Advisor (f_m_x) Team Science Management

The Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ (RIFS) conducts research with the aim of investigating, identifying, and advancing development pathways for transformation processes towards sustainability in Germany and abroad. The institute was founded in 2009 as the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) and has been affiliated with the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences under its new name since the 1^st of January 2023 and is thus part of the Helmholtz Association.

The Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) seeks to fill the following position in its Strategic Science Management Unit:

Advisor (f_m_x) Team Science Management

Reference Number 10979

The Science Management Unit at RIFS works closely with the Institute's leadership and supports it in implementing the Institute's scientific strategy, refining its research profile, and improving the quality of research outcomes. Its core tasks include preparing contributions and reports on various topics relevant to the Institute, coordinating processes across different units, supporting the activities of diverse committees and working groups, developing the Institute’s third-party funding strategy, and facilitating engagement with stakeholders from academia, politics, civil society, and business. The successful candidate will also be responsible for writing reports and coordinating the Institute's reporting obligations to internal and external governance bodies. Another focus is the development of evaluation criteria and procedures for monitoring, documenting, and assessing transformative and transdisciplinary research.

We seek a highly motivated individual who will reliably support the Institute’s leadership in executing its scientific strategy, contribute fresh ideas, and collaborate with both academic and non‑academic staff to drive RIFS’s performance and future development.

Your responsibilities:

• Supporting the Institute's leadership in the implementation of the scientific strategy and further development of the Institute’s research profile
• Analysis and preparation of relevant information and key figures, development of decision papers
• Preparation of reports for the Helmholtz Association and funding bodies
• Leading the further development of our internal research database
• Organisation and implementation of workshops, meetings, and other events at RIFS on strategic research issues
• Preparation and follow-up of committee meetings
• In-house science communications, including maintenance of the RIFS Wiki
• Implementation, further development, and monitoring of the third-party funding strategy
• Further development of the Institute’s cooperation strategy and governance, as well as management of institutional cooperation and memberships
• Participation in the centre's internal sustainability management
• Develop, monitor, and implement the RIFS strategy to advance transdisciplinary early‑career scientists, working closely with the GFZ Career Centre
• Support the development of evaluation criteria and procedures for transformative and transdisciplinary research at RIFS
• Contribute to the assessment activities of the Helmholtz Association and its funding partners

Your qualifications:

• University degree (Master's or comparable), a doctoral degree (PhD) is advantageous
• At least 2 years of professional experience, preferably in science (university, non-university research institution or similar)
• Strong familiarity with the research ecosystem
• Basic understanding of database systems
• Ideally, experience with transdisciplinary research, preferably in the context of sustainable development
• Professional experience at the interface of science, policy and civil‑society, together with expertise in reporting and (project) coordination, and familiarity with quality‑assurance tools and methods applied in research institutions and/or universities, are desirable 
• Knowledge of the structures and workflows within the Helmholtz Association would be advantageous 
• Strong analytical and strategic mindset 
• Very good organisational skills coupled with a meticulous, structured work style and excellent time‑management skills 
• Ability to communicate complex information with intercultural awareness and contextual sensitivity
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English and German 
• Reliability, a high degree of initiative, and the ability to work both in a team and independently 
• Enjoy working in international/diverse teams

What we offer:

• A position with challenging and diverse responsibilities in a dynamic and international research environment
• A workplace culture built on sustainability, transparency, and a balanced blend of collaboration and individual responsibility
• State-of-the-art equipment
• Public service benefits
• Extensive training opportunities
• Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
• Flexible working hours and conditions
• Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
• Institute day-care centre on site (Telegrafenberg research campus)

Start date: 1^st May 2026, if possible earlier
Fixed-term: 2 years (with possibility of extension)
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
Working hours: Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
Place of work: Potsdam

Have we piqued your interest?

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Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. The RIFS actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. Anyone who has been recognized as severely disabled, will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX.  In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.

‘Diversity in perspectives’ is a high value for us. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We among others do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade model measures which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. We are thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.

Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 b, Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 26 of the Data Protection Act for the State of Brandenburg. After completion of the procedure, application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations.
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact ivonne [dot] triebel [at] rifs-potsdam [dot] de (Ivonne Triebel) via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.

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