Shellfish researcher

Vacancy

Shellfish researcher

article_published_on_label November 9, 2025

Location Yerseke End date Mon 24 November 2025 Respond Click here to respond

Your job

As a shellfish researcher and project leader, you combine scientific expertise, practical experience, and project management to coordinate shellfish stock assessments in the Dutch coastal and estuarine waters. You lead a multidisciplinary team, actively participate in fieldwork, and translate data into reliable policy advice, while implementing innovations that make monitoring more future-proof.

Your main tasks and responsibilities as researcher and project leader include:

• Coordinating and leading a medium-sized team and external partners in a project management role, while also taking part in fieldwork and data analysis.
• Planning, drafting, and contributing to protocols, reports, and advisory letters on shellfish monitoring.
• Communicating about scientific advice and context with policy officers from national and provincial governments.
• Managing and making survey data available, providing scientific guidance for studies using these data, analysing survey data yourself, and publishing your findings.
• Contributing to methodological and digital innovation, for example through the use of satellite imagery or automated image recognition.
• Carrying out project management tasks such as budgeting, annual reporting, work planning, and participating in coordination meetings with other WOT Fisheries project leaders.

Your team

You will work within the WOT Fisheries team of Wageningen Marine Research, alongside colleagues from various disciplines such as survey leaders, database specialists, and field researchers. Within the Yerseke regional centre, you collaborate with colleagues active in marine ecology, focusing on shellfish fisheries, aquaculture, and estuarine systems. You will also work closely with external partners such as the Wadden Unit of LNV, RVO fisheries officers, and vessel crews. The team is based in Yerseke, with regular fieldwork on location.

Your qualities

You show empathetic leadership and inspire your team with a strong sense of responsibility. As a true team player with an overview of complex projects, you ensure continuity in recurring annual work. You are aware of the political, administrative, and societal context and communicate effectively, presenting results clearly to colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

You Also Have

• A university degree and a PhD in a relevant field;
• In-depth (scientific) knowledge of shellfish ecology and its connections to (shellfish) fisheries;
• Scientific knowledge of benthic fauna monitoring, including statistical validation and the design of monitoring plans;
• Knowledge of and/or affinity with fisheries related to stock assessments.

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 €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 32 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. 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.

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”.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Cas Wiebinga, Business Manager, via email: cas.wiebinga@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Dax Teunissen, Corporate Recruiter, via recruitment.asg@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 until 24 november 2025.

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

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, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

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