Head of Department "Biodiversity and Interactions" (F/M/X)
Location: Brest (29), Le Havre (76), Nantes (44) or Marseille (13) - France
Organization: France Energies Marines
Contract Type: Permanent position (Head of Department)
Main Description:
The Biodiversity and Interactions Department consists of about fifteen researchers, R&D engineers, and project managers who develop, coordinate, and implement collaborative R&D projects as well as service, transfer, and scientific outreach activities.
The Department's scientific and technical roadmap revolves around three main areas: Observing and understanding interactions between offshore wind and biodiversity; Anticipating, avoiding, and reducing impacts; Supporting and recommending. The team studies physical and chemical changes in the marine environment related to offshore wind farms, habitat changes, and interactions with marine fauna. It also develops innovative tools for monitoring and predicting interactions using advanced statistical/mathematical methods, including deep learning.
Reporting to the Managing Director, the Head of Department will:
- Lead and manage a team of project managers, R&D engineers, researchers, postdocs, and PhD students
- Define the Department's strategy for technical and organizational development
- Respond to national, European, and international calls for projects/tenders, building key partnerships to strengthen the roadmap and the Institute
- Provide scientific and technical expertise on the Department's topics
- Contribute to the design of scientific projects in collaboration with Institute members
- Propose and deliver services based on assets from R&D projects
- Ensure proper execution of Department activities: quality of results, compliance with contractual and financial commitments
- Participate in technology transfer to the industry by ensuring proper documentation of developed tools
Requirements:
Education: Engineer or PhD in marine environment, marine biology/ecology, or any relevant discipline
Specific knowledge:
- Knowledge of the offshore wind sector and key environmental issues
- Experience in managing complex multi-partner and international projects
- Recognized scientific expertise in the Department's topics
Work experience: Minimum 10 years in a consulting firm, in an industrial company with strong R&D focus, or in an applied research laboratory in a relevant field
Professional qualities:
- Ability to unite teams
- Organizational skills, autonomy, proactive mindset
- Scientific rigor and critical analysis
- Strong writing skills
- Fluency in English (written and spoken)
Benefits/Conditions:
Starting date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Would be a +: You are versatile and motivated to lead a multidisciplinary team and support the Institute's development with a high-level scientific vision to meet challenges of offshore wind sector.
How to Apply:
Application deadline: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Reference: FEM-SAS-2026-001
Apply via the France Energies Marines website: https://www.france-energies-marines.org/en/join-us/head-of-department-biodiversity-and-interactions/
WARNING: If you are unable to submit your application via the website, please send it by e-mail to contactrh@france-energies-marines.org, specifying the job reference in the subject field.
