Researcher/Project manager Microbial Water Quality and Health (32-40 hours)

As a researcher, you will work with and for clients on the project-based development of knowledge, methods and practical tools to establish, ensure or where necessary improve the microbiological, chemical and ecological water quality of the water cycle. You do this with applied scientific research. Often in multidisciplinary collaboration with other researchers inside and outside KWR.

Here you contribute with your own expertise. You find opportunities in the market and actively engage with a national and international network. You like the constant challenge of making your research visible.

As project manager, maintaining external contacts and ensuring good customer relationships with actors in public organisations and industry, is part of your daily activities. Your role will include identifying and reaching out to potentially relevant partners, establishing partnerships and involving new partners in our activities. You have an affinity for the practical challenges of the key stakeholders in the water cycle and you contribute actively to acquiring research funds. Experience in setting up large integrated research programs and managing complex, multidisciplinary projects in large (research) consortia would be an advantage.

Your profile

You are a creative, innovative and customer-oriented researcher with relevant knowledge and experience in or affinity with microbiology who can take our team further in researching the improvement of water quality and thereby creating new insights to solve existing and future water cycle issues. In addition, you are comfortable working in a multidisciplinary team and find it easy to connect with other teams inside and outside KWR.

Furthermore, you have or are:

• a completed university degree in a relevant scientific discipline, such as microbiology, aquatic ecology, (civil) engineering, or environmental science;
• at least 4 years of experience in a national or international research environment or a similar surrounding (preferably in the water sector);
• you have proven skills of working in projects, such as acquisition and project management;
• an enterprising, enthusiastic and results-driven team member;
• able to actively contribute in acquiring research funding and maintaining relationships, in both public organisations and the industry;
• enjoy presenting and publishing the results of research, both nationally and internationally;
• able to communicate effectively and persuasively about challenges, research and solutions;
• preferably already have knowledge of the water sector in the Netherlands or comparable experience abroad;
• have an excellent command of the Dutch and English language in word and writing.

If you do not meet the full profile but are enthusiastic about this position? Then we also look forward to receiving your motivation and resume.

About team

The Microbiological Water Quality and Health team works in a dynamic environment, at the intersection of research and practice, investigating microbial water quality and its potential impact on the environment, in different water systems. We study pathogenic, disruptive and beneficial microorganisms in the water cycle, the influence of the environment on their behavior, and how we can control these organisms. We develop new molecular microbiological methods and deploy them together with culture methods to detect (micro)-organisms, detect sources of microbial pollution, and understand microbial processes in the water cycle. In a multidisciplinary team of experts, you will work on the development and application of innovations in microbial knowledge, methods and assessment of water quality. Within this field, bioinformatics plays an increasingly important role. Together with our customers, we put our knowledge of the water cycle into practice. Based on the insight developed through this research, we assess, for example, the effectiveness of technical and other interventions in the water cycle to improve water quality.

Our team consists of 12 researchers with diverse backgrounds and experience. We work together toward our goals in an open, collegial and constructive atmosphere.

Our offer

We are strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offer various opportunities to do so, including a good onboarding and various courses and skills training. A good work/life balance is of paramount importance to us. KWR offers excellent primary and secondary benefits and is a member of the collective labor agreement for water companies (including a Flexible Working Conditions Budget of 22.11%). Working partly from home is also an option. Our office in Nieuwegein is a sustainable and very striking building, designed for collaboration and knowledge sharing between colleagues, teams and external relations.

Do you want to advance water science and work with us to build a sustainable society? Then send your cover letter and resume by email to vacancy@kwrwater.nl before January 24, 2025, quoting job number 2501001.

About KWR

Safe and clean drinking water is a great good. KWR is an internationally renowned research institute in the field of water quality, the water cycle and sustainable development. ‘Bridging science to practice’ is our mission. From our almost completely sustainable building with ‘state of the art’ laboratories, our approximately 200 employees work from two knowledge groups on innovative projects in the Netherlands and increasingly in and outside Europe. The ten Dutch drinking water companies and the Belgian ‘De Watergroep’ are our shareholders.

More information

For information about the position, please contact Leonie Borstlap (team leader Microbial Water Quality and Health) by phone 030-606 9596 or .

For information about the application process, please contact Eduard Post (Human Resources Advisor) by phone 030-6069 633 or email .

We do not appreciate acquisition in response to this advertisement.