(Senior) Project Manager WELFAIR (m/f/d)

Addressing complex public policy challenges requires courage and creativity.
We invite you to demonstrate both.

About us

Bertelsmann Stiftung is one of the largest operating foundations in Europe. It is a nonprofit organization committed to building a sustainable future, in keeping with the legacy of its founder, Reinhard Mohn.

In our “Sustainable Social Market Economy” program, we combine the core principles of the social market economy - economic performance and social participation - to help ensure it remains a reliable model for future generations.

The WELFAIR project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program, brings together an international consortium to examine how technological and demographic change, social inequality, and welfare-state institutions shape the opportunities and risks faced by different generations. Within the project, the Bertelsmann Stiftung is responsible for Work Package 3, “Measuring Intergenerational Fairness.” This work package develops a conceptual framework for indicator-based comparisons and an Intergenerational Fairness Index (IFI). The index examines how welfare states distribute opportunities and burdens across the life course, mitigate or reinforce disadvantages, and how reforms can contribute to greater intergenerational fairness.

For the EU-funded WELFAIR project, supported under the Horizon Europe program, we are seeking a

(Senior) Project Manager WELFAIR (m/f/d)

to join us starting September 1, 2026, based in Gütersloh or Berlin.

Your Responsibilities

Research Responsibilities (approximately 75% of working time):

• Further develop the work package’s theoretical framework and lead the conceptual and methodological development of an Intergenerational Fairness Index
• Operationalize key concepts, identify and select internationally comparable indicators and datasets and assess and integrate them into a coherent methodological framework
• Conduct quantitative and comparative analyses of European welfare states and evaluate the robustness of the findings through validation and sensitivity analyses
• Examine social policy arrangements to determine how they mitigate or reinforce inequalities between generations and across the life course
• Develop, tailor, and disseminate high-quality academic and policy-oriented publications and materials for a range of target audiences, including academic publications, policy briefs, stakeholder materials, presentations, methodological documentation, and content for the project website and databases
• Contribute to workshops, co-design processes, and other substantive project activities

Horizon Europe Project Administration Responsibilities (approximately 25% of working time):

• Manage the operational coordination and delivery of the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s agreed work package outputs, including the internal and external administrative coordination of required contributions and supporting documentation
• Prepare, format, and submit deliverables, reports, and methodological documentation by the applicable deadlines
• Monitor work plans, milestones, and risks, and contribute to regular progress reporting
• Support the substantive and logistical preparation—and, where applicable, documentation—of project meetings, workshops, co-design sessions, and review processes

Your Qualifications

• PhD in political science, sociology, economics, public policy, social policy, political economy, social statistics, or a related field, either completed or nearing completion
• In-depth knowledge of intergenerational fairness, labor market and social policy, welfare states, social inequality, or social investment
• Extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis and the development of comparative indices
• Demonstrated ability to translate theoretical concepts into transparent, measurable indicators
• Proficiency in R, Stata, Python, or comparable statistical software
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills, as well as the ability to communicate research findings clearly and effectively to broader audiences
• Enthusiasm for working in an international and interdisciplinary consortium
• Experience with Horizon Europe or comparable externally funded research projects is a plus
• Excellent written and spoken German and English skills

What we offer

• A “Job with purpose” that gives you the opportunity to work on socially relevant and timely issues at a highly respected nonprofit organization
• The opportunity to explore and test new formats and methods in a creative project environment
• Engaging and varied responsibilities in a supportive and respectful work environment
• A wide range of internal and external professional development opportunities
• An attractive workplace with modern IT infrastructure
• Flexible working hours and the option to work remotely up to 50% of the time
• Attractive remuneration as well as numerous employee discounts and additional benefits, such as a subsidized public transport pass and a sports and health program
• A strong commitment to diversity and equal opportunity

This is a fixed-term position from September 1, 2026, to February 29, 2028 (18 months).

For more information about the attractive employment conditions we offer, please visit the Careers section of our website at www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de. For any questions regarding the role, please feel free to contact Dr. Christof Schiller.

Would you like to help us promote positive social change? We look forward to receiving your online application, addressed to Ulla Külker (Human Resources). In addition to your complete application materials, please submit a writing sample, your salary expectations, and the contact information for two professional references whom we may contact at a later stage of the selection process. We reserve the right to consider only complete applications.

We review applications promptly and will inform you of updates in a timely manner. If you have any questions, please contact Ulla Külker. Interviews and parts of the selection process will be conducted virtually (via Zoom).

Diversity, equal opportunity, and mutual respect define our work environment. We welcome applications from individuals with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds – irrespective of gender and gender identity, age, ethnic and social origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability, or personal life situation.

Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Data Protection Information regarding the collection of your personal data: The data controller in charge of data privacy and protection for your application is Bertelsmann Stiftung, Carl-Bertelsmann-Str. 256, 33311 Gütersloh, Germany (“Bertelsmann Stiftung”). Bertelsmann Stiftung processes your information for the purpose of establishing an employment contract pursuant to Art. 6 (1) b General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in conjunction 26 German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). The retention period for the information provided by you is six months as provided for by the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), beginning upon the completion of your application procedure. Bertelsmann Stiftung engages service providers for the processing of your information. Except for this, no disclosure of your application takes place unless this is required by law or you have given your consent. You can contact the data protection officer of Bertelsmann Stiftung at the above address or by writing to [email protected]. For more information on data privacy and protection, see here.