🧪 Full-time, permanent leadership role based in Berlin. Salary up to B1 BBesO / E15 TVöD. Start date: as soon as possible.

🏥 About the employer
The Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) is Germany’s central institution for disease control and prevention, working nationally and internationally to protect public health.

🛠️ Key responsibilities

* Lead Department 31 (crisis management, outbreak investigations, training programmes) including budget & staff 👥
* Set strategic priorities and coordinate scientific reporting 📊
* Manage the RKI situation centre and further develop crisis response systems 🚨
* Collaborate with national & international bodies (e.g. ministries, ECDC, WHO) 🌍
* Contribute to pandemic planning and evaluation
* Conduct and publish research; secure third-party funding 📚
* Oversee epidemiology training programmes (e.g. PAE/EPIET) 🎓
* Represent RKI in national and international expert committees

👤 Profile requirements

* Degree in human/veterinary medicine, public health or natural sciences
* Additional qualification in epidemiology/public health (e.g. MPH or applied epidemiology programmes)
* Several years’ experience in infectious disease epidemiology
* Proven leadership and management experience
* Strong scientific track record (projects, publications, funding)
* Languages: German C2, English min. C1 (Spanish/French a plus) 🌐

💡 Key skills

* Strong decision-making in crisis situations
* Clear communication of complex topics
* Team leadership, collaboration & networking
* Strategic thinking and change management
* High level of diversity and inclusion awareness

📅 Important dates

* Application deadline: 17 May 2026
* Start date: as soon as possible

📩 Application
Apply via the public service portal (interamt.de), reference number: 048/26.

⚠️ Additional info

* Willingness for on-call duty and international travel ✈️
* Security clearance required (extended background check)
* Experience in public health services and international contexts is an advantage

🌍 Play a key role in Germany’s public health crisis response and pandemic preparedness.