Senior Science Manager eXtended Realities and the WUR Metaverse

The Environmental Sciences Group (ESG) at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is looking for a talented and enthusiastic science manager to advance our visualization efforts with a focus on eXtended Realities (XR).

The WAgeningen iNitiative on aDvanced Extended Realities (WANDER ) is a WUR wide hub for advancing the science and opportunities of advanced visualization and XR across the domains of WUR.

eXtended Realities and the Metaverse have the potential to change the way societal and environmental challenges are researched, addressed and communicated. Faced with the urgency and wickedness of global challenges WANDER is supporting the development and creative design of the most effective and efficient ways to tackle these, advancing cutting edge science through to potential of XR.

Taking advantage of the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary structure of WUR, WANDER is bringing together students, staff, and stakeholders to develop immersive and engaging representations of our past, arranging and understanding our present, and planning for the future. Be it for a local environment, development of national strategies or our common global future, WANDER will allow WUR to bring together cutting-edge technology, high level research and aspiring students in an interactive, creative, and entrepreneurial environment. WANDER is using existing expertise and top-level techniques of data visualisation to synergize the interdisciplinary nature of WUR, thereby enticing staff and stakeholders from around the world to work holistically on a range of landscapes, seascape, foodscapes and others for impact on our futures.

WANDER is providing immersive and visual experiences of data representing landscapes and societal and environmental challenges that helps to co-create, develop and explore new perspectives and scenarios with all stakeholders who want to resolve complex local and global challenges and create impact by finding innovative solutions, tackling problems that endanger a safe and healthy living environment and work towards a sustainable world with benefits for all.

• A scientific background with proven experience working in an research-oriented organisation;
• Experience with leading a research and development project, program or facility, ideally with a focus on immersive technologies;
• Clear understanding of trends in the gaming and 3D visualisations industries and positive awareness of new developments in these industries;
• Excellent network in the world of visualisations (research, education, gaming and 3D visualisations industries).
• Excellent client facing and negotiation skills, and highly motivated with good networking skills.
• The ambition to turn a starting initiative into a fixed value within WUR
• Pro-active, solution-oriented, and positive attitude.

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

• Sabbatical leave, 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%;
• 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 temporary position for a period of 2 years with opportunity for a permanent after successful evaluation of individual performance and the viability of WANDER. Salary depends on training and work experience and based on a fulltime employment, ranges from € 4,814 to € 6,702 gross per month (scale 12-13) according to the Collective Agreement for Dutch Universities.

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 17th consecutive time.

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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief , known as the 30% ruling. 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 housing, schooling, and other issues. Finally a specialized organization  will assist your partner one on one in finding a job or starting a business in the Netherlands, and besides that WUR offers a dual career program that helps partners through a group based program.

For any questions pertaining to the content of this call please contact Alexander Klippel (co-chair of WANDER scientific committee) ([email protected] ),

For more information about the procedure, please contact Edgar Tijhuis, Corporate Recruiter, e-mail [email protected] .

Do you want to apply?
This can be done directly via the application button at the vacancy on our website so that we can process your personal data with your permission. Please follow the instructions below and upload all documents in one Pdf file.

This vacancy is open up and until October 24th 2022. We will schedule the first job interviews soon afterwards.

The application process is two-tiered. In the first round all applicants will be selected on the mandatory cover letter and Curriculum Vitae.

After the after the first part, candidates can be asked to formulate their personal vision on the WANDER initiative and the way to develop to a permanent value for WUR. References can be part of the final tier of the selection procedure.

Applications will be assessed by a selection panel composed of the WUR appointed scientific committee for WANDER.

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 .

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.