Scientist (f/m/d)
The Institute of Forestry of the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, invites applications for a full-time position at the earliest possible date until December 31, 2028 for a Scientist as Post-Doc (f/m/d) (Policy scientist for international climate and forest policy analysis and development, or related disciplines such as forest/economic/environmental sciences with a related specialization) for the research project "Tropical Forests Forever Facility Effectiveness (TFFF Effects)“.
The position is linked to the research unit Forestry Worldwide. The unit deals with sustainable forest management in the tropics in a landscape context, related international forest policies, the potential of forest management for sustainable development and its influence on livelihoods of rural populations in the tropics. An important prerequisite for this is the reconciling of land use with climate goals and biodiversity conservation.
The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) is a new results-based financial instrument designed to support the conservation and restoration of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. Its core objective is to provide annual payments to participating tropical forest countries with annual deforestation rates below 0.5%, based on the extent of their standing forests. The fund is still in the process of being established, and an operations manual has yet to be developed. The mobilization of sponsor capital began with the launch of the TFFF at COP30 in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
The research project aims to assess possible effects of the new payments and thereby to contribute a scientific basis for the further operationalization of the envisaged TFFF payments. These will be based on modelling of the expected deforestation dynamics of eligible countries and scenario analysis for the resulting payments; comparison of potential payments with country-specific opportunity costs; country specific data collection including inquiries as a basis for a comparative impact assessment vis-à-vis existing instruments; recommendations for efficient and transparent mechanisms to verify the utilization of funds and their impact.
The position serves the applicant's own scientific qualification. The employment relationship is therefore limited in time in accordance with Section 2 (1) sentence 2 of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz. The employment relationship is governed by the TVöD Bund collective agreement and, provided the collective agreement and personal requirements are met, is remunerated according to pay grade 14 of the TVöD Bund - which corresponds to an annual salary of € 67.552,94 to € 96.285,20 for full-time employment.
Your tasksYour tasks
- Data collection on deforestation dynamics and pressure in eligible Tropical Forest Countries, national budgets to be compared to TFFF payments, governance indicators and situation, and current international finance mechanisms.
- Country specific ex ante appraisals for effectiveness of potential TFFF payments in relation to existing national budgets and international policy instruments including finance mechanisms.
- Inquiries among key stakeholders in a selection of key TFFF recipient countries to be determined within the project.
- Consultation and collaboration with members of TFFF bodies such as committees and boards as appropriate.
- Scientific publications and elaboration of recommendations for future modalities for TFFF payments.
Professional requirementsProfessional requirements
- Good to very good university degree (diploma/master’s) as well as PhD or several years of research experience in political science or related disciplines such as forestry/economics/environmental sciences with a specialization in political sciences, if possible with a focus on tropical land use
- Knowledge and experience with key policy and governance concepts, applied international LULUCF and climate policy, international forest finance, socio-economic deforestation analysis including remote sensing
- Knowledge and experience in economic analyses, specifically related to public budgets
- Knowledge and experience in social science survey techniques (interviews, focus groups, workshops), multivariate statistics as well as qualitative analytical approaches are an asset
- Experience in interdisciplinary project work with an international focus, preferably with work experience in tropical countries.
- Experience in international project management
- Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals
Personal requirements
- Excellent communication and cooperation skills in a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment
- Ability to present scientific and political topics in writing and orally to different target groups
- Willingness and ability for teamwork
- Flexibility and willingness to travel
- Very good written and spoken English language skills. Knowledge of Spanish and French is an advantage
Our offerOur offer
- Responsibility and a sense of purpose: responsible work in a dedicated team, involvement in a dynamic, interdisciplinary research institute and proximity to current policy and practice-relevant topics
- Flexibility and work-life balance: flexible working time models, fundamental possibility of part-time employment as well as mobile working and teleworking, certified employer berufundfamilie audit with a wide range of offers for reconciling work and life phases
- Prospects: further training opportunities for the area of responsibility and individual development
- Benefits: employment based on collective agreements with attractive social benefits (e.g. company pension scheme, one-off annual payment, capital-forming benefits)
- Health: company health management and preventative healthcare programmes
- Mobility: JobTicket, public transport connections, free parking spaces and the option of using e-charging stations
The Thünen Institute promotes professional equality between women and men and therefore expressly welcomes applications from women.
We live a diverse and cosmopolitan coexistence. The Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute is committed to inclusion. Applications from people with severe disabilities are therefore expressly encouraged. They will be given preferential consideration in the selection process. Please enclose proof of severe disability or equal status with your application.
If you have an international degree, please also enclose a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a certificate evaluation, you must apply for one if your application is successful. You can find further information at https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung.
Applications from experts of potential TFFF recipient countries are specifically encouraged.
If you have any technical questions please contact Dr. Richard Fischer (richard.fischer@thuenen.de, 040-73962-129)
We are looking forward to receiving your application by 03.08.2026.
