Scientific Project Coordinator (m/f/d)

Max Planck Society; Jena; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Remote work option

Training opportunities

Pension scheme (VBL)

Transport subsidy

Job summary

Max Planck Society in Jena seeks a Scientific Project Coordinator (m/f/d) to lead cross-disciplinary analyses and the coordination of a joint Max Planck Center with Stanford University and MBARI. The role involves coordinating work packages, developing outreach materials, and managing datasets across natural and social sciences.

The position requires a MSc/PhD in natural or social sciences, strong English, and willingness to travel for international conferences and exchanges.

Qualifications

• Completed university degree (MSc/PhD) in natural or social sciences.
• Experience coordinating scientific projects and management.
• Strong English communication and networking.
• Interest in Earth system modeling, climate science, or related fields.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Contributing to analyses and synthesis studies.
• Coordinate work packages, monitor progress, budgets, deadlines.
• Develop training and outreach materials.
• Assemble datasets from natural and social sciences.
• Write proposals and funding applications.
• Manage stakeholder communications and events.
• Maintain project website and communication materials.
• Organize and facilitate meetings.

Skills

Scientific project coordination

Interdisciplinary research

English proficiency

Communication skills

International travel willingness

Networking

Education

MSc/PhD in natural or social sciences

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

Organisation & Administration Jena

Developmental and Evolutionary Biology & Genetics Immunobiology and Infection Biology & Medicine Earth Sciences and Climate Research Social Sciences Linguistics

Job Code: 261104

Job Offer from November 05, 2026

The Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA) was founded in the summer of 2022; it is a dynamically growing, highly international, and interdisciplinary research institution. The research focuses on modeling and analyzing the interrelationships between biophysical and human-made systems, looking from the deep past to the far future to examine how humanity has driven the emergence of the Anthropocene – the period in which human activities began significantly impacting our planet’s climate and ecosystems – and identifying potential intervention points towards a more sustainable future.

Starting in January 2027, the Max Planck Center for the Blue Acceleration, which is connected to the Department of Integrative Earth System Science at the MPI-GEA in Jena, led by Ricarda Winkelmann, is seeking to fill a position as soon as possible, initially limited to five years.

Scientific Project Coordinator (m/f/d)

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) or part-time position with at least 32 hours per week. The position includes the scientific project coordination of the joint Max Planck Center together with Stanford University and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).

This Max Planck Center will be dedicated to assessing the far-reaching and increasingly entangled impacts of human activities on the world’s oceans in the Anthropocene – coined as the Blue Acceleration. With the proposed transatlantic partnership, this project will undertake an ambitious fundamental research program that extends the original scientific vision and analytical rationale behind the Great Acceleration Observatory developed as a core research theme at MPI-GEA. We propose a new collaborative effort across disciplines as a starting point for the deeper scientific question: What are the past, present and future dynamics driving human-Earth system interactions, and what are the roles of oceans, coasts and islands in it? Which methods, technologies and indicators will be essential in observing the Blue Acceleration and its transition to a turnaround? Answering these questions will not only result in major scientific breakthroughs, but is especially interesting to pursue in the framework of the recently established Ocean Conference of the Parties, and the High Sea Treaty ratified in 2025, with its focus on conservation and protection of the marine space, including the deep sea with all of its life and fundamental planetary functions. For future ocean knowledge, marine conservation and human presence at sea, ocean robotics, autonomous sensing and AI will fundamentally change access and will create new indicator sets which can build the foundation of a Blue Acceleration Observatory.

Your tasks

• Contributing to overarching analyses and synthesis studies
• Integration and participation in independent, complex research activities such as developing new ocean health indicators and predicting their future trajectories by modeling
• Developing training and outreach modules and materials
• Assembly of data sets and data products from natural and social sciences related to the Blue Acceleration
• Writing scientific reports, proposals for additional funding and grants
• Support and strategic expansion of scientific networks

Project coordination tasks

• Development and implementation of the overarching strategy and structure for the Max Planck Center, which was initially approved for five years
• Scientific and administrative coordination of work packages, including ongoing monitoring of project progress in terms of scientific objectives, budgets, and deadlines
• Stakeholder management, including documentation with the help of digital media
• Developing the content and managing the administrative organization of events such as project workshops and professional conferences
• Identifying and implementing appropriate communication channels, internal project digital infrastructure, e.g., calendars, project management tools, data as well as designing and maintaining a project website and creating content for communication materials
• Organization and facilitation of meetings

Your profile

• Experience in coordinating scientific projects and scientific management
• Completed university degree (MSc/PhD) in natural or social sciences
• A strong interest and, ideally, work experience in the topics of Earth system modeling, climate science, physics, or related fields is desirable
• Strong interdisciplinary interest and experience in scientific work and networking
• Willingness to participate in international conferences and associated travel, such as visits/academic exchange in the US
• High level of competence in oral and written English
• Excellent communication skills and experience in creating science-based content
• Analytical thinking, high sense of responsibility, proactive approach to work

Our offer

This full-time (39 hours/week) or part-time with at least 32 hours/week position will start as soon as possible. Remuneration will follow the public service pay scale (TVöD) up to paygroup 13, according to the candidate’s qualifications and experience. You are entitled to an annual bonus, 31 days' holiday, and time off on 24th and 31st December. We also offer attractive and family-friendly flexi-time and arrangements for remote working. A company pension scheme (VBL), an employer subsidy for public transport, the opportunity for further training, as well as language and health courses complete our offer.

The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more individuals with disabilities and especially encourages them to apply. We are also committed to encouraging diversity and actively challenging biases based on gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and other components of identity. We were honored with the TOTAL E-QUALITY award for the second time in 2026 for our commitment.

The Max Planck Society supports the compatibility of family and career and is certified according to the "berufundfamilie" (“job and family”) audit.

Contact: Ricarda Winkelmann; [e-mail]