Head of NABU Forest Institute

For the NABU Forest Institute. Joined to the NABU Federal Office, we are looking for a new Institute Management (m/w/d) in Bühl at the turn of the year 2026/2027. Objective of the job: As head of the NABU forest institute, you shape the strategic and content orientation of a nationwide institute with two locations. At the interface of science and practice, you will develop applied research, environmental planning and scalable implementation approaches for forest nature conservation, forest management and natural-based solutions, thus providing effective impulses for the protection and future of our forest habitats.

Strategic & technical control - You shape the strategic and technical orientation of the forest institute in the NABU and the implementation-oriented forest work of NABU, develop goals, strategies and implementation approaches, initiate third-party funding projects and ensure that research, budget and third-party funding are sustainable. Organization & Management - You conduct and coordinate the institute with both locations, take over the entrepreneur's obligations and develop structures, processes and quality standards. Personal Responsibility & Development - You are responsible for personnel management, planning and development and promote a motivated, professional and future-oriented team culture. Finance & Budget - You are responsible for budget, budget and investment planning, taxing commission work and driving forward financial control for financial stability and transparency. Research, Networking & External Representation - You coordinate the research projects of the Institute, communicate results effectively at national and international level, build networks and represent the Waldinstitut as a central contact person within the NABU as well as against politics, administration, science and funding.

You will have a PhD degree in forestry sciences and provide a well-founded experience in scientific work as well as relevant publications in the field of forest conservation. You are a sovereign leader with a strategic vision, bringing experience in the leadership of teams and in human resources management, and have ideally already managed or controlled scientific institutions. You clearly identify yourself with the values and objectives of the NABU and have a deep professional understanding of forest conservation issues and their social significance. You are well-connected nationally and internationally and know the relevant support structures in biodiversity research and forest conservation – from classification to strategic use You communicate transparently and value-estimatingly, work in the team and understand how to take people, motivate and achieve goals together.

We would like to work with you in the long term and achieve success together, so we are taking an unlimited employment relationship with you. We offer you a pleasant and value-adding working environment as well as a versatile and responsible activity in a dedicated team. We support your personal and professional development to keep you up to date. With 30 days of vacation, flexible working hours (in the amount of 40 hours) and the opportunity to work on the mobile, we allow you to reconcile professional and private. Attractive additional offers such as a Jobticket/Germany ticket, Jobrad and health prevention programs. .