The Staff of the Administrative Executive Director supports the Executive Board in the fulfilment of its duties. It comprises the following business areas:

• Legal Department

The Legal Department is the central contact for legal matters of the centre. The responsibilities of the Legal Department include drafting and reviewing contracts, advising the Executive Board in legal matters, and representing the GFZ in and out of court in legal disputes.

• Administrative IT

The team of the Administrative IT supports the enterprise software SAP used at the GFZ, which maps all essential business processes of the GFZ. The range of tasks includes ensuring the operation and all necessary further developments due to changing requirements at the centre.

• Strategic Controlling

This department is responsible for external reporting, including the annual progress report required as part of the GFZ's program-oriented funding. In addition, the qualitative and quantitative internal evaluation system QUIBS is managed as part of the internal reporting system. Strategic Controlling works closely with Human Resources Controlling and Financial Controlling.