Data & Research Expert Dairy Farming

Lely; Maassluis; Hybrid; EUR 56,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work policy

Pension scheme

Medical examination option

Campus sports facilities

Company restaurant

Shuttle to Maassluis

Job summary

Join Lely as a Data & Research Expert in Dairy Farming, connecting scientific knowledge to daily farm decisions. You will work across animal science, data science and practice, transforming data from 50,000 installed robots into actionable insights and tools for advisers and farmers.

You’ll collaborate with researchers, data specialists and product developers, translating findings into dashboards and applications while supporting international research efforts.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Animal Sciences, Livestock Sciences or closely related agricultural discipline.
• At least five years of relevant experience in data analysis or applied scientific research.
• Experience initiating or supervising scientific research and networks in universities or research organizations.

Responsibilities

• Investigate complex questions in dairy farming, connecting real-world data with theory to produce reliable, explainable insights.
• Formulate research questions and identify universities or knowledge institutions to contribute to new knowledge.
• Support internal and external research with data and methodological expertise and translate results into applications within Lely.
• Analyze trends in sensor and performance data, translating into visualisations and dashboards for advisers and decision-makers.
• Develop analytical tools for advisers and provide targeted training on their use.

Skills

Python

Data analysis

Tableau

SQL Server Management Studio

Data visualization

Education

Master's/PhD in Animal Sciences or Livestock Sciences

Tools

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio

Tableau

Job description

What is your role?

Imagine connecting scientific knowledge directly to day-to-day decision-making on dairy farms around the world. As a Data & Research Expert Dairy Farming, you use data from more than 50,000 installed robots to uncover new dependencies, initiate research and develop knowledge that enables dairy farmers and advisers to make well-informed decisions.

Within Farm Management Support, you work at the intersection of animal science, data science and agricultural practice. You bring structure to complex questions, assess findings from a scientific perspective and translate them into actionable insights, analytical tools and practical applications. You connect the experience of dairy farmers and advisers with the expertise of researchers, data specialists, engineers and product developers.

Your Key Responsibilities Include

• You investigate complex questions in dairy farming and connect real-world data with scientific theory, ensuring that insights are reliable, explainable and applicable.
• Together with colleagues, you formulate relevant research questions and identify universities, knowledge institutions and other research partners that can contribute to the development of new knowledge.
• You support internal and external research with data, methodological expertise and substantive knowledge of dairy farming, translating the results into applications within Lely.
• You analyse trends and patterns in sensor and performance data, translating them into clear visualisations and dashboards that support advisers and decision-makers.
• You develop analytical tools for advisers in the field and provide targeted training to help them use these tools carefully and effectively.
• You collaborate with international colleagues, data specialists and external analysts, contributing on behalf of Farm Management Support to the direction of data-driven research and decision-making.

What is your experience?

You combine a strong scientific foundation with an in-depth understanding of the agricultural or livestock farming context. You can refine research questions, critically assess the quality and significance of data, and communicate complex conclusions convincingly to both researchers and professionals in the field.

Additionally, You Bring The Following

• A completed master’s degree or PhD in Animal Sciences, Livestock Sciences or a closely related agricultural discipline.
• At least five years of relevant experience in data analysis, applied scientific research or a combination of both.
• Demonstrable experience in initiating, conducting or supervising scientific research, as well as a relevant network within universities, knowledge institutions or research organisations.
• Strong experience with Python and with analytical and visualisation environments such as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and Tableau.
• The ability to connect a wide range of perspectives, from dairy farmers and advisers to technicians, researchers, engineers and product developers.
• Excellent spoken and written English, enabling you to operate effectively in an international research and collaboration environment.

What you can expect from us

Working at Lely means contributing to sustainable progress within one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You contribute to making the agricultural sector future-proof, and we make sure that you get all the space, resources and support you need to do so.

• An international working environment with opportunities for own initiative and entrepreneurship.
• Excellent working conditions, including up to 8 weeks of vacation per year and a good pension scheme.
• A gross monthly salary between € 5.015,- and € 7.163,-. This range reflects the full salary band for the position. Most candidates will enter somewhere within this range based on their relevant experience, skills, and qualifications, with further growth opportunities over time.
• You have theoptiontoparticipatein a preventive medical examination.
• During the Christmas period, Lely closes its door for two weeks.
• Good growth opportunities: you are in control of your development and can choose from various training courses through our Lely Academy, from personal development to job-specific training.
• Our modern Lely Campus offers daily access to extensive sports facilities: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, an outdoor basketball and volleyball court, tabletennisand table soccer. You can joinHyroxworkouts or sign up for personal training - and challenge your colleagues during an active break.
• Enjoy fresh coffee and tea from our own barista, with milk straight from our farm, as well as a healthy and affordable company restaurant.
• A healthy work-life balance thanks to our hybrid work policy: you work at least three days a week on Campus, with flexible working hours and plenty of room to spend extra time on site (between 06:00 and 20:00).
• A free shuttle bus will take you to and from the metro in Maassluis, so your workday starts and ends smoothly.
• Successes need to be celebrated: from anniversaries to Christmas parties - at Lely we know how to do it!

About Lely

We believe in a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future for dairy farmers by combining robotics, engineering, and farming expertise.

It all started in 1948 with the dream of two brothers in Maassluis. Since then, we have become an innovative leader in automated systems for dairy farmers around the world. With more than 2,600 specialised professionals, we continuously work on the next agricultural revolutions. We do this not only from our Campus in Maassluis, a building that has achieved the highest possible sustainability standards in the Netherlands, but also across the globe. Our goal is to keep dairy farming attractive for future generations.

Charissa Rietveld

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