Technical Assistant (w/m/d) (Biological-Technical Assistant)

The Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries of the Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forests and Fisheries, is looking for a technical assistant (w/m/d) for full-time employment (currently 39 hours/week) to work on the project "Innovation Program Shrimp Fishery Schleswig-Holstein (IPK SH)" at the Rostock location, starting on 01.09.2026 and limited until 31.12.2028.

German shrimp fishery for North Sea shrimp (Crangon crangon) faces major ecological and technical challenges. Through innovative ideas introduced by the shrimp fishers themselves, unwanted bycatch, energy consumption, and environmental impact are to be sustainably reduced. The innovation program supports the fishers in the development, implementation, and establishment of corresponding ideas.

Further info on the project at: https://www.thuenen.de/de/fachinstitute/ostseefischerei/projekte/fischerei-surveytechnik/innovationsprogramm-krabbenfischerei-sh (https://www.thuenen.de/de/fachinstitute/ostseefischerei/projekte/fischerei-surveytechnik/innovationsprogramm-krabbenfischerei-sh)

The employment relationship is based on the TVöD Bund and, upon fulfillment of the collective agreement and personal requirements, will be remunerated according to pay group 6 TVöD Bund – this corresponds to an annual salary of €41,961.89 to €50,844.29 for full-time employment.

Job-ID: J000000324 Location: Rostock Start date: 01.09.2026 Company: Institut für Ostseefischerei (OF) Field of activity: Technical Assistant Type of employment: Full-time / part-time possible Published: 30.06.2026

Your tasks

• Data collection at sea on vehicles of all kinds (research vessels and commercial fishing vessels of all sizes) according to fisheries science standards (e.g., recording species composition, length distributions, and weights of catches as well as unwanted bycatch)
• Support in the preparation and implementation of scientific experiments at sea and in the laboratory
• Working in the mechanical workshop
• Support in maintaining contact with fishers and other stakeholders
• Processing and entering the collected data into the institute database

Your profile

• completed training in a technical profession, as a fish farmer, or in a professional field related to the position
• Class B driver's license and willingness to drive service vehicles
• Knowledge of data processing (at least MS Office)
• Advantageous are:
• Experience in scientific work and handling fish (especially processing fishery samples or experience in handling live fish as part of animal experiments) and fishing gear
• technical skills (mechanical workshop)
• Authorization and experience in driving small trucks up to 7.5 t and combinations
• Sport or motorboat license Sea, radio certificate, experience in driving fast workboats or the willingness to acquire these qualifications

Your personal requirement profile:

• high degree of teamwork (English skills are required in this international team)
• willingness to frequently participate in one-day, multi-day, and multi-week service and sea trips and, due to short planning times, a high degree of flexibility and commitment
• physical fitness for working at sea (sea legs, lifting and carrying boxes, equipment, fish crates, etc.)
• willingness to learn or acquire knowledge in handling scientific devices, measuring systems, and technical processes

Our offer

• Responsibility and purpose: responsible work in a dedicated team, involvement in a dynamic, interdisciplinary research institute, and proximity to current topics relevant to politics and practice
• Flexibility and work-life balance: flexible working time models, fundamental possibility of part-time employment as well as mobile working and teleworking, certified employer Audit berufundfamilie with diverse offers for reconciling work and life stages
• Perspective: training opportunities for the area of responsibility and individual development
• Benefits: collective agreement-based employment with attractive social benefits (e.g., company pension scheme, annual special payment, capital-forming benefits)
• Health: occupational health management and prevention offers
• Mobility: JobTicket, public transport connection, free parking spaces, and the possibility of using e-charging stations

The Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut promotes professional equality between women and men and therefore expressly welcomes applications from women.

We live a diverse and cosmopolitan togetherness. The Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut is committed to inclusion. Applications from people with severe disabilities are therefore expressly welcome. These will be given preferential consideration in the selection process. Please attach proof of severe disability or equivalent status to your application.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Daniel Stepputtis via email or telephone (daniel.stepputtis@thuenen.de 0531/25701271).

Please send your application documents in German or English, summarized in a single PDF file, including your CV and copies of your certificates, stating the reference number: 2026-071-OF by 03.08.2026, preferably via email to of-bewerbungen@thuenen.de