Area of research:
Scientific / postdoctoral posts
Job description:
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 1st of January 2023 and is thus part of the Helmholtz Association.
For our research group Ocean Governance at the RIFS, we are looking for a:
Reference Number 11046
As part of the BMFTR‑funded project “Ecosystem‑Based Management of Deep‑Sea Mining” and the JPI‑Oceans consortium MiningImpact 3, we are seeking a motivated researcher with expertise in marine governance and transdisciplinary social-ecological research.
MiningImpact 3 analyses the potential impacts of deep‑sea mining on marine ecosystems and develops the scientific basis for a sustainable governance and management of deep-sea mining. The RIFS at GFZ investigates how an ecosystem‑based management (EBM) approach can be implemented within the international regime of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The aim is to develop effective governance and management approaches for EBM and adaptive management in deep-sea mining in the context of the ISA, to understand and assess possible implications, and to formulate practical recommendations for implementation engaging with partners, experts, and stakeholders.
Your responsibilities:
* Conduct independent scientific and transdisciplinary research, including policy and governance analyses and employing qualitative, co-creative methods (e.g., expert interviews and dialogue workshops)
* Plan, organise, and conduct the research work, including developing a theory- and method-driven analytical framework and research plan in accordance with the research proposals approved by the BMFTR and JPI Oceans
* Collaborate with partners in the JPI Oceans project consortium and establish and maintain contacts at the national and international level
* Support the project leadership in administrative and organisational tasks (e.g., meeting scheduling, budget monitoring, reporting)
* Present and disseminate the results both towards decision-makers (policy briefs, side events) and the scientific community (academic publications, presentations, reports)
* Participate actively in the Ocean Governance research group at RIFS
You will work closely with Dr Barbara Neumann, the project leader at RIFS and co‑leader of work package 3 on “Governance and Management Tools” within MiningImpact 3, and contribute to other work packages and tasks of the JPI Oceans project. At the same time, you will have the freedom to introduce your own research ideas and further develop your expertise in a highly interdisciplinary environment.
Your qualifications:
* A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in marine or environmental governance, environmental management, law, social sciences, or a related field; a PhD is not strictly necessary
* Solid knowledge of international marine governance theory and practice; in‑depth familiarity with deep‑sea mining and ecosystem‑based management is an advantage
* Experience in inter‑ and transdisciplinary research, confident handling of qualitative research methods, and expertise in policy and governance analysis
* Strong teamwork and communication skills, a high degree of self‑organisation, and the ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary setting
* Fluency in English (written and spoken); German language skills are desirable for reporting to the BMBF
* Willingness to travel domestically within Germany as well as internationally (European and non‑European destinations)
What we offer:
* Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
* 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
* Attractive workplace at RIFS in Potsdam (Berliner Str. 130)
Start date : 1st June 2026
Fixed-term: 26 months
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 (a minimum of 32 h/week).
Place of work: Potsdam
Have we piqued your interest?
If so, we look forward to receiving your conclusive application by 9th February 2026. Required documents: CV, letter of motivation, certificates/grades, a writing sample Desirable documents: referencesPlease use our online application form only.
Please note, interviews are scheduled for the week of 23th - 27th February 2026.
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 Dr. Barbara Neumann either via email or phone +49 (0)331-6264-22385. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.
This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.
Company
The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.
The profile of the Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.
Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.
Promoting young academics
Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.
The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group, for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.
Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .
The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.
All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.
Company info
Telephone
0049-30-206329-0
Location
Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany