Senior Policy Advisor Agroecology

Senior Policy Advisor - Agroecology Opportunity at Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation

Are you a seasoned professional with a passion for driving greener transition pathways in agriculture? Do you have a strong background in policy development, particularly within the European Union and African Union contexts? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

About Us:
Join a dynamic team of like-minded individuals at Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI), an institute dedicated to advancing applied scientific research for food systems transformation. At WCDI, we champion social equity and planetary health, and we are at the forefront of innovative initiatives shaping the future of agriculture.

Your Role:
As a Senior Policy Advisor you will contribute as Work Package 3 leader to the DeSIRA-LIFT project www.desiralift.org , a service facility of the DeSIRA Initiative of the European Commission (DG INTPA), supporting agriculture and food systems resilience in low- and middle-income countries.

Your role focuses on making knowledge available to (European and African) policy makers on themes related to agricultural research for development (AR4D) and innovation policies and programming. For the other part of your portfolio, there will be ample opportunity to further develop yourself as an expert who can contribute to policy agendas in local, regional and international arenas, and contribute to a wider system transformation for agriculture, food and nature.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Smooth implementation of Service Area 3 of DeSIRA-LIFT.
• Ensuring quality in the delivery of products and services, contributing to collective expertise development.
• Providing transparent, timely updates on planning, progress, and lessons learned.
• Engaging in the organization and follow-up of meetings, consultations, and conferences.
• Supporting and contributing to the tasks of DeSIRA-LIFT's project director at WCDI.

In addition to your role in DeSIRA-LIFT, you will have the opportunity to:

• Develop and plan your portfolio in collaboration with WCDI colleagues.
• Actively participate in acquisition efforts.
• Engage in external (international) networks, developing and maintaining connections with partners and stakeholders.

We are looking for an enthusiastic team member with the following qualities:

• Minimum MSc degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., nature conservation, environmental health, agroecology).
• Over 12 years of relevant work experience, preferably in research and project management.
• Strong understanding of agri-food sector transformation and food systems.
• Track record in sustainable agriculture, environmental health, or agroecology, preferably in Africa.
• Experience in EU projects and consortia, with a preference for familiarity in working directly with the European Commission (DG Agri, DG Envi, and DG INTPA).
• Experience in, and affinity with, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to research, capacity development and policy development;
• Proficiency in English (CEFR C1 level) is a must; proficiency in French is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively in diverse settings.
• Willingness to travel outside Europe.

By joining WCDI, you become part of a community dedicated to driving positive change in global food systems. As a senior advisor, you will have the opportunity to contribute to international policy agendas, connect with influential networks, and actively shape the future of agriculture, food, and nature.

If you are ready to embrace complexity, inspire change, and contribute to inclusive and sustainable practices, we invite you to apply.

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;
• the option to accrue additional compensation hours by working more, per week;
• 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 monthly gross salary max €5.737,-  for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 11). Additionally, a contract for 0,8 FTE can be discussed.  You will initially receive a one-year contract, which will be extended to an open-ended contract upon in mutual enthusiasm.          

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.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre 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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. 

For more information about this position, please contact Helena Posthumus , Project Director DeSIRA - LIFT contact,   T + 31 317 486 045 | M +31 6280 43645  ,  [email protected]

For more information about the procedure, please contact Jeanine van ‘t Veer, Recruiter
([email protected] )

Application
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 until filled.

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. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment .

Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation
At Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI) our mission is bringing ‘Knowledge into Action’ by promoting transformation of food systems that contribute to social equity and planetary health. We do this by tailoring and implementing knowledge in projects and multi-annual programmes. We also work on co-creating knowledge with partners, and offer comprehensive lifelong learning trajectories for professionals and institutions. Between these 3 delivery areas we look for interconnectivity at all levels of our organisation. Our interdisciplinary team of over 60 scientific staff collaborates with various stakeholders, advancing food systems transformations in partnership with others; public or private, NGOs or knowledge institutes or other institutes within WUR.

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, 7,600 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 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.