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 Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is a nationally and internationally active research institute and member of the Leibniz Association. ZALF aims for excellent and integrated research with societal impact to support an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. Launched in 2026, ZALF's Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT) operates as a permanent structural unit with 19 new working groups in Müncheberg, Kassel, Giessen and Geisenheim. The IAT strives to pioneer research in agricultural living lab contexts, working closely with diverse societal actors to co-develop, test and evaluate land use systems, value networks, and innovative solutions for sustainable transformation. Joining the IAT offers a unique opportunity to actively shape its development and contribute to cutting-edge, impact-driven research. The advertised position is part of a cluster focused on the “Co-design of Value Networks” offering collaboration across different disciplines and research groups. More information: Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation.

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 campus 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”

IAT-T01-2026

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 Justus-Liebig University 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 Justus-Liebig University 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 business models and value networks. They will have significant experience in transdisciplinary research in a European agri-food context. Basic German language skills and a willingness to improve is required to allow interaction with actors in the living lab regions.

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 have the opportunity to contribute to the design and establishment of the new IAT and become part of a new interdisciplinary research team in an inspiring and challenging research environment. 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.

All applications require the following documents: 1) application letter, 2) summary of future research (2 pages), 3) list of peer-reviewed publications, 4) list of acquired third-party funding, 5) certificates and proof of qualifications and 6) two standardized letters of recommendation of scientists who are familiar with the candidate’s research accomplishments and academic credentials (template available at Reference_Letter).

Specifications to all documents are available at the ZALF website (www.zalf.de/en/karriere/tenure-track) and within the ZALF Tenure_Track_Guideline

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-T01-2026.

The deadline for applications is 15 February 2026.

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)33432/82-689; andrea.kern@zalf.de).

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.