As program director you are responsible for the integral quality of 2 programs on applied data science. These are the MSc program Data Science for Food and Health, which is now 3 years old, and the newly established BSc program Data Science for Global Challenges, which will start in September 2025. Together with the program committee, teachers, students and program team you will make these programs a success.
Your duties and responsibilities as program director are:
- The start-up of the new program, including the creation and setup of a new program team that the program director will lead;
- Day-to-day care of the programs, including:
- Continuous development of the curricula of the programs, in consultation with teachers, students and representatives of the field and given the available budget. This ongoing development includes educational innovation at the program level and the implementation of Wageningen University's educational vision;
- Evaluating and monitoring the quality of components and the entire program, respectively;
- Consultation with teachers on content and form of subjects in the curriculum and the budget available for the subject;
- Recruiting and providing information (or having it provided) to ensure a sufficient intake of students;
- Advising on admission of bachelor and master students;
- Contact with the examination board, Student Service Centre, etc.
- Coordinating with fellow program directors and with colleagues elsewhere in the organization;
- Leading the program team;
- Advising the program committee on developments in education and the organization as a whole;
- Advising the relevant general directors (SSG, AFSG, PSG) on faculty promotion through participation in BACs.
You will collaborate with colleagues within and outside your own department and be in contact with lecturers from a variety of fields who contribute to the success of these programs. You will perform the position in Wageningen, with the ability to work partially from home.
The work setting we strive for within this section is one in which program directors do not work alone, but in collegial cooperation with other program directors and within their program team. Together, the program directors give substance to:
- discussing issues such as (selection and) admission, quality assurance, implementation of policy regarding study advice and educational innovation;
- developing plans and their implementation for the programs in the relevant domain in line with or as a result of the implementation of the educational vision;
- cooperation across the program teams (sharing best practices, seeing where staff from teams can help out or replace each other, where additional expertise is needed for the teams as a whole, etc.).
The programme director we’re looking for will work most closely together with the colleagues within the Technology & Nutrition area.
You are/have:
- an academic (master) level of thought and work, a PhD is a plus;
- knowledge of and strong affinity for data science and additionally one or some of the application areas of the program;
- a π-profile ('pi-shaped professional), by which we mean that the candidate 'has knowledge of both data science and one or more content areas of the programs, but also brings knowledge and attitude to connect them.
- knowledge of the adjacent courses at such a level that you can
- see conceptual differences between your own programs and the related programs (in design, educational model, didactic content, learning objectives to be achieved);
- identify conceptual and content overlap;
- recognize best practices of the own programs and adjacent programs and can use this to improve the own programs.
- some experience with financial management (is a plus);
- knowledge of and experience with educational management;
- knowledge of and experience with digitization in education;
- conceptual ability; especially in the area of “bridge building” between data science and application areas;
- experience in leading a team;
- ability to build a relevant network for the position, or if present to expand it.
Competencies
- oriented towards people and the academic environment;
- strong in driving and connecting different parties;
- resistant to (work) pressure, able to switch quickly;
- persuasive, able to motivate and substantiate;
- organizational sensitivity, good feel for administrative relations;
- innovative, future-oriented and solution-oriented;
- good contact skills, including intercultural communication skills, committed;
- directs for results; but also understands values such as solidarity and justice;
- connecting people and a team player.
In our international working environment there is a significant amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C2. Due to the content and context of this position, including the dual-language setup of the new BSc programme, this C2 language level requirement applies both for Dutch and English.
You can see that there are plenty of challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be seen as development opportunities. So if you do not yet have the track-record required in the vacancy, but do have solid work experience, we would also like to invite you to apply.
Please apply through the form on our website www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/programme-director-data-science-for-global-challenges-en-food-and-health.htm