Assistant Professor, tenure track (qualification agreement)

  • Vienna University of Economics and Business
  • Research, development, teaching
  • Fulltime
  • published till: 2025-06-18
You want to understand how things are connected and make a fundamental impact? We offer an environment where you can realize your full potential. At one of Europe’s largest and most modern business and economics universities. On a campus where quality of work is also quality of life. We are looking for support at the

Department of Business Communication
Fulltime, 40 hours/week
Starting October 01, 2025, and ending after 6 years
 
Qualified candidates with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply for this position. If necessary, a reduction of the extent of employment is possible.
 
A qualification agreement can be concluded after a contract duration of two years (§ 27 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement). Pursuant to WU’s Personnel Development Plan, this position can only be fixed-term for up to six years. Once all objectives agreed upon in the qualification agreement have been fulfilled, the employment relationship can be made permanent. Employees who have successfully completed a qualification agreement are classified as associate professors. From an organizational regulation perspective they belong to the group of professors. Three years after successful completion of the qualification agreement, they are entitled to apply for promotion to full professor according to the By-Laws of WU § 43a.
 
Our societies face growing challenges from an environmental, health but also education, equality, and social justice perspective. Organizations of all kinds, size and shape play a crucial role in addressing these challenges and stimulating transformational processes towards a more diverse and just culture – within organizations and beyond. 
 
Do you want to deepen your research interests and teaching experience around communication of, about and for sustainability and transformation? 
 
You plan to further explore cultures of sustainability and the plurality of sustainability visions and pathways, complementing the expertise on organizational communication that is present at the Institute for strategic organizational communication with your background and experiences in social sciences / humanities and arts with a focus on culture, values, diversity and people?
 
You wish to analyze transformative aspects of and the “human moment” in organizational communication from an interdisciplinary perspective? 
 
Are you interested in place-based and local (strategic) communication, art-based approaches and the cultural dimension of sustainability?
 
Then become an engaged member of our creative, international and inspiring team at the Department of Business Communication! 

What to expect

  • Independent research work: You will be independently gathering data, working with cooperation partners and companies to conduct research with practical relevance, and publishing your findings in top journals as well as presenting at conferences
  • Teaching: You will be planning and teaching courses (4 semester hours per week / 2 courses each semester and after concluding a qualification agreement 8 semester hours per week / 4 courses each semester)
  • Student support: You will be available to answer students’ questions and act as an advisor for bachelor’s theses and master’s theses
  • Organizational and administrative support: You will be organizing and evaluating teaching activities and supporting the Master Program especially in the student selection process
  • Learning from top researchers: You will be working together with renowned researchers in your field and learning from them
  • Teamwork: At the institute, you’ll be working to advance research in your field, this also includes (collaborative) funding application and acquisition of third-party-funds,
  • Building up a personal network: You will be using the post-doc phase to establish yourself as a researcher and expand your own professional network, keeping the WU’s third mission and societal engagement in mind.

What you have to offer

  • Doctoral Degree / PhD in communication studies and/or linguistics or a related field (e.g., sociology, linguistics, humanities / social sciences, cultural studies, psychology, geography),
  • Subject-specific competences in the fields of (strategic, organizational) communication, sustainability, diversity and CSR communication, and/or cultural studies / geography / arts with a focus on social sustainability, social justice, transformation, values, morality and diversity, 
  • Methodological knowledge: in-depth knowledge of quantitative and especially qualitative methods, 
  • Research funding: commitment to and potential experience in attracting research funding, 
  • Teaching experience in the area of communication and languages; didactic competences & creativity; you are also prepared to use multimedia teaching and learning formats and innovative, art-based approaches,
  • Language skills: excellent English skills, and excellent skills in at least one Romance language; willingness to learn German (if not already a proficient German speaker),
  • IT-Skills: MS Office, SPSS, etc., 
  • Publications and outreach: experience in publishing and presenting internationally,
  • Organizational knowledge of university processes and structures and willingness to organize collaborations with internal and external partner organizations in the area of Romance languages,
  • International academic experience: you must either have completed the PhD or doctoral program outside of Austria, a university other than WU or have at least two years of working experience on the postdoc level at a non-Austrian academic institution abroad
  • Research program: interest in developing your own research focus and pursuing your habilitation project, 
  • Team spirit: flexibility, commitment, creativity and engagement. 
Do you want to join the team at the Institute of Strategic Organizational Communication at the Department of Business Communication? Then please submit your application in English including:
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Motivation letter
  • Research statement 
  • Teaching statement 
  • If applicable: references for additional skills, such as research papers, certificates, recommendation letters from academic references
 Please direct any questions to Univ. Prof. Dr. habil Franzisca Weder 
 
Phone: +43 676 8213 5040
E-Mail: franzisca.weder@wu.ac.at
Web: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/com-media

What we offer you

  • Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students
  • A modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna
  • Excellent accessibility by public transportation
  • Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment
  • Flexible working hours
  • A wide range of benefits, from an in-house medical officer to athletic activities and a meal allowance to a variety of employee discounts
Curious? Visit our website and find out more at www.wu.ac.at/benefits.

The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €4,932.90 (14 times per year). This salary may be adjusted based on equivalent prior work experience. In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive social benefits.

Do you want to join the WU team?
Then please submit your application by June 18, 2025 (ID 2359).
We are looking forward to hearing from you!