Waterways are complex aquatic systems. The Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), which sits within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), plays an active role in shaping waterways on a sustainable and effective basis. As the German Federal Government’s sci- entific institute for research, expert reports and advice in the fields of hydrology, water body use, water body quality, ecology and the protection of aquatic ecosystems, BfG advises the BMDV, other federal ministries, the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration(WSV) and third parties. Ded- icated staff from many different disciplines work in a state-of-the-art environment at BfG.
The Federal Institute of Hydrology is part of a career network spanning 357,582 km² and comprising more than 40 public authorities with around 24,000 employees. More information is available at http://www.damit-al- les-läuft.de.
The Federal Institute of Hydrology is seeking a
Research Associate (University Diploma (German “Universitätsdiplom”) or equivalent / Master’s degree) specialised in biology, aquatic ecology or geo-/environmental sciences
to carry out the assigned tasks in the “Vegetation Studies, Landscape Management” department (U3). This is a permanent post, and we are looking to fill it as soon as possible.
The place of work will be Koblenz, Germany.
Reference code: 20242079_9346
The German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS) is looking for solutions to improve the resilience of the country's infrastructure and natural resources in response to climate change. The multidisciplinary DAS team at the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG) consists of geographers, hydrologists and biologists. It processes climate change information delivered by the German Meteorological Service (DWD) into regional and local hydrological data providing the basis for estimating future morphological and biological changes in and along Germany’s federal waterways. BfG’s department U3 “Vegetation Studies, Landscape Management” develops species distribution models and habitat suitability models for selected plant species of rivers, river banks and floodplains. These models are used to estimate the development of vegetation in and along the federal waterways and the related ecosystem services against the background of climate change. The aim is to be able to provide expert advice to both Germany’s Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration and policymakers in an operational mode in the future.
We need you for the following key tasks:
- Development and improvement of species distribution models and habitat suitability models for plant species of rivers, river banks, floodplains and costal marshes specifically for the application of particular discharge scenarios based on current climate scenarios.
- Development and improvement of models for ecosystem services of rivers, river banks, floodplains and coastal marshes such as denitrification, retention of phosphorus and carbon.
- Creation and enhancement of coupled statistical and process-based models for relevant plant species of inland waterways and tidal estuaries.
- Collection, processing and parametrisation of data for model application including the selection and development of climate-sensitive variables affecting vegetation.
- Translation of hydrological, hydraulic, morphological and other input variables that are changing in the context of climate change into spatially explicit geodata for the spatial extrapolation of model results.
- Creation and enhancement of appropriate databases, R and Python code for the spatial extrap- olation of model results.
- Accounting of modelled spatial changes.
- Standardised preparation, publication and presentation of model results for specialist audiences as well as for government authorities and the public; provision of policy advice.
- Development of proposals for securing valuable river and floodplain habitats and for strengthening the resilience of na tive and typical riparian and floodplain vegetation.
Your profile:
This would be essential:
- Scientific university degree (diploma from a traditional university (not from a university of ap- plied sciences)/master's degree) in biology, aquatic ecology, geo-/environmental sciences or a comparable qualification.
This would be desirable:
- Good knowledge of biology and ecology, in particular of the vegetation of river banks, floodplains and tidal plains.
- Very good understanding of the environmental habitat conditions of river banks and floodplains, in particular with regard to hydraulics, morphology and soils.
- Good knowledge of ecosystem services of rivers, river banks and floodplains as well as tidal plains.
- Very good understanding of the set-up and application of databases, geo-information systems and statistical tools for ecological modelling (e.g. programming languages R, Python, QGIS, ArcGIS, PostgreSQL).
- Experience in drafting management-related principles, presentations and publications, especially for policy advice purposes.
- Ability to perform tasks independently and work scientifically.
- Project management skills and ability to work in a team.
- Good command of both written and spoken German and English.
- Willingness to plan and carry out single or multi-day business trips, including off-road trips; driving licence (German class 3 or B or equivalent).
This is what we offer you:
Salary is based on the German federal collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-Bund), pay group E13.
Special information:
You can look forward to an interesting and challenging professional role, working as part of an innovative team in a state-of-the-art environment.
We offer our employees personalised working hour agreements, part-time work and flexitime so they can achieve a balance between work and family life. Hybrid working and mobile work arrangements are also possible, subject to business needs. In the event of unexpected childcare issues, a parent-and-child workroom is available. We actively promote our employees’ health by offering a range of health initiatives. Continuing professional training is provided in line with employees’ specific needs.
The weekly working hours are 39 hours for employees remunerated according to collective agreements.
The post is fundamentally suitable for part-time employees.
Applications from women are particularly welcome. If candidates have the same qualifications, preferential consideration will be given to women in line with section 8 of the German Equal Opportunities Act (Bundesgleichstellungsgesetz, BGleiG).
In the event of equal professional suitability, priority will be given to severely disabled candidates. Only a minimum level of physical suitability is required.
We welcome applications from people of all nationalities.
If you have an educational qualification from a country other than Germany, please include in your application evidence of recognition of your qualification by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz).
The successful candidate will be selected by a panel.
Do you think this post might be for you?
If so, please submit your application by no later than 28 September 2024, using the official electronic application process (EBV) on the following website (in German): http://www.bav.bund.de/Ein- stieg-EBV
On this website, please click “Apply using a reference code” (“Bewerbung mittels Referenzcode”) and then enter reference code 20242079_9346 when prompted to do so. You can find German- language user documentation via the above link.
Please then upload your complete application documents (cover letter, CV, university degree/master’s degree certificate or evidence of your professional qualifications and suitability, job references/appraisalsand school-leaving certificate) as an attachment to your candidate profile.
Please also enter details of your degree under “Education/qualifications” (“Ausbildung/Abschlüsse”) and your employers from the past five years under “Professional experience” (“Berufserfahrungen”) in your candidate profile.
If you have any questions about the electronic application process (EBV), please contact the Federal Authority for Administrative Services (Bundesanstalt für Verwaltungsdienstleistungen) by phoning
+49 (0) 4941 602-240.
Contacts:
For technical information, please contact Dr Peter Horchler (Tel.: +49 (0) 261 1306-5177) or Mr Uwe Schröder (Tel.: +49 (0) 261 1306-5140). For information relating to the application, please email
