Tenure Track scientist as working group head (m/f/d) on “Co-development of resilient agricultural value networks”

Müncheberg

Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V.

The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver knowledge and solutions for ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture. ZALF aims for excellent and integrated research with societal impact. The institute is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). ZALF is currently establishing its Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT). Beginning in 2026, the IAT will operate as a new and permanent structural unit within ZALF with 19 working groups conducting research in the context of agricultural living labs. The IAT working groups will collaborate with diverse actors in the co-design and shared assessment of cultivation systems, value networks and joint innovations in support of a larger transformation towards more sustainable and equitable agriculture. The research is focused on five agricultural landscape living labs in Hesse and Brandenburg. The IAT working groups are in Giessen, Kassel, Geisenheim, and Müncheberg. More details can be found here.

With its Tenure Track System, ZALF aims to recruit excellent scientists with expertise aligned with the IAT by guaranteeing a permanent contract upon successful evaluation.

We are offering at our IAT location in Giessen a full-time position as

Tenure Track scientist as working group head (m/f/d) on “Co-development of resilient agricultural value networks”

Reference No. IAT-T03-2025

Call description

This Classic Tenure Track Call invites applications of scientists with qualifications to lead a new working group on transdisciplinary research for co-developing resilient value networks of agricultural products. Resilience includes the suitability for the regional context as well as robustness and adaptability against future environmental and socio-economic shocks and stresses. The aim of the co-designed value networks is to meet emerging demands for sustainable agricultural products through the cooperation of actors and regionalized governance systems. This includes utilization of digital and other innovations for bundling and logistics encompassing the entire value chain. Transdisciplinary research shall be implemented in living labs, primarily in Germany, but also in other world regions. Research will link up with other working groups at JLU Giessen and ZALF and be supported by living lab organizational structures of the IAT.

The successful candidate will:

• engage with stakeholders to identify requirements, challenges and possible solutions for resilient agricultural value networks
• analyze the suitability of co-designed pathways towards resilient value networks in the regional context of the living labs and beyond under existing and future conditions
• perform risk assessments of emerging and future external conditions
• analyze digital and other innovations for bundling and logistics processes in agricultural production, processing and marketing
• develop methods for the upscaling and outscaling of co-developed solutions to other regions
• actively cooperate with the other working groups operating in the five IAT living labs as well as with the socio-economic research groups at JLU Giessen and at ZALF
• acquire third-party funding and supervise early career researchers.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in agricultural sciences, or similar, with a focus on value network developments and logistics. They will have significant experience transdisciplinary research in a European agri-food context. German is an advantage. The candidate will have expertise in risk management and utilization of digital value network solutions. Preliminary experience in scientific leadership is expected. The selected candidate is required to have demonstrated their capacity to independently carry out research, including an excellent publication record, successfully acquired competitive third-party funding, and visibility in their respective field of research.

We offer:

The successful candidate will receive a Regular Tenure Track position (2 x 3 years) with transition to a permanent position, subject to successful evaluations (midterm and final tenure evaluation). If candidates are not legally eligible for two consecutive fixed-term contracts (according to the German academic employment law – WissZeitVG), a Fast Tenure Track (1 phase) may be negotiated if the required scientific achievements are fulfilled.

Further:

• Full-time contract, with part-time option to allow for the reconciliation of family and career
• Salary will follow the guidelines for public employees according to the German TV-L, E14.
• Individual options for career support such as a mentoring tandem, courses & trainings
• A transdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• Service groups and support for stakeholder management and living lab coordination, as well as for data management and computation
• Access to a network of national and international scientific partners in the field of research
• A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• Relocation within commuting distance of the IAT location is welcome; remote working is permitted up to 40% per month
• Company ticket for public transport

Application and candidate selection

ZALF is an equal opportunities employer (audit berufundfamilie® certificate) and specifically encourages female scientists to apply. Applications of disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be favored.

Application documents must follow the specifications given in the respective guideline available at the ZALF website (www.zalf.de/en/karriere/tenure-track) and include two standardized letters of recommendation of scientists who are familiar with your research accomplishments and academic credentials (template available at Reference_Letter). This call has reference to the special conditions of IAT Tenure Track positions.

Candidate selection is based on scientific achievements, strategic aspects, and personal suitability. Details on criteria, minimum requirements and evaluation processes can be obtained from the ZALF Tenure Track System guideline, which is an official annex to this call: Tenure_Track_Guideline. 

Please send your application preferably online (see link below). For e-mail application, create a single PDF file and send it to tenuretrack@zalf.de stating the reference number IAT-T03-2025.

The deadline for applications is 18 April 2025.

E-mail application 
Online application

Contact of Human resource management:personal@zalf.de

If you have any questions regarding the research profile of this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Katharina Helming (Phone +49(0)33432/82-155; helming@zalf.de). For questions regarding the Tenure Track System, please contact Dr. Andrea Kern (Phone +49(0)33432/82-589; andrea.kern@zalf.de).

The filling of the position is subject to the final decision on the provision of institutional funding. If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months. You can find further information here.