Careers in technology, administration & services

More than just a place for technology

The Bielefeld IT Service Centre (BITS) is one of the most modern data centres in the German university landscape and is the university-wide, central service provider for services in the field of information and communication technology. BITS is a shaper of digitalisation and its services not only support around 30,000 users from the fields of research, teaching, studies and administration, but also almost all of the university's business processes.

We are looking for contact

Around 110 dedicated employees in six departments work for the Bielefeld IT Service Centre. Operating and expanding the IT infrastructure, developing and providing applications for students and employees or equipping Lecture Halls and seminar rooms with technology & media services - the range of activities at BITS is broad. However, the focus is not only on the operation and provision of technology. Personal counselling and support for staff, people and students is a matter close to our hearts. From first-level telephone support to planning and setting up well-equipped media practice rooms together with teaching staff, instructors, lectures - we seek contact with our users and focus on their needs!

Diverse tasks, exciting projects and continuous development

In order to be an attractive university for students, research and teaching, a future-oriented IT landscape is also required. This is why BITS is constantly working on new technologies and challenges, which, in addition to a wide range of activities, also offers the opportunity to continuously develop and acquire new skills. Flat hierarchies, a high degree of freedom and personal responsibility characterise the work at BITS. We allow trainees to try their hand at their own projects and encourage them to take on responsibility.

Compatibility of job and family

As is the case throughout Bielefeld University, mobile and flexible working is supported at BITS. This gives parents of children or carers in particular the opportunity to achieve a better work-life balance. To ensure that we don't lose sight of each other, we regularly offer team-building measures and fixed attendance dates.

Appointments for lateral entry candidates, lateral entry students, lateral entry teachers (depending on the context)

Not everyone has completed the relevant training in IT, but still has expertise and passion for this subject. For this reason, lateral entry candidates, lateral entry students, lateral entry teachers (depending on the context) with relevant IT knowledge and an interest in digital topics also have the chance to find their dream job at BITS. We therefore welcome every application!

From the initial idea to the finished building, from minor repairs to major remodelling, from green maintenance to cleaning - the 130 or so employees of the Facility Management department take care of all aspects of Bielefeld University's buildings, areas and premises. Often in the background, sometimes in plain sight, we ensure that 25,000 students and 3,500 employees have a place to study, research and work. Because that is the core task of our department: supporting research and teaching.

In order to maintain and create this space, we represent the interests of students and employees vis-à-vis landlords such as the Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb (BLB NRW). At the same time, we are also active as developers ourselves and construct new buildings and spaces.

We have been working on a major project since 2019: the structural realisation of the Medical School OWL. Since 2019, around 30,000 square metres of usable space has been created on campus south, divided into eight buildings. Bielefeld University has assumed responsibility for the construction of the new buildings. This makes us one of the few universities in North Rhine-Westphalia to hold this role. This includes providing support from the ground-breaking ceremony to the occupants moving in from a structural, technical, financial and organisational perspective.

We have many different professional fields, including electrical, mechanical and supply engineering, construction, finance, contracts, project management, sustainability, digitalisation, assistants and space management. Whether you are a tradesperson, lateral entry candidate or university graduate - we are looking for support and look forward to receiving your application!

The Financial Management department provides the university and the university management with comprehensive information for university management and the commercial tools required for operations. We are responsible for external accounting, internal economic planning with medium-term financial and investment planning as well as for the organisation and implementation of all university procurement projects. The department is divided into the Financial Controlling, Financial Accounting and Central Procurement departments.

Financial Controlling supports the university management in the management of the university and develops the appropriate planning, reporting and analysis tools. The growing university and the increasing demands on resource management for the strategic positioning of the university are expanding and changing the tasks of university controlling. Controllers have a responsible and varied interface activity with us, which includes both quantitative-analytical activities and design tasks within the framework of projects. The range of tasks includes all classic controlling functions - related to the special needs of a state university. This includes planning, reporting, costing and impact analyses. In a pleasant team atmosphere, you will have the opportunity to take responsibility for the further development of university controlling methods and procedures.

