HR Business Partner Professors

Are you an HR professional with a strong sense of governance and an understanding of an academic environment? And would you like to play an advisory role in attracting, appointing, and supporting professors? Then we are looking for you!

Your job

Are you an HR professional with a strong sense of governance and an understanding of an academic environment? And would you like to play an advisory role in attracting, appointing, and supporting professors? Then we are looking for you!

As HR Business Partner Professors, you are the key link in all HR processes relating to professors. You operate at various levels within the organisation and work closely with the Rector Magnificus, general directors, and various committees. You safeguard processes, provide advice, and ensure careful and professional decision-making.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to contribute as an HRBP within one of WUR’s organisational units and participate in HR projects.

Your duties and responsibilities as HR Business Partner Professors include:

• preparing and coordinating procedures for chair holder vacancies. You attend introductory and final interviews with candidates alongside the Rector Magnificus and the General Director, and are involved in negotiations on employment conditions;
• for appointments of personal professors, you are, together with other HRBPs, a member of the central Appointments Advisory Committee (AAC)/panel. You are responsible for coordinating HRBPs, including invitations and, where necessary, explaining the role of HR within this AAC;
• you attend the feedback sessions of the C-AAC between candidates and the Rector and subsequently coordinate the nomination and appointment process;
• you provide HR advice in cases involving the Rector and ensure accurate reporting and correspondence;
• for the administrative aspects of these processes, you work closely with HR Service Officers. You support the drafting of customised appointment and employment letters, bespoke agreements for termination, and pension letters.
  
  

Your team

Searching for Human Resource roles that provide visa sponsorship? Connect with international employers through Human Resource Jobs with Visa Sponsorship opportunities actively seeking talented professionals.

You are part of the HR Business Partnering Concern Staff team and are based in the Atlas building (Wageningen). Collaboration is a key value within our HR team. As a team, we value a hands-on mindset and a shared commitment to further professionalising our services.

You will work closely with a Senior Business Partner Professors, who focuses more on policy-related work and collaborates with you on complex processes and/or cases. In addition, the team consists of three ‘regular’ (senior) HR Business Partners and an HR Head.

Your qualities

You have strong advisory skills and excellent communication skills, both verbal and written (English and Dutch). You also have an eye for detail and a good understanding of governance dynamics. You maintain a strong overview and are able to coordinate multiple processes simultaneously.

You Also Have

• at least a completed relevant higher professional education (HBO) degree;
• extensive experience as an HR Business Partner or HR advisor;
• good command of the Dutch and English language.
  
  

In our international working environment, English is increasingly used as the main language of communication. For this role, the required level (https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/table-1-cefr-3.3-common-reference-levels-global-scale) is B2. If you do not yet meet this level, we will of course support you, and you can make use of our language centre, Wageningen in’to Language (https://www.wur.nl/nl/onderwijs-opleidingen/wageningen-into-languages.htm).

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 € 3,399.- and € 5,478.- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 10). Additionally, for this role a contract for 24 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance.

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.

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.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center (https://wcfv.nl/en/home/global/our-services/happy-landing-and-living/). This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community (https://www.wur.nl/en/jobs/expats-new-international-staff) page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

WUR welcomes applications from international candidates. However, for applicants for this specific position from outside the EU/EFTA zone, immigration restrictions may apply based on Dutch and EU immigration laws. Such candidates may be eligible for an “orientation year” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”.

Important information

For more information about the position, please contact Micheline Horstman, Head of Corporate HR Staff, via phone number: +31 317-480050 or via email: micheline.horstman@wur.nl (mailto:micheline.horstman@wur.nl).

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Dax Teunissen, Corporate Recruiter, via email: dax.teunissen@wur.nl (mailto:dax.teunissen@wur.nl).

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 Monday July 13, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before June 22, 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.