis, evaluations, forecasting, chain and consumer research and setting up monitoring systems.
LEI Wageningen UR boasts high-level economic expertise, sector knowledge, a broad, international knowledge network and a unique combination of data and models. LEI is independent and bases its insights and advice on facts.