Researcher Tropical Value Chains Wageningen • Wageningen University & Research

Seeking an experienced researcher to advance social sustainability in tropical value chains such as cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. Collaborate with businesses, NGOs, and policymakers to design, evaluate, and improve development interventions. Join a vibrant team focused on sustainability research with access to excellent facilities and a supportive, international work environment. Benefit from flexible hours, sabbaticals, and access to sports facilities while leveraging your expertise for impactful research. Find out why this role offers more than just a job.

Your job

WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCED RESEARCHER SPECIALIZING IN SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN TROPICAL VALUE CHAINS

Are you an experienced researcher with a track record in supporting private sector clients working on (social) sustainability in tropical value chains? Would you like to support businesses, policymakers and NGOs in evaluating and learning from programs for improving smallholder farmer and worker livelihoods?

We are looking for an experienced researcher with a market- and customer-oriented attitude and a great affinity for applied scientific research. A track record in working on tropical value chains (cocoa, coffee, tea, palm oil, banana, etc.) and conducting research supporting the private sector with their monitoring, evaluation and learning is a must. You should have excellent project management skills, and demonstrated experience with managing, negotiating, and successfully maintaining relationships with private sector clients.

Key responsibilities include:

• Designing and implementing projects in which clients are supported in the design, evaluation and learning of development interventions in tropical value chains (cocoa, coffee, banana, tea, palm oil, etc). In these studies, a mixed method approach is crucial, meaning that both quantitative and qualitative research methods will be used;
• Leading and collaborating in project teams of varying size and complexity, from small WUR teams to large international consortia involving multiple organizations and subcontractors, often managing simultaneous workstreams;
• Maintaining regular contact with both clients and consortium partners, acting as a central, highly organised liaison to ensure seamless project delivery, ensuring that recommendations are relevant and actionable, whilst being evidence-based, according to project timelines. Clients include private and public sector parties as well as NGOs;
• Leading the acquisition of new applied research projects based on your active network in tropical value chains;
• Serving as a spokesperson for the research of our social and economic research institute in the field of tropical value chains, through publishing reports and (white) papers, (business) conferences and your own network.

About the team: You will be working in the expertise group Sustainable Value Chains, one of eleven expertise groups at Wageningen Social & Economic Research. The Sustainable Value Chains group comprises approximately 35 researchers dedicated to enhancing the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of value chains worldwide. Their work spans diverse sectors and regions, employing a wide range of methods and areas of expertise, including impact evaluation, (social) life cycle assessment (LCA), true cost accounting, and more.
Your qualities

Your Qualities
To strengthen our team, we ask you to have:

• A Master’s degree in environmental, agricultural or development economics, social sciences or a related field (a PhD is a plus),
• 8+ years of applied research and project management experience, ideally within knowledge institutes, the private sector or NGOs,
• Strong expertise and network in tropical value chains (cocoa, coffee, banana, tea and/or palm oil)
• Highly developed analytical skills, experience with quantitative MEL (monitoring, evaluating and learning) methods. Proficiency in R is considered a plus,
• A proven ability to acquire, lead and deliver projects for private sector clients and maintain strong client relations.
• Excellent English communication and presentation skills; Dutch, French or Spanish is a plus.
• Willingness to travel, within and outside Europe.

We offer you

We offer you

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;
• 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 €4,741 and €7,068 for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 12). Additionally, For this role a contract for 32 hours can be discussed. We offer you a temporary contract for the duration of one year. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

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. 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 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.
Do you want more information?

Do you want more information?
For more information about the position, please contact Tinka Koster, via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jeanine van ‘t Veer, Corporate Recruiter, via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina..

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 until 24 November 2025. In the meantime we will review your application as soon as possible so don’t wait to apply.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

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

We are

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves and do not appreciate unasked for services from recruitment agencies. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.