Head of Scientific Modelling

About the role

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

• Work with the core model squad, owning the development and application of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) models (e.g. RothC) and adjacent biogeochemical models that underpin Klim's regenerative agriculture programs.
• Strong individual contributor with a hands-on approach, spending 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 rather than only within a narrow specialty.
• 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).
• Understanding of MRV systems, including the link between modelling, sampling, and verification.
• Ability to translate complex scientific models into practical, scalable, and audit-ready solutions.

Nice to have

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

What they offer

• Be part of the journey from the beginning, working on an equal footing with the leadership team.
• Make a daily contribution to combating climate change and promoting fair conditions for farmers.
• High degree of autonomy and creative freedom.
• Flexible, hybrid work approach with remote work facilitated within the EU.
• Urban Sports Club membership or Deutschlandticket subsidy, company pension scheme, team lunches and events (Germany-based).