Financial accounting is divided into the areas of accounts receivable and accounts payable, asset accounting, payment transactions, general ledger accounting and taxes. All accounting processes are handled digitally from receipt to payment. At the end of the financial year, the accounting sub-areas are summarised in a balance sheet, profit and loss account and annual financial statements. Financial accounting is also involved in the preparation of monthly and quarterly financial statements. A strong understanding of figures and organisational skills are essential in financial accounting. You should also have comprehensive knowledge of accounting and company tax law, be confident in using financial programmes (ERP systems) and MS Office applications. Collaboration in the design of processes, particularly with regard to digitalisation, is possible and expressly desired in all areas of financial accounting.

The Central Procurement Department is responsible for Bielefeld University's entire procurement process and also ensures that Bielefeld University's needs are met as quickly and economically as possible in accordance with procurement law. In this context, we see ourselves as reliable and competent service partners at eye level and accompany our internal customers through the entire procurement and tendering process from the determination of requirements to the conclusion of the contract. From the procurement of complete construction works to various IT products and consulting services as well as research equipment for science and teaching, we serve all construction and supply/services for research and teaching as well as administration.

Highly motivated colleagues from operational and strategic purchasing are available to our customers for each defined product group. This is flanked by our SAP SRM supervision service to ensure the order orders created in the system and further development of the system as well as the customs and foreign trade department for all customs-related issues, which is becoming increasingly important due to developments and requirements.

It is particularly exciting to work with very different users, with very different requirements, circumstances and prerequisites. Above all, this requires procurement law, administrative, commercial and technical expertise.

The Department for Research Administration and Technology Transfer (FFT) is a central service facility at Bielefeld University that offers a wide range of services relating to the acquisition and implementation of third-party funded projects as well as knowledge and innovation transfer.

The FFT department advises university members at every stage of the process of acquiring and implementing externally funded research projects. The services include

• Information and advice on funding opportunities and calls for proposals
• Support with the application process as well as contract negotiations and processing
• Support with project realisation and project completion
• Networking with companies and support for the commercial utilisation of research results in cooperation projects, through property rights and setting up companies

In the FFT department, third-party funding officers and research officers work together on a basis of trust. Third-party funding processing primarily involves administrative support for the application and processing of third-party funded projects, including the management of projects in SAP. In addition to a careful and solution-oriented way of working and a pronounced affinity for dealing with numbers, a completed university degree or a qualification as an administrative specialist is usually required. Our consultants have a completed university degree in science. In particular, they support the initiation, application and contract negotiation of projects.

We offer you a challenging, varied and science-related role as well as attractive conditions in the dynamic environment of a successful research and educational institution. The work takes place in a very good and open working atmosphere.

Our department stands for the digital transformation of support processes at Bielefeld University. Thinking and working in hierarchies is not an option for us. Thinking outside the box combined with an inward-looking approach makes our work interesting, varied and challenging. We take care of cross-cutting issues, work together with all those involved in the process to create services from process bundles and take the university as a whole into account. We do not tackle these tasks, which often take the form of projects, on our own, but in intensive and, where possible, agile collaboration with all support areas at Bielefeld University.

In the department, we maintain an open and respectful dialogue and cooperate with each other across team boundaries. The diversity of our qualifications and perspectives makes us strong. This is who we are.

Staff are a university's most important resource. We, the Department of Human Resources and Organisation (P/O), support the people who research and teach at the university as well as perform administrative, service and technology tasks. Service-oriented counselling plays a major role in this context. We support people throughout their entire time at the university: from selection to entry to departure, we are available as a competent service centre for all personnel and civil service matters and also promote individual personnel development through a diverse range of services tailored to specific target groups. Personnel planning and controlling play an important role here. The "Health Management, Family & Diversity" department offers additional services. In all areas, we liaise closely with colleagues from different departments, faculties and institutions. A collegial, respectful working relationship and always open doors make the work in the department particularly lively.

