The State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart (SMNS) is one of the largest and most popular natural museums in Germany. As a modern research museum, we understand ourselves as a bridge between science and society and offer a lively platform for dialogue and exchange. Innovation is created with us where top research meets our unique collection and creative mediation. With great passion we are committed to preserving biodiversity. Our goal is to preserve the foundations of life and thus to positively shape the future. Our motto “On behalf of diversity” marks the action of our 190 employees from all over the world. We value different talents and perspectives, promote team spirit and place great emphasis on a positive and value-adding working environment. The deomological collection of the SMNS has a global orientation and is of great international importance. It is a comprehensive research resource for answering biological questions within the fields of systematics and phylogeny, biogeography, art, invasion or interaction of species. We will occupy a position as soon as possible Group Manager (m/w/d) The job is initially full-time for four years (80 to 100 %, TV-L E13) with the possibility of later takeover into an indefinite employment relationship. Tandem applications are welcome, applications are possible until 11.10.2026. Become part of our team! You bring experience in collection-based research and scientific curation and want to actively shape the future scientific evaluation and international visibility of a significant deomological collection. You are a personality who works in a solution-oriented manner in the team and communicates valuable and cooperatively. With your commitment and ideas, you will help shape the future of our museum.

You undertake the establishment and implementation of an independent research programme with the following priorities: Building an internationally visible, collection-based research group with clearly defined scientific questions and regular publications in internationally recognized journals Development of the Diptera and Hemimetabola collection according to the “Extended Specimen” concept and implementation of innovative concepts for scientific use, digitization and networking of the collection Scientific development, structuring and sustainable evaluation of selected collection areas using integrative methods (Morphology, Molecular Genetics, Biodiversity Informatics) Initiation and recruitment of competitive third-party funding projects to establish future research perspectives Building and deepening of cross-departmental cooperations and developing national and international research cooperations within the framework of the SMNS research strategy Science communication on various formats (e.g. popular science lectures, guided tours, social media, press, events, collaboration with exhibitions) Participation in the training of young scientists Expected results within the four-year phase The site is used to build an internationally visible research group at SMNS. At the end of the four-year period of employment, a takeover into an indefinite employment relationship is evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: established research programme with international visibility third-party applications and/or approved projects new concepts for scientific evaluation of the collection sustainable integration of the results into the SMNS research strategy Recommendations for future structural development of the collection area Engagement in the science communication of the SMNS German knowledge at least on C1 level

Complete PhD in Biology (Entomology) or a related subject Comprehensive knowledge in curating insect collections Outstanding publication list Expertise and research experience in taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, evolution or biogeography Successful third-party acquisition International scientific cooperation Very good English skills in word and writing Basic knowledge of German and the willingness to learn German Experiences in science communication In addition, we wish to have some of these skills: Research with cross-departmental possibilities for joining existing SMNS projects Most modern morphological methods for identifying and describing insects Molecular genetic methods, including bioinformatic analyses Experience in the teaching and co-operation of thesis Experience in handling large datasets (morphological, biogeographical, genetic) to investigate biodiversity dynamics

A technical assistance linked to the curation Well-equipped molecular laboratories, among others suitable for next generation sequence and DNA extraction from historical samples Well-equipped laboratories for histology and digital morphology (micro-CT, REM and microphotocopy) Extensive review of geological and palaeontological (Bernstein) collections as a research resource Participation in established research projects of the SMNS A lively scientific environment, such as the Competence Center for Biodiversity and Integrative Taxonomy (KomBioTa) supported together with the University of Hohenheim Advise PhD students/Master/Bachelor candidates Generous core time and sliding time controls as well as the possibility of mobile work Compatibility of work and family Support for the acquisition of German language skills (if necessary) We encourage women to apply. Diversity and integration are at the centre of our work: applications for people with severe disabilities are preferably taken into account with the same suitability. Since 2019, we have been awarded the “audit berufundfamilie” certificate and have proven to offer family- and life-phase-conscious working conditions. .