Head of the Dutch Plant Genetic Resources Genebank
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Description
As Head of the Dutch Plant Genetic Resources Genebank, you will provide strategic direction for the conservation of plant genetic diversity. In doing so, you will contribute to resilient agriculture, biodiversity and food security. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on involvement in research, innovation and international collaboration.
Within Wageningen Plant Research, you will lead the Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) cluster of the Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands (CGN). As Group head, you will manage a team of 15–20 highly skilled professionals and create the conditions in which they can make the best possible use of their expertise in delivering CGN’s statutory research tasks (WOT).
At the same time, you will remain active as a researcher. You will lead projects, contribute to research, and actively develop new research opportunities and collaborations. In this way, you will connect scientific expertise with societal challenges and the further development of CGN.
Together with the Programme Leader and the other CGN Cluster Leaders, you will help shape a strong, independent and future-oriented approach to delivering the statutory research tasks. You will work closely with Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen Environmental Research and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), as well as with national and international partners.
Your duties and responsibilities include:
Your team
You will lead a team of 15–20 committed professionals with a wide range of expertise in plant genetic resources. Together, they work towards CGN’s mission: to conserve the genetic diversity of food crops and make it available to users today and in the future.
The team includes crop curators, genebank experts and researchers. Their work covers the management and conservation of genetic material, promoting the use of crops, providing policy support, and conducting methodological research.
As WOT Cluster Leader, you will report to the Head of WOT Genetic Resources in Wageningen. As Group head within WPR, you will report to one of the Institute Managers.
You will work here
This position is part of the Group head community within Wageningen Plant Research (WPR) in Wageningen. The Group head community is responsible for the effective functioning of the research teams, ensuring that strategic ambitions are translated into coherent plans, effective implementation, and the optimal deployment of people, facilities and support.
The Institute Management Team (IMT) is responsible for WPR as a whole. As Group head, you will be responsible for your team’s contribution to this, working in close coordination and collaboration with the other research teams.
Within Wageningen Plant Research, you will lead the Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) cluster of the Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands (CGN). As Group head, you will manage a team of 15–20 highly skilled professionals and create the conditions in which they can make the best possible use of their expertise in delivering CGN’s statutory research tasks (WOT).
At the same time, you will remain active as a researcher. You will lead projects, contribute to research, and actively develop new research opportunities and collaborations. In this way, you will connect scientific expertise with societal challenges and the further development of CGN.
Together with the Programme Leader and the other CGN Cluster Leaders, you will help shape a strong, independent and future-oriented approach to delivering the statutory research tasks. You will work closely with Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen Environmental Research and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), as well as with national and international partners.
Your duties and responsibilities include:
- Lead the team as its figurehead, based on a clear team strategy, within the framework of the WOT Statute and the Implementation Agreement for the WOT Genetic Resources programme, in coordination with the other clusters within the Genetic Resources WOT units in Wageningen.
- Safeguard the programme independence of CGN as a WOT unit within WPR, PSG and WUR, and report on this to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).
- Actively ensure a balanced team composition and optimal deployment of resources, aligning the team’s ambitions, capacity, expertise and quality with the WOT and research tasks and with the WPR Institute’s Strategic Agenda.
- Take responsibility for the strategic development and prioritisation of the project portfolio, ensuring the team is positioned for the future and that its activities are aligned with WOT Genetic Resources, the Strategic Agenda and WPR’s financial frameworks.
- Actively participate in business development and project management, while safeguarding scientific quality and integrity, innovation, and the high-quality standards of the genebank activities, underpinned by ISO 9001 certification.
- Coach, motivate and develop employees in line with their ambitions, capabilities and competencies. Encourage collaboration, sustainable employability and professional development, with attention to performance, wellbeing and future career prospects within the framework of the WOT and the institute’s strategic direction.
- As a role model, actively promote cohesion, collaboration, scientific quality, diversity, psychological safety and professionalism. Create a safe, inclusive and learning-oriented working environment in which there is room for dialogue, reflection and development.
Your team
You will lead a team of 15–20 committed professionals with a wide range of expertise in plant genetic resources. Together, they work towards CGN’s mission: to conserve the genetic diversity of food crops and make it available to users today and in the future.
The team includes crop curators, genebank experts and researchers. Their work covers the management and conservation of genetic material, promoting the use of crops, providing policy support, and conducting methodological research.
As WOT Cluster Leader, you will report to the Head of WOT Genetic Resources in Wageningen. As Group head within WPR, you will report to one of the Institute Managers.
You will work here
This position is part of the Group head community within Wageningen Plant Research (WPR) in Wageningen. The Group head community is responsible for the effective functioning of the research teams, ensuring that strategic ambitions are translated into coherent plans, effective implementation, and the optimal deployment of people, facilities and support.
The Institute Management Team (IMT) is responsible for WPR as a whole. As Group head, you will be responsible for your team’s contribution to this, working in close coordination and collaboration with the other research teams.