Whether assistants or organisation, advisory or strategic-conceptual activities, we have the ideal position for everyone.

We offer a wide range of entry opportunities in the following areas, e.g. as an administrative employee, HR administrator, lawyer, HR developer or HR controller:

• Personnel development for staff in administration and service, including training, personnel planning and change management
• Personnel development for academic staff co-workers
• Recruitment
• Personnel services
• Human resources management and controlling
• Health management, family & diversity
• Organisation

As we are particularly interested in the next generation of staff and the development of potential, we also offer entry-level opportunities for young professionals in many areas. Together with the valuable professional experience of our colleagues, this enables us to offer the best possible service.

The Department of Studies and Teaching is a central service organisation and offers support for all questions relating to studying and teaching. Our aim is to continuously improve study conditions and ensure the high quality of study programmes and teaching at Bielefeld University. We support the development and enhancement of attractive degree programmes, ensure quality-assured processes in the organisation of teaching and studies, offer legal advice, implement service-oriented application and student management processes and support the Faculties, departments and the student body in their self-administration tasks.

Accompanying prospective students and students on their way to and through their studies, supporting teaching staff, faculties in their (self-administration) tasks and the university management in the strategic orientation of studies and teaching in a diverse, service-oriented and trusting team within a constantly evolving university makes the work in this department particularly interesting.

We offer people with a wide range of qualifications or experience interesting career prospects, varied and exciting activities in the form of service, counselling and support activities for prospective students, students, teaching staff, lectures and Faculties on all matters relating to studying and teaching at an innovative, young university. We are interested in people with an academic degree in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or technical sciences or staff, people with administrative training as well as lawyers or people with experience in science management, committee work, the digitalisation of processes in the area of studying and teaching or the analysis of data.

The diversity of tasks and the interaction with different people characterise our work and the service we provide to students and teaching staff, instructors, lectures.

We look forward to meeting you!

Would you prefer to work directly in a Faculty and at the interface with science? That is also possible.

To support research and teaching, we offer a wide range of jobs in technology and administration in our departments and academic institutions. Support us, for example, as a

• secretary
• Administrative staff in the examinations office (e.g. in the examination office, third-party funding management or in the areas of human resources and finance)
• Laboratory technician or technical assistant in our laboratories
• Employee in the medical environment

The International Office is a service centre for international students, doctoral candidates and researchers as well as for all Bielefeld students, professors and staff who are planning a stay abroad. The International Office also advises Faculties on cooperation agreements, internationalisation and recruitment measures.

Our tasks include

• Initial counselling for prospective international students
• Supervision of international students and researchers
• Advising Bielefeld students, professors and employees who intend to spend time abroad
• Participation in matters relating to Bielefeld University's membership of international organisations
• Assisting with the degree of cooperation and partnership agreements with international universities
• Advising Faculties on internationalisation
• International marketing measures
• Awarding scholarships to international and German students
• Pre-study and study-related German courses for study applications, students, doctoral candidates and visiting academics at the German language centre PunktUm
• Summer German courses for international students and graduates

As part of these fields of activity, we offer a wide range of entry opportunities, e.g. in the areas of teaching foreign languages, coordinating international programmes and interdisciplinary project work. We are united by our enjoyment of different languages, cultures and international cooperation, as well as a high quality of service and counselling.

As a staff unit of the rectorate, the Communication Office plans the external and internal communication of Bielefeld University and implements it via various channels (print, online, events).

The employees ...

• provide information internally and externally, for example by means of current news, press releases and other formats
• design and supervise the central website and the central social media activities
• produce brochures and magazines
• plan and implement communication campaigns for different target groups, for example to attract study applications
• advise the university management and researchers on communication strategies and measures
• develop and secure the corporate design
• design all forms of communication media
• organise central university events
• prepare important estates and archive the central documents of the university's history
• maintain contact with alumni
• and ensure communication support for the extensive construction measures

People with very different backgrounds and degrees work in the Communication Office. Many have a university degree in the humanities, social sciences or communication sciences; depending on the job, an additional qualification (such as a completed editorial traineeship) may be necessary. They have already gained professional experience, e.g. in PR departments, agencies, at media or publishing houses, in the cultural sector or in scientific or university communication. These communication professionals are supported by colleagues in the administrative area who have the relevant training. Approximately every two years, the Communication Office offers its own traineeships in the areas of press and public relations as well as strategic university communication.

