Introduction

The newly funded Cluster of Excellence SCALE – Subcellular Architecture of Life – brings together leading scientists from Goethe University, the Max Planck Institute for Biophysics, the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), Saarland University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL).

SCALE aims to decipher the fundamental principles of cellular life and to understand how the various structures in our cells emerge and carry out diverse cellular processes. By combining state-of-the-art experimental and computational approaches, SCALE develops innovative tools to explore, map, and simulate the inner architecture of cells. This interdisciplinary work expands our understanding of central biological processes and diseases – from bacterial resistance to neurodegenerative disorders.

Together with Goethe University Frankfurt, we invite you to become part of the SCALE community (https://scale-frankfurt.org). As of 01.01.2026, the position of a

Project employee (m/f/d)

Office and Financial Coordination

(E 9b TV-G-U)

will be available, limited until 31.12.2032. The classification is based on the applicable collective agreement for the Goethe University (TV-G-U). Part-time employment is possible upon request.

Tasks

You will take on coordinating and organizational responsibility for office management, personnel administration, and financial controlling of the DFG-funded SCALE Cluster of Excellence. This includes in particular:

Office management, personnel and administrative coordination within the framework of the SCALE Cluster of Excellence

• independent organization of office management and administrative processes within the Cluster of Excellence
• independent correspondence and communication within and outside the project (written, telephone, and in-person)
• Management of calendars, planning and preparation/follow-up of meetings, conferences, and events
• Organization of business trips and related documentation
• Editing and proofreading of reports and scientific correspondence
• Administrative personnel support, including applicant management, vacation administration, and coordination of student and research assistants
• Maintenance of personnel statistics, monitoring of contract periods, and management of the personnel budget
• Procurement of office supplies and obtaining and comparing quotations

Project-related financial coordination and controlling

• independent planning, management, and control of the overall budget of the Cluster of Excellence SCALE
• Preparation and analysis of budget and financial reports; development of proposals for budget reallocations and adjustments
• Responsibility for financial requests, reports, and statements submitted to the DFG (German Research Foundation) and partner institutions
• Monitoring of project accounts, incoming payments, and fund transfers
• Advising the scientific leadership on all matters of financial planning and fund allocation
• Ensuring compliance with budgetary and funding regulations (particularly LHO and DFG guidelines)
• Maintenance of financial statistics and development/application of controlling tools (e.g., Excel-based systems)

Profile

Requirements are:

• completed university degree (e.g. in Economics, Public Administration, Financial Management) or completed vocational training in business administration or public administration with additional qualifications in finance or accounting and several years of relevant professional experience
• sound knowledge of budgeting, accounting, and financial management, as well as of third-party funding and grant regulations
• good knowledge of administrative processes and relevant legal frameworks, ideally within a university setting
• basic knowledge of personnel administration and employment law (e.g. Working Hours Act, Minimum Wage Act, Maternity Protection Act)
• excellent oral and written communication skills in German, as well as very good English skills (spoken and written)
• confident use of MS Office applications (especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); experience with SAP and LSF is an advantage
• strong organizational skills, ability to work both independently and as part of a team, a high degree of initiative, discretion, and reliability

We offer

We offer a diverse and creative role in a stimulating, international working environment at the Riedberg natural sciences campus, a salary in line with Goethe University's collective agreement, and the currently free LandesTicket Hessen.

Goethe University is strongly committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion. It particularly welcomes applications from qualified Persons of Color and places great importance on creating a family-friendly working environment within the university. Applicants with severe disabilities or those with equivalent status will be given preference if they are equally suitable and qualified. If women are underrepresented in the department or central institution, they will be given preference in cases of equal suitability and qualifications.

Please submit your application by 02.12.2025 to: [email protected]. Please note that application documents will not be returned. Goethe University will not reimburse any costs incurred in connection with the application process.