To strengthen our team in the department ‘Containment Systems for Dangerous Goods, Energy Storage’ in Berlin-Steglitz starting as soon as possible, we are looking for a

Head of Division "Safety of Transport Containers" (m/f/d)

Salary group B 1 BBesO (Director and Professor)/non-tariff remuneration
Official/permanent employment relationship
Full-time/suitable as part-time employment

The Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) is a materials research organization in Germany. Our mission is to ensure safety in technology and chemistry. We perform research and testing in materials science, materials engineering and chemistry to improve the safety of products and processes. At BAM we do research that matters. Our work covers a broad array of topics in the focus areas of energy, infrastructure, environment, materials, and chemistry and process engineering.

Join our team of dedicated scientific leaders!

Your responsibilities include:

• Management of the division with approx. 30 employees as well as the scientific and technical development of the division
• You organize and are responsible for the conduction, analysis, and safety assessment of containers for radioactive materials in accordance with legal mandates and in service operations
• Ensuring interdisciplinary cooperation within the BAM organization, as well as with other research institutions, industry, and – regarding statutory tasks – with competent ministries or administrative bodies
• Target‑group‑specific and effective communication at the interface between politics and science on safety issues regarding containers for the transport and storage of radioactive materials
• Further development of the state of scientific safety assessment at national and international level
• Initiation of engineering research and development work for the experimental and computational analysis of mechanical and thermal impacts on transport and storage containers; further development of assessment methods for containment tightness and container integrity under operational and accident conditions, as well as supervision of junior scientists
• Active shaping of change processes and active participation in BAM’s energy-related topics

Through your involvement in national and international networks, you contribute to positioning BAM as a governmental research institution. Business trips within Germany and abroad are a matter of course for you.

Your qualifications:

• Completed scientific university degree (Diploma/Master) in materials science, materials engineering, engineering sciences, or a comparable field, and a doctorate with very good results
• You are thoroughly familiar – both theoretically and in practical application – with testing and approval activities as well as conformity assessments, and you have several years of professional experience in the field of dangerous goods packages, materials mechanics, and the execution of sovereign administrative procedures
• National and international experience in committee/board work, standardization, and policy advice as well as extensive experience in communication at the interface of science, industry, politics, and public administration
• Experience in the strategic orientation and management of scientific teams as well as in applying for and conducting research and development projects and in supervising junior scientists
• Leadership personality with experience in managing scientific‑technical work areas
• Experience in science management
• Team‑oriented working style with good communication/information skills and a high degree of sensitivity/empathy as well as integrative behaviour and commitment to gender equality
• A high level of initiative/commitment, decision‑making ability, goal‑oriented and structured working style, conceptual, strategic, and innovative thinking skills as well as assertiveness/negotiation skills
• Business‑fluent language skills of German and English

We offer:

• A varied and challenging job within a high-caliber network of politics, science, business and society
• Work in national and international networks with universities, research institutions and industrial companies
• Scope for research and development for your own innovative ideas
• Attractive and modern working environment with excellent infrastructure and state-of-the-art scientific equipment
• Further development of your personal strengths in combination with a socially balanced working environment and access to high-quality training and professional development opportunities on digitalization topics, including programming, research data management, AI applications, and scientific computing

Applicants who meet the prerequisites will generally receive a salary according to BesGr. B 1 BBesO. A promotion according to BesGr. B 2 BBesO is possible at a later date provided that the applicant is suitably qualified, competent and performs professionally within the framework of the available positions.

In the case of applicants who do not meet the career requirements for federal officials at the time of recruitment, a non-tariff remuneration shall be agreed upon. The probation period in accordance with § 34 BLV and § 31 TVöD shall apply in this case.

Candidates from the public sector shall be asked for a declaration of consent in order to consult their personal files. At the same time, you shall be prepared to carry out any subsequent inspection that may be necessary in accordance with the German Screening Act (Sicherheitsüberprüfungsgesetz - SÜG).

Your application: We welcome applications via the online application form by 31.03.2026. Alternatively, you can also send your application by post, quoting the reference number 26/26-P to:

Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung
Referat Z.3 - Personal

The President of BAM, Prof. Ulrich Panne, will be glad to answer any specific questions you may have regarding this position by phone at +49 30 8104-1000 or by e-mail at Ulrich.Panne@bam.de and the Head of department 3, Mr Frank Wille, by phone at +49 30 8104-1300 or e-mail at Frank.Wille@bam.de .

BAM promotes professional equality between women and men. We therefore particularly welcome applications from women. At the same time, we strive to reflect social diversity. Every application is therefore welcome, regardless of gender, cultural or social background, religion, ideology or sexual identity.

In addition, BAM has set itself the goal of promoting the professional participation of people with severe disabilities. The fulfillment of the job requirements is considered on an individual basis. Severely disabled persons or persons of equal status will be given preferential consideration if they are equally qualified.

The advertised position requires a low level of physical aptitude.

BAM actively supports the compatibility of work and family and has been certified as a family- and life-phase-conscious employer by the "audit berufundfamilie” since 2015.