Planning Officer

**About us**

**Ardena** is a leading contract research organization dedicated to advancing the pharmaceutical industry. We support companies ranging from biotech startups to major pharmaceutical corporations in their journey to bring innovative drugs to the clinic and market. Our comprehensive, integrated portfolio of services spans drug development, manufacturing, and bioanalysis.

Ardena is a rapidly growing, internationally oriented organization with a dedicated team of over 750 professionals operating across locations in Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and the United States. We pride ourselves on fostering an open and transparent culture, where team spirit, an open mindset, and ownership are core values.

Our Assen laboratory is a highly specialized, GLP-compliant facility offering a wide range of bioanalytical services to global pharmaceutical partners, from early drug discovery to Phase IV clinical studies. Our mission is to provide precise quantitative and qualitative analyses of drugs and biomarkers in biological matrices using cutting-edge techniques, including LC-MS/MS, ligand-binding assays (ELISA), qPCR, and flow cytometry.

Our growing team of bioanalytical scientists brings expertise across diverse fields, covering small molecules, peptides, cells, and proteins—such as antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, oligonucleotides, vaccines, and nanoparticles.

For the Ardena Bioanalysis Business Unit based in Assen, The Netherlands, we are looking for a:
**Planning Officer (32-40 hours/week)**

As a Planning Officer, you will be a vital part of our laboratory operations, responsible for coordinating complex planning and scheduling processes. Working closely with Project Managers, Laboratory Team Managers, and other key colleagues, you will ensure efficient scheduling, effective communication, and proactive problem-solving to optimize our resources and minimize delays. You will manage the planning software, maintain scheduling accuracy, and provide valuable insights to the laboratory management team. This role reports to the Business Support Manager.

**Key responsibilities**
- Coordinate the laboratory planning process.
- Maintain and optimize planning tools.
- Schedule projects based on input from Project Management and Science.
- Organize staff rosters in collaboration with Team Managers.
- Handle daily planning adjustments with Project Technicians and Project Managers.
- Identify and address planning challenges proactively.
- Present and publish various schedules on a weekly basis.
- Provide management with planning-based business insights.

**Your profile**

We are looking for an organized and flexible professional who thrives in dynamic settings, works accurately and proactively and enjoys solving complex scheduling challenges. A proactive, solution-oriented attitude is essential. It is important that you have knowledge of and understand the laboratory processes, or that you can quickly familiarize yourself with them.

**Requirements**:

- **Accurate, proactive, and flexible**:You work with precision and adapt easily to changing circumstances.
- **Taking initiative and having a positive mindset**:You like to take the lead and have a positive, can-do mentality.
- **Problem-solving and analytical skills**:You possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- **Stress-resistance**:You remain calm and effective under pressure.
- **Experience with Microsoft Office**:You have experience with Word and Excel.
- **Team player**:You collaborate effectively with colleagues within the Ardena team to achieve common goals and contribute to a positive team dynamic.
- **Communicative skills**:You have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- **Proficiency**: You are proficient in English and Dutch.
- **Bachelor’s degree**:You have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

**What we offer**
- **Salary**:€ 3.000 to € 4.500 gross per month (full-time, 40 hours/week), depending on experience.
- **Learning Environment**:A supportive learning environment in a growing company, where you can develop your skills.
- **Dynamic Work Environment**:A dynamic organization with friendly and enthusiastic colleagues, where employee well-being is valued.
- **Team Collaboration**:Collaborate with a team of professionals in an informal atmosphere.
- **Attractive Employment Conditions**.
- **Flexible Working Hours**.