Call for Applications: Director of the Vienna Wiesenthal Institute (VWI)

The Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies (VWI) is seeking a Director to start on 1 February 2027.

The VWI, funded by the Republic of Austria and the City of Vienna, is dedicated to the legacy of Simon Wiesenthal and preserves his archive. The institute is committed to researching, documenting, and educating on all matters relating to antisemitism, National Socialism, racism, and the Holocaust, including its prehistory and aftermath. The VWI's archive and library are public institutions.

Your Responsibilities

• Leadership of the institute: comprehensive scientific, economic, financial, organisational, and personnel responsibility in close cooperation with the VWI Board of Directors
• Representation of the institute to political bodies and the public
• Negotiations with funding agencies and other stakeholders
• Conceptual and innovative implementation of research agendas and their integration into ongoing institutional work
• Further development of the institution as an internationally renowned centre of expertise with a focus on Holocaust and genocide research
• Design and acquisition of scientific projects at national and international levels
• Development and enhancement of the events programme; creation of new, innovative event formats
• Collaboration with the International Academic Advisory Board on all academic matters and consideration of the Board's recommendations
• High-profile public presence in the VWI's fields of expertise
• Oversight of the planned process to transition the VWI to foundation status under Austrian federal foundation and fund law

Required Qualifications

• Internationally recognised research and dissemination activities in Holocaust research
• Experience leading a scholarly research institution or comparable experience managing scholarly research projects
• Excellent leadership qualities, outstanding communication skills, and a high degree of social competence; pronounced understanding of diversity in academia/education; experience in personnel management (team leadership, conflict management, staff development)
• Solid experience in budget and resource management
• Knowledge of the Austrian and international research and funding landscape
• Experience developing and implementing international research projects; knowledge of research dissemination and media competence; experience acquiring third-party funding (FWF, EU, DFG, etc.)
• High sensitivity in interactions with witnesses, victim organisations, and communities
• Pronounced personal integrity, independence, reflexivity, intercultural competence, and diversity sensitivity
• Fluency in German and English (both written and spoken); additional language skills are desirable
• Minimum qualification: completed doctorate in a history-cultural studies, social sciences, or law discipline

Women candidates with equal qualifications will be given priority consideration.

The position is a full-time appointment for an initial term of five years, with the possibility of permanent employment thereafter. Remuneration will be based on the Collective Agreement for Employees of Austrian Universities of 1 October 2009 in its current version (§ 49. Salary scheme for academic and artistic university personnel, salary group A1).

Please submit your application including a curriculum vitae, list of publications, five publications relevant to this position, a brief description of your research network, and a development concept for the VWI (maximum 2 pages) in digital form by 1 October 2026 to: bewerbung-direktion@vwi.ac.at.