Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Associate – Multi-level Climate Governance (gn)

About the Hertie School:

The Hertie School in Berlin prepares exceptional students for leadership positions in government, business, and civil society. The school offers master’s programmes, executive education and doctoral programmes, distinguished by interdisciplinary and practice-oriented teaching, as well as outstanding research. Its extensive international network positions it as an ambassador of good governance, characterised by public debate and engagement. The school was founded in 2003 by the Hertie Foundation, which remains its major funder. The Hertie School is accredited by the state and the German Science Council.

The Hertie School is looking for a:

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate – Multi-level Climate Governance (gn)

• on a full-time basis (40 hours/week);
• part-time employment is an option.

The planned start date is 01 September 2023. The exact start date is open for negotiation. The contract is initially limited to three years. The appointment is conditional on approval by the funding agency.

The successful candidate will join the team of Christian Flachsland at the Hertie School's Centre for Sustainability (CfS).

Your tasks:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate to join our team at the Centre for Sustainability and conduct research on multi-level climate governance. Collaborating with leading political scientists, legal scholars, and economists, you will have the opportunity to advance cutting-edge, policy-relevant social science and inform climate change mitigation governance as part of the Ariadne 2 project.

You will lead the work on developing a conceptual framework for analyzing, diagnosing, and reforming climate governance in Germany across multiple levels, drawing on, for example, comparative politics and institutional perspectives. This framework will be used to identify key governance requirements and reform options helping Germany achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.  

You will manage multi-author teams and workflows to produce reports that are accessible to a broader policy audience and communicate these to stakeholders and the media. Working closely with Prof. Dr. Christian Flachsland and the climate team at the Centre for Sustainability, you will have the opportunity to mentor junior researchers and guide project staff.  

Your academic work will be published in leading interdisciplinary and disciplinary journals. We encourage joint research and co-authoring with our outstanding researchers across all seniority levels at the Centre, the School, and beyond.

Your profile:

• Ph.D. in political science, political economy, institutional economics or a related field is an asset  
• Deep knowledge of German and European climate policy and governance, comparative politics and institutional analysis is an asset
• Excellent qualitative research skills (including interviews, literature review and synthesis, theory-building)
• Excellent analytical, writing, and project management skills
• Proven track record of academic excellence is an asset
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• German language skills 

We offer:

A stimulating international and diverse environment in multiple areas of social science, high-quality teaching and public policy. The Hertie School is a vibrant academic community that emphasizes excellence in research and teaching as well as an interdisciplinary perspective. Our school has been certified as a family friendly work environment in higher education and an equal opportunity employer. Severely disabled applicants are given preferential consideration in the event of equal qualification.

Please submit your application (including a CV, a cover letter indicating your research interests, and two writing samples) by using the Apply button below.

• The deadline for full consideration is 6 June 2023.

Please contact Christian Flachsland, Professor for Sustainability and Director of the Centre for Sustainability, for further information about the position.