Head of Scientific Modelling

As Head of Scientific Modelling, you will lead the development, integration, and validation of Klim's modelling ecosystem, spanning soil carbon and broader regenerative agricultural impact models. You will act as the scientific authority responsible for ensuring consistency and rigour across every scientific model used in the company.

What you'll do

• Own the development and application of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) models (e.g. RothC) and adjacent biogeochemical models that underpin Klim's regenerative agriculture programs.
• Spend a significant portion of the role directly building and delivering models rather than primarily providing oversight.
• Provide scientific leadership and management to Klim's soil scientists, setting modelling standards, reviewing scientific work, and developing the team's capabilities.
• Ensure scientific consistency across all of Klim's models, so that assumptions, parameterisations, and outputs hang together coherently across SOC, emissions, and farm-system models.
• Define and drive an ensemble modelling strategy, leveraging different models and approaches to improve robustness, reduce uncertainty, and ensure consistency across use cases.
• Lead the design and implementation of Klim's modelling architecture, integrating multiple models into a unified framework.
• Ensure alignment of modelling approaches with certification standards and methodologies (e.g. Verra VM0042/VM0053, ISO 14064/14067, SBTi FLAG, GHG Protocol, and emerging EU CRCF).
• Work closely with product and data teams to ensure models support both scientific credibility and operational delivery.

What you'll need

• Substantial hands-on experience with RothC or other soil organic carbon models, including calibration, parameterisation, and application at scale.
• Proven track record building and applying biogeochemical models across more than one model family (e.g. RothC, DayCent, DNDC), with comfort working across different model paradigms.
• Prior experience leading or managing scientific or modelling teams, including line management or strong disciplinary leadership.
• Proven experience in model validation and scientific verification, including calibration against field data and uncertainty assessment.
• Working understanding of Python sufficient to read modelling code, collaborate effectively with engineers, and reason about implementation choices.
• Experience working with or interpreting carbon methodologies and certification frameworks (e.g. Verra VM0042/VM0053, ISO standards, SBTi FLAG, GHG Protocol).
• Startup/commercial mindset with experience in fast-paced environments, making pragmatic trade-offs between scientific rigor and delivery speed.

Nice to have

• PhD in soil science, biogeochemistry, agronomy, ecology, or a related field.
• Experience in startup or high-growth environments.

What they offer

• Flexible, hybrid work approach with remote work facilitated within the EU.
• Urban Sports Club membership or Deutschlandticket subsidy for Germany-based employees.
• Company pension scheme.
• Team lunches and regular team events.
• Ownership of projects with high degree of creative freedom.