Senior Coordinator for Research Facilitation and Management

The position is to be filled from October 2025. The contract is issued for 24 months in the first instance. lf you prove yourself in this position, the employment may be converted into a permanent one by mutual agreement.

Your personal sphere of influence:

The Environment and Climate Research Hub (ECH) at the University of Vienna is a cross-disciplinary initiative with a mission to generate innovative environmental and climate insights at the intersections of various fields. Our goal is to inform solutions to pressing challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, by fostering collaboration across faculties and engaging with diverse societal stakeholders. The ECH supports both blue-sky and impactful research, transcending disciplinary boundaries to drive novel solutions. Through cutting-edge research, capacity-building for scientists, partnerships with stakeholders, and public engagement, the ECH aims to create new societal narratives and actions for a sustainable future. We are seeking a senior Hub co-coordinator who shares this vision—someone who sees the bigger picture, a team player who aims to make a meaningful impact by working on the following tasks.

Your future tasks:

• You develop, organize, and coordinate research-focused ECH activities, such as research support programs and research retreats for members, international exchange initiatives for senior and early-career researchers, and other initiatives strengthening our mission and vision.
• You develop innovative formats and initiatives to help achieve the Hub's overarching goals, including capacity-building opportunities such as grant-writing workshops.
• You actively engage with the 78 scientific members of the Hub, from early career to senior level, getting to know them and their research profiles to design targeted events, interactions, and co-creation workshops that facilitate and enhance the Hub's research activities.
• You analyse the national and international research landscape and identify research opportunities, supporting the co-directors in shaping the Hub’s strategic direction based on these insights.
• You establish and foster relationships with national and international partners and networks and become familiar with initiatives similar to the ECH.
• You develop metrics for success and benchmarking frameworks to monitor and optimize all Hub programs and performance in line with its strategic goals.
• You are responsible for organizing and preparing high-level Hub meetings, including reporting.
• You work directly with and report to the co-directors (Thilo Hofmann and Sabine Pahl), and collaborate closely with the co-coordinators, Timo Bühler (Events, Capacity Building and Operations) and Nora Gau (Communication, Press and Media Relations), as well as a team of student assistants.
• As part of your role in the team you will contribute research content to the Hub’s webpage, newsletter for members, and the research newsletter ECHO, and you will develop familiarity with University of Vienna processes and procedures. 

This is part of your personality: 

• You possess excellent organizational and managerial skills, with a proven track record in international research environments. You have considerable project management experience, including managing resources, timelines, and deliverables for complex initiatives and research events.
• You are a strategic thinker with leadership skills, capable of driving long-term planning and fostering innovative thinking within complex, multi- and interdisciplinary research settings.
• Your track record reflects leadership and management skills in international, multi-/interdisciplinary research environments, with good knowledge of the international funding and research landscape.
• You demonstrate a high level of attention to detail, are a self-starter who can focus and prioritise tasks, and consistently deliver high-quality results, taking decisions under time pressure and making things happen.
• You are a dynamic, analytical, and task-oriented individual with strong interpersonal skills, keen to contribute, alongside the co-directors, to the strategic development of a research structure addressing environmental and climate challenges.
• You have proven experience in advancing interdisciplinary scientific processes within university contexts, as well as in stakeholder engagement and partnership building, fostering strong connections with societal and international partners.
• You communicate openly and empathetically with team members, thrive in collaborative environments, and enjoy supporting others.
• You have excellent oral and written communication and networking skills, are fluent in English, and ideally have a good command of German.
• You are adept at engaging with diverse audiences, from the public to university leadership and high-level partners.
• You are highly proficient in modern office software and data management tools, including Microsoft 365, cloud storage, and collaboration platforms including an affinity with analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.
• A Ph.D. in a research area relevant to environment and climate is preferred but can be substituted with a strong track record in research facilitation and international research environments.

What we offer: 

• Making a difference: You will be right at the heart of a thriving research hub supported centrally by the University of Vienna and in line with the new strategic areas. You will help address some of the biggest challenges society is facing, from biodiversity loss to environmental pollution and climate change, working towards societal resilience and change.
• Inspiring working atmosphere: You are part of a motivated team with flat hierarchies in an international and intellectually stimulating working environment. You work with a high level of personal responsibility and creativity on diverse research facilitation activities.
• Family-friendly working environment: You have flexible working hours and can work from home upon agreement (generally 1 day per week, depending on current tasks).
• Good public transport connections: Your new workplace is in immediate vicinity of the underground station "Spittelau" and is therefore easily accessible both by public transport and by bicycle.
• Training and development: We offer continuous opportunities to expand your competences and develop your skills. Choose from an extensive range of courses offered by the University of Vienna.
• Fair salary: Classification is in employment group IVa according to collective agreement §54. The basic salary of EUR 3.390 (full time, 14 x a year) increases if we can credit professional experience.
• Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional personality in our team!

It’s that easy to apply: 

• With your complete Curriculum Vitae, including three contacts, we may ask for reference.
• An extended letter of motivation describing how you would approach the challenge of supporting and coordinating interdisciplinary environment and climate research at the University of Vienna.
• Proof of your formal qualifications (Master's degree, relevant further education, e.g. Ph.D/Dr.)
• Via our job portal / Apply now-button