The Research Institute for Sustainability (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 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research 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 re IMAGINE Arctic Research: Relations, Ethics, and Methods, we are looking for a:

Research Associate (f_m_x) Transdisciplinarity and Co-Creation, EU-Project BIRGEJUPMI

Reference Number 10053

The EU-funded project "BIRGEJUPMI: Bridging Knowledge Systems for Inclusive, Resilient, and Prosperous Arctic Coastal Futures" aims to strengthen community engagement and relational environmental decision-making in Arctic coastal regions by bringing together diverse knowledge systems (Indigenous, Western, and local) and embracing a holistic, ethical, and equitable community-based approach to research with strong Indigenous leadership. The RIFS will lead BIRGEJUPMI's Work Package 4 "Local and Global Futures: Young People's Visions of Sustainable Livelihoods and Inclusive Environmental Decision-Making", and collaborate closely with long-term consortium partners, and local partners. RIFS researchers will also lead several tasks focused on data management, joint reflection, and evaluation and contribute to the project's cross-cutting work packages. Lessons learned will provide novel insights into the advancement of co-productive and transdisciplinary research approaches and evaluation practices vital to RIFS research groups and focal themes.

Your responsibilities:

• Co-create research infrastructures within the EU consortium to allow continuous dialogue and reflexive evaluation across different knowledge systems
• Contribute to the development of a data management plan
• Develop a comprehensive project evaluation framework
• Co-develop recommendations for the adaptation of research questions and research methods together with Indigenous and non-Indigenous project partners
• Contribute to organizing a community workshop for co-developing an overall framework of working together with scientists, young community members, and municipality personnel
• Ability to travel between Potsdam and Arctic regions for research and project meetings
• Participate in activities of the research group re IMAGINE Arctic Research and RIFS events
• Contribute to the preparation of peer reviewed publications

Your qualifications:

• University degree (Master, Diploma or equivalent) in anthropology, geography, international relations, development studies, area studies, or a related discipline
• Experience in working collaboratively with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners
• Experience working in larger EU-funded projects
• Experience with co-creative and transdisciplinary research
• In-depth understanding of Arctic Indigenous cultures, protocols, and issues
• Ability to communicate effectively with culturally diverse audiences
• Experience in organizing events, workshops, including project management, budgeting and outreach
• High degree of creativity and personal initiative
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English
• Ability to work independently and in trans-cultural and transdisciplinary teams

Start date: As soon as possible
Fixed-term: 2 Jahre (mit der Option auf Verlängerung)
Salary: Die Stelle ist nach TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost) mit der Entgeltgruppe 13 bewertet. Die Eingruppierung erfolgt nach den tariflichen Bestimmungen und den entsprechenden persönlichen Voraussetzungen.
Working hours: Teilzeit 50% (derzeit 19,50 h/Woche)
Place of work: Potsdam

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
• Work place at the RIFS Campus, Helmholtzstrasse 5

Have we piqued your interest?

If so, we look forward to receiving your application including a letter of motivation and a work sample by 16th December 2024. Please use our online application form only. Interviews will likely take place in the week from 13th to 17th January 2025.
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.
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.
The selection process will involve a committee including external advisors who will receive the applications. Your personal data will, of course, be treated confidentially and will be communicated to the involved person exclusively for the purpose of evaluating your professional suitability within the framework of this selection procedure.
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Anne Chahine 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.