Here’s something you might not know: every eight months, the title of German Ambassador to Canada changes hands.
The office doesn’t change. Neither does the phone number. Even the email address stays the same. What does change, however, is which half of a married couple is officially in charge.
Tjorven Bellmann and her husband, Matthias Lüttenberg, have been sharing the job of German Ambassador to Canada since September 2024, a first-of-its-kind arrangement for Canada.
“We had other friends in the German service who tried this in other European capitals, and they were quite happy with their experience,” said Lüttenberg. “So we thought, ‘Hey, maybe this is something we can also do.’”
Both career diplomats, Bellmann and Lüttenberg are no strangers to the demands of the foreign service. But after over a decade of juggling family, travel demands, and long hours in high-profile roles in Germany, Bellmann says they knew their family needed a break from the routine.
“I’m immensely grateful and glad that we decided to reinvest in our children and in the family,” she said, speaking to the new job-share arrangement. “I think it was one of the best things we ever did.”
So, how does it all work?
The couple rotates the ambassadorship every eight months – and yes, there’s a reason behind that specific timeline.
It’s long enough to manage dossiers and projects, but short enough to allow the other partner to step back and focus on family and home life without feeling completely disconnected, explained Lüttenberg. It also avoids having the same person in the role during the same months each year.
During the transition, constant communication is key. The couple exchanges updates on ongoing projects, recent meetings, and embassy priorities so the incoming Ambassador is fully briefed. “You have to talk a lot,” laughed Bellmann, who recently took over the ambassadorship in December 2025.
“But, we do try to keep it really separate so that only one of us is in charge. I, for example, during these past eight months when I was at home, barely went to diplomatic gatherings,” she explained. “Because if you start doing that, then you don’t have the time that you wanted to do your job at home.”
They’re also the first to admit they’re still figuring it out as they go – from helping staff adjust to the changeovers to navigating relationships with external partners.
“Sometimes I run into people, and they will say, ‘Oh, I think I met your wife, the Ambassador, before.. Who are you?’” joked Lüttenberg.
For the family, however, it has been transformative. The time at home allows one parent to focus on the children’s schedules, school runs, and after-school activities, as well as the hosting duties that often come with diplomatic service – tasks that are usually invisible, but essential.
“It takes you out of the bubble. Spending eight months away lets you live a completely different life and be an ordinary parent,” added Bellmann. “Meeting everyday people, and seeing what ordinary Canadian life is like – it really puts some of the work we do in perspective.”
So far, their experiment in job-sharing has been met mostly with curiosity, intrigue and overwhelming support. But one question comes up more than any other: the salary.
“We always like to add that we share our salary,” laughed Lüttenberg. “It’s not half the work, always a little more, but it’s a good deal for all sides.”
A deeper impact
While the pair have begun to find their job-sharing rhythm, Bellmann and Lüttenberg are quick to acknowledge that their situation is unique. Both are professional diplomats, on similar career levels, which makes this arrangement legally and practically possible.
But their arrangement is opening up a broader conversation about work-life balance and the barriers to entry that many face in the foreign service – especially women.
“Our profession is demanding on family. Families move around the world every few years – new language, new country, new school for the kids,” said Bellmann. “If your spouse isn’t a diplomat, which is the case for most people, it can seriously limit career opportunities. And I think that’s still more of a challenge for women in this field – is your partner really ready to make that sacrifice?”
Bellmann notes that while Germany has made progress – roughly 50 per cent of new recruits in the last 15 years have been women – women still hold only about a third of leadership positions in diplomatic missions.
“If we want to remain competitive as an employer, questions like work-life balance and flexibility are more important for the younger generation,” she added. “So, if by trying out this arrangement we can make it easier for other diplomatic families, then I think that’s been a useful contribution.”
A busy year ahead
As Bellmann steps back into the Ambassador’s role and Lüttenberg shifts into life at home, the couple say they’re heading into 2026 feeling energized – and grateful for the chance to experience this posting differently.
“We’ll be celebrating 75 years of German–Canadian relations this year, which is really wonderful,” Bellmann said. And with FIFA World Cup matches set to be hosted in Toronto this summer, Lüttenberg added that they’re also looking forward to cheering on Germany from the stands.
Beyond the milestones, both say they’ve been struck by how warmly Canada has embraced not just them, but the idea behind how they work.
“I’m overwhelmed by all the positive reactions and the interest,” Lüttenberg said. “I didn’t see that coming, to be honest. But if other services end up implementing a model like ours, then I think we’ve achieved something bigger than what we originally set out to do – and I’d really like that.”
