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 transformations. Joining the IAT offers a unique opportunity to actively shape its development and contribute to cutting-edge, impact-driven research. The advertised position is embedded in the thematic area of Co-design of value creation networks within the IAT, thereby fostering collaboration across disciplines and research groups in this field at ZALF and with partners. More information: .

With its Tenure Track System, ZALF aims to recruit excellent scientists with core 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-developing technological innovations for resilient agricultural value networks” IAT-T04-2026

Call description

This Tenure Track Call invites applicants with qualifications to lead a new working group on research for co-developing technological innovations for resilient agricultural value networks. Research should support innovations including (digital and AI-based) technologies to develop adaptive value networks for sustainable and resilient regional farming systems. The resilient value networks should integrate horizontal linkages between different actors of the farming system (producer, processor, retailer, consumer) and thereby expands the value chain concept of a vertical flow from producer to consumer with further cooperation option, therefore supporting diversification of farm and farming system activities. The research will be implemented in living labs, primarily in Germany, but also in other world regions. Research will collaborate with other working groups at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and ZALF and will be supported by institutionalised living lab structures of the IAT.

The successful candidate will:

• employ quantitative studies to analyze and assess opportunities and risks of technological and AI-based innovations for value creation along the agricultural value chain
• engage in an open innovation process to co-develop potential technological solutions in alignment with institutional innovations for resilient value chains
• co-developing strategies for up- and outscaling of successful technological solutions
• cooperate with the other IAT working groups operating in the five IAT living labs as well as with the socio-economic research groups at JLU Giessen and at ZALF
• establish the working group within the international scientific community including acquisition of third-party funding and supervision of early career researchers.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in economics or agricultural sciences, or similar, with a focus on technological innovations and value chains. They will have a significant scientific record in value chain research as well as first experience in transdisciplinary research and/or open innovation processes. 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
• Classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) E14 (including special annual payment)
• Individual options for career support such as a mentoring tandem, courses & trainings
• A transdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• 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 promotes equality among all employees and welcomes applications regardless of ethnic, cultural, or social background, age, religion, ideology, disability, gender, or sexual identity. ()Applications of disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be favored. All applications require the following documents: 1) application letter, 2) summary of future research plan (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 ). Specifications for all documents are available on the ZALF website () and within the ZALF .

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 (). Please send your application, preferably online (see link below). For e-mail application, create a single PDF file and send it to stating the reference number IAT-T04-2026.

The deadline for applications is September 20, 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; ). For questions regarding the Tenure Track System, please contact Dr. Susanne Kramer (Phone +49(0)33432/82-221; ).

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.

Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF),

Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany

Contact of Human resource management: