The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), Austria’s central non-university research and science institution, is seeking to appoint a new

DIRECTOR WITH TENURE (F/M/X)

at the Institute for Habsburg and Balkan Studies

The statutory mission of the OeAW is to "promote science in every aspect”. It fulfils this goal through a total of 27 research institutes that conduct internationally recognized, cutting-edge research across a broad spectrum of disciplines.

The Institute for Habsburg and Balkan Studies in Vienna (IHB) is a leading non-university institution for the historical research of the Habsburg Monarchy, its successor states and the Balkan region. The IHB is embedded in a dynamic local research landscape that includes numerous historical, archaeological and humanities institutes of the OeAW and other research institutions in Vienna.

The IHB receives core funding from the OeAW and additional national and international third-party funding for designated research projects. The institute provides an excellent scholarly and collaborative research environment for about 45 scholars and is supported by in-house administrative and technical staff.

Research at the Institute spans a wide range of methodological approaches across different epochs, addressing fundamental questions in the history and culture of the Habsburg and Balkan territories. This focus encompasses history and art history, but also anthropological language issues and digital humanities.

Your Tasks

We are seeking a new Director who will complement and further enhance the institute’s outstanding research profile by supporting interdisciplinarity. The successful candidate will bring expertise primarily in the history of the early modern Habsburg Monarchy in its Central European context.

Your Profile

The ideal candidate is an ambitious and innovative scholar with an outstanding academic track record and a proven ability to secure major research funding. They will possess strong leadership and management skills and be well integrated into international scholarly networks. The new Director is expected to pursue their own research within the institute while fostering the scholarly development of its existing IHB team.

Our Offer

Although the role of Director of the IHB Institute is subject to evaluation and renewal every 5 years, the successful candidate will be recruited as a OeAW Distinguished Researcher with tenure. We offer a competitive international salary package and a substantial annual research budget (personnel, consumables).

The OeAW is committed to non-discriminatory hiring practices and actively promotes equal opportunity and diversity. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Qualified candidates are invited to apply and submit the following documents via email to President Heinz Faßmann and Vice President Ulrike Diebold at IHB.search.director@oeaw.ac.at, containing the following:

Cover letter
Research concept and vision for the strategic development of the IHB (maximum 4 pages)
Curriculum vitae including recent research activities and funding history (maximum 5 pages)
A list of publications, with pdf files of the four most important publications
The deadline for applications is September 30, 2025.

Candidate hearings are scheduled to take place in Vienna in calender week 48 (24-28 November 2025).

Applications received after the deadline may be considered until the position is filled.

The Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) pursues a non-discriminatory employment policy and values equal opportunities, as well as diversity. Individuals from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.