Executive Assistant (f/m/x) to the Director of Population Health Sciences 1451/2025/6

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Population Health Sciences is one of the major scientific areas of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Bonn, Germany. Under the leadership of Prof. Monique M.B. Breteler, a team of more than 85 people studies determinants and biomarkers of normal and pathological mental and physical health function over the adult life course, with a special emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases and ageing. The research is primarily based on the Rhineland Study a population-based cohort study conducted in two geographically defined areas of Bonn with individuals aged 30 years and older. Further information on the Rhineland Study can be found at

We are seeking a proactive, highly organized, and detail-oriented Executive Assistant to provide comprehensive support to the Director of Population Health Sciences in all scientific and managerial tasks. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to work at the heart of a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment dedicated to improving health outcomes through research and innovation. The Executive Assistant serves as a vital link between key areas of the team, including the administration of the DZNE, national and international collaboration partners, and both internal and external stakeholders. As a valued member of our team, the role holder will be actively involved in the development of strategies and the implementation of processes.

• Provide general administrative and scientific support to the Director of Population Health Studies, Prof. Monique M.B. Breteler, in leading the Rhineland Study and Population Health Sciences
• Support meeting preparation and follow-up
• Prepare scientific progress reports and assist in the preparation of scientific and non-scientific presentations
• Contribute to conceptual work, including analyses and evaluations
• Coordinate information flows and decision-making processes, and maintain active communication with the DZNE administration
• Identify needs for action with precision, take initiative, and develop targeted solution proposals
• Draft and manage correspondence

• You hold an excellent PhD or MD in medicine, the natural sciences or a related discipline
• You must be fluent in both German and English and have excellent communication, writing and presentation skills.
• Project management skills and relevant organizational experience is essential.
• You have initial experiences in proposal writing, monitoring or coordination of scientific projects, along with a sound knowledge of the German and international research landscape.
• Experience in a bridging role between science and administration is highly valued.
• You combine assertiveness and high social competence with excellent coordination and organizational skills, and enjoy working in an interdisciplinary setting.

• Innovation and internationality - a forward-looking infrastructure (inlcuding cutting-edge computational and imaging infrastructure (7T MRI, HPC)), modern laboratory and office equipment, software tools and the opportunity for international exchange with your colleagues from 65 nations
• Work-life balance - we reconcile work and private life with flexible working hours, 30 days' holiday (On top free on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve) and subsidised job/ Germany ticket options
• Family-conscious corporate culture - because we know that family is important, we support you with parent-child offices, family services and daycare co-operations
• Health promotion – through our extensive range of company health programmes, in cooperation with Sozialwerk.Bund
• Focus on development - training programmes tailored to your individual needs and annual HR-development meetings for concrete prospects and potential development.
• Remuneration and conditions according to TVöD-Bund - including annual special payment, capital-forming benefits and VBL supplementary pension scheme
• Personalised Onboarding - for a good start to your new professional challenge
• Initial 2-year contract with the option for a permanent contract, depending on performance and funding. Funding for international travel to conferences

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, transcripts and references in one single PDF file to our online system.

For questions regarding the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Dr. Monique M.B. Breteler at [email protected].

Review of applications will begin immediately upon receipt. The aim is to fill the position quickly.

The DZNE is an equal opportunity employer. It is committed to employing disabled individuals and especially encourages them to apply.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.

Company

The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.

The profile of the Helmholtz Association

The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.

Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.

Promoting young academics

Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.

The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group , for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.

Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .

The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.

All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.

Company info

Telephone

0049-30-206329-0

Location

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany