As part of the Helmholtz Association, the GFZ is Germany’s premier research centre for geosciences, providing access to world-class research infrastructure and international collaborations. We promote research that can have a theoretical and practical impact for a better understanding of the solid Earth. Our commitment is to translate our findings into solutions that benefit society and nature and help shape a more sustainable future. We foster interdisciplinary research, encouraging collaboration between scientists from diverse fields, promoting the integration of different methodologies, theories, and perspectives.

Our work is guided by our core values: curiosity, integrity, relevance, appreciation, and diversity in perspectives. We believe that groundbreaking science is achieved when different viewpoints and disciplines come together, fostering a rich environment for innovation.

At the GFZ, employees benefit from the TVöD Ost public service pay scale, which offers salaries based on experience and role. This ensures equal pay and removes the pressure of salary negotiations. Additionally, employees enjoy predictable salary increases, a comprehensive benefits package, and excellent work-life balance protections, making it an attractive and stable workplace for career development.

Working within the Öffentlicher Dienst (public sector) comes with a range of benefits designed to support employees in both their professional and personal lives. A key advantage is access to the VBL pension scheme, which ensures financial security in retirement. Furthermore, the housing assistance programme offers support in finding suitable accommodation, helping to ease the process of relocating or securing housing. Additionally, employees benefit from a job ticket subsidy.

Through initiatives like the Career Center, the GFZ supports continuous career development, especially for early-career researchers, offering training, workshops, mentoring, individual counseling, and networking opportunities.

Apart from this, being part of the GFZ means having access to the extensive Helmholtz Association network, which offers further opportunities for cross-center collaboration, resources like the Helmholtz Leadership Academy, and professional growth across Germany’s leading scientific institution.

The GFZ is dedicated to promoting gender equality and advancing women's careers, especially in research and leadership roles. By implementing the cascade model, the GFZ sets progressive, career-level quotas based on the current representation of women, ensuring that each advancement tier has achievable goals for increasing female representation. You can find more information about this in our Gender Equality Plan.

We are committed to make science a safe space for everyone regardless of their gender, sexual identity, age, dissabilities, neurodiversities, or social background. For this, the GFZ counts with a Diversity Project that focuses on making the recruiting process a sensitive journey that atracts a diverse pipeline and offers equal opportunities for everyone. We are also aware that leaders are the catalysts for transforming science into a truly inclusive space, so we are committed to bring them on this journey and make sure that we are building a foundation where every voice in science can thrive and belong. But this journey not only starts there, we strongly believe that the power of diversity, equity, and incluison resides in the entire community, for this, we foster the creation of grassroots initiatives that provide a space for employees to connect with others who share similar experiences and interests. You can read more about Diversity and Inclusion in the website of the Helmholtz Association. 

We are proud of being part of the Charta der Vielfalt GFZ and to be part of a Success Factor Family member that prioritizes work-life balance through a federal initiative with industry & unions.

Our goal is to make you feel comfortable and supported when you start at GFZ. Starting a new job, especially in a new country, can be both exciting and challenging. The Welcome Center advises international researchers and employees as well as their families on all aspects of their stay. You can find our services here. We look forward to meeting you.

The GFZ supports employees through family-friendly policies and a flexible work environment. Flexible working hours, part-time options, and mobile-working help balance professional and family responsibilities. Our on-site childcare facilities and our commitment to family leave ensure that our employees can thrive both at work and at their private lives. We believe that supporting work-life balance leads to greater quality standards in science and satisfaction for everyone. Work flexibility helps our team members manage their time better and maintain a healthy work-life balance while delivering excellent research.

The Telegrafenberg is more than just a workplace; it’s a historic science campus set amidst nature! Here, you will work in a unique space combining scientific heritage, including the iconic Einstein Tower, with modern research facilities.

Our campus offers everything you need: You have access to workplaces with state-of-the-art equipment and first-class scientific infrastructure, plus you will be part of a dynamic and international research community. You will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch breaks at the cafeteria and coffee meetings at the cosy Café Freundlich, and you will find plenty of quiet spots around the campus. Getting to the Telegrafenberg is easy; we are just 30 minutes from Berlin Zoo by regional train, and only 6 minutes from Potsdam main station via the shuttle bus.

At the GFZ, we are convinced that a good work-life balance contributes to sustainable productivity and is crucial for long-term well-being. Our employees have a wide range of opportunities to engage in sporting activities together, be it through our company run, company outings, annual parties and get-togethers as well as on-site events and meetings where colleagues can exchange ideas in an informal setting. In addition, we offer a wide range of company sports activities that create an inclusive and motivating atmosphere and promote cohesion and well-being. If required, you can access a wide range of support and advice services at any time, e.g. the ombudspersons for good scientific practice, the ombudspersons for doctoral candidates, trained mediators, the complaints office (in accordance with the AGG), the conflict management team and other initiatives that promote the well-being of our employees in a structured manner.

Apart from this you would enjoy our program benefit@work throughout the year, where we offer a variety of programs and workshops. Through this you can learn stress management techniques, mindfulness practices, and get practical tips and support for parents and caregivers.