The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) in Potsdam invites applications for the position of Scientific Project Coordinator and parttime Researcher to support two ERC-funded international research projects: GWSky (Making Sense of the Unexpected in the Gravitational-Wave Sky, https://www.gwsky.org) and MaScAmp (Mathematics of Scattering Amplitudes, https://www.mascamp.org). GWSky brings together the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, SISSA in Trieste, and the University of California, Los Angeles. MaScAmp brings together Trinity College Dublin, the University of Oxford, and Uppsala University.
Your coordination duties
- preparing the financial and scientific reports and ensuring compliance with all grant regulations given by the European Research Council
- managing and monitoring the project budgets
- supporting the principal investigators in administrative matters
- ensuring the timely and complete contribution of all partners to the reports
- serving as the main liaison with partner organizations and the ERC project officer
- organizing workshops and group activities
- arranging inbound and outbound visits, local hospitality, and other events
- keeping the project websites up to date
- coordinating recruitment
Your profile
As Project Coordinator, you will serve as the central point of contact, ensuring smooth communication among staff across all partner institutions.
You have an excellent command of English, solid research project management experience, and strong communication skills. A very good command of German is desirable. A university degree is required (a Master’s, ideally a PhD), and you have experience with EU-funded or similar international research projects. You bring attention to detail, strong organizational skills, the ability to juggle multiple tasks, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
A scientific background is highly preferred. Ideally, you are a scientist who can engage with the science-facing aspects of your role, not a purely administrative profile. 20% of your working time can be devoted to a research component, through active participation in the ongoing research of the GWSky or MaScAmp projects rather than a separate, independent line of work. Research experience in gravitational-wave physics, scattering amplitudes, or a closely related area is therefore a strong asset.
You work well both in a team and independently, and you remain flexible in a fast-moving research environment. Experience with project management tools, budget monitoring, and reporting is a plus. The position provides a strong foundation for a career in research project management.
Remuneration is based on the Collective Wage Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD Bund) up to pay group 13. The position is fixed-term for four years, with the possibility of extension. You will join a collegial, international team and contribute to research of the highest standing. The Max Planck Society supports professional growth through in-house training and executive coaching.
The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin. The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and, therefore, encourages applications from such qualified individuals. Our institute and the Max Planck Society welcome persons with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusion (see the Max Planck Society’s Code of Conduct at https://www.aei.mpg.de/450712/code-of-conduct.pdf). The institute promotes a healthy work-life balance by offering all employees a family support service, cooperation with a nearby international kindergarten, and an in-house parent-child office and nursing room. For more information about the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, please visit https://www.aei.mpg.de.
If you have any questions, please contact the HR department at bewerbung(at)aei.mpg.de. Please apply by 30 June 2026, exclusively through our online portal
https://jobs.aei.mpg.de/248/scientific-project-coordinator-and-researcher/apply
The call stays open until the position is filled. Interested and qualified individuals are encouraged to apply by submitting an academic CV, a motivation letter of up to 1 page, and the contact details of 2 people who can serve as references. We look forward to your application.
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
(Albert Einstein Institute)
Am Mühlenberg 1
14476 Potsdam
Germany