Job advertisement: Full-time Chair of the DAM Executive Board

The German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) brings together 25 university and non-university marine science institutions in northern Germany and cooperates with strategic partners to strengthen the sustainable management of coasts, seas and oceans. It supports German marine research through cross-institutional activities in the areas of research, data management and digitisation, infrastructure coordination, transfer and the promotion of young talent. In addition, the DAM promotes national and international cooperation in marine and climate research, advises decision-makers and institutions in the public interest, and strengthens exchange with politics, business and civil society.

The DAM, which was jointly founded in 2019 by the scientific community, the federal government (represented by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research) and the northern German states (Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein), was evaluated in 2025 and the goal of its continuation was included in the German federal government’s coalition agreement. In 2026, the previous activities of the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM) are to be integrated into the DAM in order to combine the goals and achievements of the two associations and to further strengthen German marine research nationally and internationally.

The German Marine Research Alliance is looking for a

FULL-TIME CHAIR OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD (M/F/D)

Your responsibilities

• Responsibility for managing DAM e.V. in collaboration with other board members
• Conceptual and strategic development of German marine research nationally and internationally, in close consultation with member institutions
• Implementation of the merger between DAM and KDM and promotion of the new association nationally and internationally
  Maintaining and expanding networks and representing DAM’s interests, especially in national politics, business and civil society
• Working closely with member institutions, the federal administrative board and the participating North German states, as well as with national and international cooperation partners
• Responsibility for the office and its budget
• Contact person for the association’s bodies and committees (administrative board, general meeting, international advisory board)

Your profile

Required:

• Successfully completed university degree or comparable qualification
• Knowledge of business management processes and proven experience and skills in managing complex projects and assuming budget responsibility
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the German science system – ideally of the national and international marine and maritime research landscape
• Business fluent German and English

Advantageous:

• Several years of experience in a management position in national/international research or funding organisations; doctorate desirable
• Experience with complex change processes
• Experience in designing and implementing research strategies
• Experience in working with political decision-makers, civil society groups and the business community
• Experience in motivational leadership and management of teams and in the further development of team skills (inclusive leadership)

General conditions:

Appointment for a term of four years in accordance with the statutes; reappointment is possible. Remuneration appropriate to a management and leadership position in a non-profit association (100%) as well as social benefits in line with the public sector.
Applications from women are expressly welcome.
Severely disabled applicants will be given preferential consideration if they are suitably qualified.

Please send your detailed application documents (cover letter and vision statement, tabular CV, copies of your most important certificates, salary details and information on your starting date) by email by 28 November 2025 to:

Stefan.Mueller@bmftr.bund.de

MinDir Stefan Müller
Chair of the Administrative Council of the DAM
Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt
53170 Bonn

Headerfoto: Michael Olsen | Unsplash