Project Manager - Transfer Support for the Sustainable Business Hub (m/f/d) - Reference Number: 48-2026 - Sustainable Business Hub

The Saxony⁵ 2.0 collaborative project strengthens the cross-institutional transfer of knowledge and technology among Saxony’s five universities of applied sciences. The goal is to sustainably network scientific expertise, further develop transfer-oriented structures, and translate research findings into practical applications in collaboration with industry, local governments, and society. The Sustainable Business Hub at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences develops and tests application-oriented transfer approaches for sustainable system innovations.
It translates the university’s solutions, methods, and project ideas into municipal and business practice, while also drawing on specific needs and challenges from the region as inspiration for new research, technology transfer, and collaboration projects.

Key areas of focus include sustainable business models and regional value creation systems, the circular economy and integrated material flow management, municipal heat supply, integrated concepts for municipal climate adaptation and blue-green infrastructure, as well as carbon dioxide removal – CDR) in municipal and regional contexts. To this end, energy and material flow systems are analyzed, evaluated, and visualized; scientific findings are adapted to the needs of specific audiences; and, in collaboration with companies, municipalities, and other societal actors, they are translated into transformation strategies, project ideas, and implementation concepts. System analysis methods are combined with dialogue-oriented and co-creative knowledge transfer formats such as Practitioner Circles, Scale-Up Struggles, and the Seven Generations Perspective.

These formats are designed to address concrete challenges from real-world practice, overcome barriers to scaling up sustainable solutions, incorporate diverse societal and intergenerational perspectives, and initiate new collaborations and implementation projects.

The position holder will have the following responsibilities in particular:

• Transferring solution approaches, methods, and project ideas from Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences into municipal and business practice, as well as identifying and reflecting on practical needs, challenges, and innovation potential,
• Supporting the development of sustainable system innovations, transformation strategies, roadmaps, and collaborative implementation projects;
• Designing and implementing transfer activities related to the circular economy, resource efficiency, municipal heat supply, climate adaptation, blue-green infrastructure, and carbon dioxide removal (CDR),
• Design, organization, facilitation, and evaluation of dialogue-oriented and co-creative knowledge transfer formats, in particular Practitioner Circles, Scale-Up Struggles, and the Seven Generations Perspective,
• Initiating, supporting, and following up on collaborations, solution approaches, and new research, knowledge transfer, and implementation projects,
• Tailoring and visually presenting best-practice examples and knowledge transfer results for specific target audiences, as well as creating guidelines, presentations, project outlines, and documentation of results,
• Participation in professional events, networking activities, and the high-visibility communication of project results,
• Collaboration with partner universities and other subprojects of the Saxony⁵ 2.0 consortium.

The following knowledge and skills are required

• a completed university degree in natural and environmental sciences, sustainability management, resource management, circular economy, bioeconomy, regional or urban development, geoecology, geography, or a related discipline,
• in-depth knowledge in at least one of the following areas: circular economy, climate and resource protection, energy and heating transition, municipal climate adaptation, sustainable business models, or integrated material flow management,
• the ability to adapt scientific findings, methods, and complex systemic relationships to the needs of businesses, municipalities, and other societal stakeholders,
• Experience in designing, organizing, or conducting workshops, specialized events, participatory processes, or comparable knowledge-transfer formats,
• Strong communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills,
• Willingness to engage in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration with stakeholders from academia, business, local governments, public administration, and civil society,
• Good written and spoken German.

In addition, the following are desirable:

• knowledge of energy and material flow analysis, life cycle assessment, or comparable systems-based evaluation approaches,
• experience collaborating with small and medium-sized enterprises, local governments, or regional networks,
• experience in science, knowledge, or technology transfer,
• Experience with co-creative methods and transdisciplinary development processes,
• experience in developing project proposals, implementation concepts, or transfer publications,
• Knowledge of the regional structures and transformation challenges in Lausit.z

We expect you to demonstrate

• a scientifically sound, analytical, structured, and interdisciplinary approach to work,
• a willingness to continue developing both professionally and personally,
• commitment, reliability, and flexibility,
• strong communication and teamwork skills.

We offer you

• an interesting and challenging field of work,
• flexible and family-friendly working hours in accordance with the applicable employment agreement,
• opportunities for personal and professional development through targeted continuing education and training,
• attractive employee benefits (company pension plan, annual bonus, capital-forming benefits),
• a workplace health management program with initiatives to promote employee health, as well as
• the option to use a job ticket.