A large part of the work takes place in projects ending dates and is organised in a corporate newsroom. We work together in fixed teams, cross-team groups as well as in changing project teams. The ever-changing demands placed on university communication require flexibility, creativity and a wealth of ideas.

In addition to our Faculties, academic institutes and departments, Bielefeld University has set up staff units for central topics. They form service units that report directly to the university management and advise them on important topics such as

• Data protection and information security
• Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Protection Service (AGUS)
• internal auditing and compliance

support. In addition to the relevant expertise, we rely on a high quality of service and advice.

With over two million books and journals, Bielefeld University Library is both the central university library for Bielefeld University and one of the most important universal libraries for the entire Ostwestfalen-Lippe region. The departmental libraries offer faculty-orientated approval to the extensive collections of books and journals, which are presented in a systematic open access display.

As a place to study and work, the library offers an extensive and varied range of individual and group workstations. Students, researchers and external visitors can study, research and exchange ideas together here during the generous opening hours. In addition, an extensive, constantly growing range of electronic information is available at all times - both on site and for university members worldwide. A wide range of training courses and workshops are also offered to expand data and digital skills. Researchers are offered expert advice and support in the areas of publication services for open access publications (including self-archiving), research data management and bibliometric services. In addition, the university library is characterised by the implementation of innovative projects in the field of new information technologies.

The further development of these innovative and user-friendly services is a constant concern of the university library in close co-operation with the university's departments and facilities. The constant interaction with the diverse community of students, researchers and teaching staff, instructors, lectures makes working in the university library particularly exciting and varied. The different departments of the library work closely together. The university library offers numerous interesting tasks in a dynamic, modern working environment - whether professionally qualified or academically trained: in media processing, in the departmental libraries or in the new library service centre, also in the subject departments and in library administration.

To summarise: from the training area ("FaMIs") to the management levels, all employees contribute in this lively and inspiring atmosphere to making the library a place of creative thinking, exchange and intellectual growth.

The Centre for Teaching and Learning (ZLL) is an interdisciplinary service centre for prospective students, students, doctoral candidates and teaching staff.

In the ZSB, the student counsellors are available to all prospective students and students for individual discussions/counselling services on all questions relating to studying. They offer groups and workshops to help with various difficulties during your studies. ZSB Clearing answers initial enquiries and is often the first point of contact for prospective students.

The staff at the Junge Uni support prospective students with information events, school visits to the university and on site to help them choose the right subject.

The Career Service staff offer students individual counselling and workshops on career orientation and the transition to an appointment.

The "University Didactics and Teaching Development" staff offer workshops and individual consultations on various topics related to teaching, e.g. curriculum planning and evaluation, examinations, writing-intensive and research-related teaching as well as collaborative or digital teaching and learning. They also advise on the implementation of teaching projects. For the target group of students, the staff work together with peer tutors and offer a wide range of programmes to promote skills relevant to appointments and studies.

The ZLL is also involved in teaching development at Bielefeld University and across universities. In doing so, it benefits from many years of cooperation at national and international level with partner institutions and in networks.

The ZLL employs student counsellors in the ZSB who require a degree in Educational Science or Psychology or a degree in Social Work or Public Administration for the area of Clearing. The counsellors and consultants in the other areas usually also need a degree in science. They usually work directly with teaching staff, instructors and students, but also develop concepts for other programmes and teaching development projects.

Overall, the field of work is very exciting, it is constantly responding to new requirements (e.g. digitalisation, AI in teaching), and the work is often carried out outside of advisory settings in a team and in lively collaboration within the university and beyond.