Scientific Project Coordinator (m/f/d)

Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung e.V. (PIK)

The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world's leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.

The research group “Evidence for Climate Solutions” at RD5 – Climate Economics and Policy, located at EUREF Campus in Berlin-Schöneberg, is offering a position as

Scientific Project Coordinator (m/f/d) (Position number: 43-2025 Project Coordinator)

in the field of Climate and Policy, starting on 01.03.2026.
You can get a first overview over the project here: https://whatworksclimate.solutions/

The position is funded for 24 months. Remuneration is in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg), salary group E 13. This is a full-time position with a weekly working time of up to 40 hours per week. The position can be filled on a part-time basis (minimum of 32 hours per week). Appointment is conditional on approval by the funding agency.

Key responsibilities:

• Scientific coordination and oversight of the project, ensuring that the project stays on track. This includes managing and tracking timelines, milestones, and deliverables. Coordinate and contribute to the implementation of research projects through close collaboration with other researchers at PIK, project partners elsewhere, advisory bodies as well as the involved stakeholders;
• Transfer of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research results and methods, e.g., science with research-synthetic practice in politics and civil society. This includes regular interactions with high-level leaders from the scientific, policy, and practitioner communities.
• Collaborate in the development of new research designs, e.g., AI-supported tools for research synthesis and scientific status assessments
• Reporting and compliance, including ensuring compliance with the Wellcome Trust and PIK organizational policies (e.g., ethical guidelines), preparing progress reports, and monitoring project deliverables. Liaise and maintain communication with the Wellcome Trust as the project donor;
• Financial oversight of the project, including budget management and financial reporting;
• Communication & outreach, including developing a communication strategy, managing and expanding the website and social media accounts, helping in the coordination of press work, etc.; present and discuss research findings at conferences and meetings at the national and international level
• Event planning and management, including the organization of project meetings, WWCS summit, and other workshops or conferences with a broad range of stakeholders including members from the scientific community, governments, civil society, and academia in LMICs and at PIK.
• Contributions to the strategic development of the WWCS initiative, including the development of an inclusive governance structure, working towards a sustainable funding model as well as maintenance and expansion of strategic partnerships

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Communication Science, Economics, Public or Science Management, Financial Management, International Relations, Political Science, Social Science, Climate Science or other;
• interest in climate mitigation and/or adaptation research is expected
• expertise in project management, including familiarity with available project management tools, and in financial reporting is required;
• familarity in organising international conferences or events is required;
• experience in the development of research proposals is an asset;
• practical knowledge and interest in stakeholder engagement as well as communicating scientific results to a non-scientific audience is valuable;
• work experience in LMICs and in multicultural contexts is desirable.

We expect:

• ability and enthusiasm to work independently as well as efficiently in an interdisciplinary team, collaborating with content and methods experts as well as data scientists
• structured and goal-oriented thinking
• capacity to familiarise yourself quickly with new topics
• excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data and research findings clearly and effectively
• high level of proficiency in the English language
• willingness to travel for work (project meetings, workshops etc.) and take part in further training

We offer:

• the chance to be part of an engaged, diverse and interdisciplinary team
• a stimulating working environment in an internationally recognised research institute and an attractive working space at the EUREF-Campus in Berlin Schöneberg
• flexi-time and mobile working (up to 50 % of your hours)
• a collective pay scheme and associated benefits, as well as a subsidized travel card or Deutschland-Ticket Job

PIK values equality and diversity. We encourage applications without photo. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions, and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.

Please apply by 04.01.2026 directly via our application form below this job advertisement on our website.

If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a transcript evaluation, please note that you may have to request one if your application is successful. For further information, please visit the website: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html

For further information or to discuss the position please contact Shona McCulloch or Dr. Jan Minx.