Working and living in Potsdam

Working and living in Potsdam: Your career location for environment, planning and geodata

An overview of the city

Potsdam, the state capital of Brandenburg with around 185,000 inhabitants, is a UNESCO World Heritage City and is located just outside Berlin. As a former residence of the Prussian kings, Potsdam impresses with its palaces and parks, particularly Sanssouci, as well as its unique location between Havel and numerous lakes. As a city of science with the GFZ Helmholtz Center for Georesearch, the PIK Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the AWI Alfred Wegener Institute, the University of Potsdam and the RIFS Research Institute for Sustainability at the GFZ, Potsdam combines historical heritage with cutting-edge scientific research. Potsdam as a place of work scores points with Telegrafenberg as a science location, its proximity to Berlin and an exceptional concentration of geography and climate research. Living in Potsdam means UNESCO World Heritage, lake scenery, cultural diversity and a city between Prussia's glory and modern science. For professionals who want to combine a career in Potsdam with historic ambiance and cutting-edge research, the palace city is a first-class choice.

Labor market for environmental and planning occupations

The Potsdam job market offers outstanding prospects for specialists in the environmental, planning and geodata sectors. Potsdam's particular strength lies in its unique concentration of research institutions: The GFZ Helmholtz Center for Georesearch is Germany's national center for solid earth research. The PIK Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research promotes integrated research for global sustainability and for a secure and equitable climate future. The RIFS Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ researches sustainability transformations and social change.

The city of Potsdam offers dual studies in geoinformation — with a focus on geodesy and is working on sustainable urban development. The Department of Construction, Heritage Protection, Cadastre and Geoinformation operates geodata infrastructure. GIS Jobs Potsdam are created by the city, at the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment (LfU) based in Potsdam, at companies such as LUP Luftbild Umwelt Planung GmbH — a leading service provider for remote sensing and environmental management in East Germany — and, of course, at research institutions. Environmental planners in Potsdam find jobs at the LfU, at planning offices such as FRÖLICH & SPORBECK and in research.

Geodata Jobs Potsdam benefit from the proximity to Berlin, the GFZ as a geoinformation center and the University of Potsdam with geodata management courses. Surveyors in Potsdam are trained in dual studies at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (BHT). Vacancies in Spatial Planning Potsdam include positions in the city and countryside and the proximity to Berlin significantly expands the labor market. Geoinformatics Potsdam is excellently positioned due to the GFZ, the University of Potsdam and its proximity to Berlin universities. The unique combination of Telegrafenberg research, UNESCO World Heritage and proximity to Berlin makes Potsdam one of the most attractive locations for specialists in the environmental and planning sectors.

Quality of life and infrastructure

Working in Potsdam means living in one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. The cost of living is well below Berlin levels. Living in Potsdam offers a wide range of options at moderate prices. The transport connection to Berlin is excellent: S-Bahn, regional train and fast connections allow commuting to the capital. Potsdam's work-life balance benefits from the lake landscape: Havel, Templiner See, Heiliger See and numerous bodies of water offer water sports and relaxation. Culturally, Potsdam is world-class: Sanssouci Palace, New Palace, Dutch Quarter, Film Museum and a lively cultural scene characterize the city.

career prospects

Potsdam's job opportunities for environmental, planning and geospatial professionals are among the best in Germany. The GFZ, PIK, AWI and RIFS offer world-class research positions. The University of Potsdam offers geosciences and geodata management courses. The career of environmental engineer in Potsdam is supported by research institutions and the proximity to Berlin. Vacancies in Spatial Planning Potsdam benefit from urban development and research. For qualified specialists, Potsdam is therefore the city of science with a UNESCO World Heritage Site, cutting-edge research on Telegrafenberg and close proximity to Berlin.