Dean of the WU Executive Academy

Would you like to shape the future of executive education at one of Europe’s largest and most modern business and economics universities? WU Vienna University of Economics and Business combines excellence with responsibility. Its rare triple accreditation by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA is a guarantee for the highest quality research and teaching in the fields of business, economics, and business law. The WU Executive Academy is highly regarded as one of Europe’s leading providers of continuing education for executives.
 
WU is the second largest business university in the European Union, with around 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and more than 21,500 students. We offer a modern campus with outstanding architecture near the Vienna Prater park. 
 
The WU Executive Academy provides continuing education to executives, making a significant contribution to the successful long-term development of companies and the economy through practice-oriented and customized executive education programs. The WU Executive Academy’s programs strengthen the business, business law, and leadership skills of managers from a wide range of countries and industries.
 
The Executive Academy offers a comprehensive portfolio including EMBA, LLM, BSc, MSc, and tailored as well as open executive programs, serving approximately 2,900 students annually, supported by around 90 employees and a global alumni network of 15,500 members.
 
To head our team at the WU Executive Academy, we are looking to fill a temporary position starting September 1, 2025, initially for a period of 4[1] years, as
 
Dean of the WU Executive Academy
full-time: 40 hours per week

What you can expect/ your responsibilities

  • Comprehensive management of the WU Executive Academy as an organizational unit of WU Vienna and representation of the WU Executive Academy in its external relations
  • Responsibility for the business- and content-related aspects involved in the further development and marketing of the WU Executive Academy’s continuing education portfolio (strategic planning, organization, and control)
  • Coordination of activities with external partners and in-house bodies and stakeholders
  • Quality assurance regarding student admissions and faculty selection
  • Furthermore, the Executive Academy is in the process of strategic further development, and the new Dean should actively contribute to shaping this process.
The specific responsibilities of the Dean of the WU Executive Academy are set out in the By-Laws[2] of WU Vienna:
1. Comprehensive management and external representation of the WU Executive Academy 
2. Concluding target agreements with the Rector’s Council 
3. Concluding target agreements with the staff assigned to the WU Executive Academy 
4. Deciding on the use of the staff, funds, equipment and supplies, and rooms available to the WU Executive Academy 
5. Performing the function of a supervisor for the staff of the WU Executive Academy 
6. Deciding whether, and if yes, which of the Dean’s tasks can be delegated to members of the staff of the WU Executive Academy
7. Overseeing the financial management of the WU Executive Academy 
8. Developing and implementing the overall strategic concept for WU’s academic offerings in the areas of continuing education, post-experience education, and part-time education 
9. Overseeing the contents, organization, marketing, and termination of continuing education programs, if applicable on the basis of the respective curricula
10. Appointing and dismissing the directors and, if applicable, deputy directors of WU Executive Academy programs, and appointing and dismissing the directors and, if applicable, deputy directors of program majors

What you bring along/ your profile

  • A solid academic qualification (e.g. PhD, habilitation, or equivalent qualification), preferably in business or economics or business law
  • An outstanding international reputation for high-quality scholarship commensurate with academic age, especially by having demonstrated the ability to publish in top-tier journals in your field
  • Proven teaching qualifications at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as in executve education
  • Relevant work experience: Extensive (international) experience in executive education and higher education management, and knowledge of the further education market
  • An understanding of business processes and the needs of executives 
  • Experience in the development of educational programs, preferably in executive educational programs 
  • A strong network in business and academia, preferably in the German-speaking region 
  • Language skills: You have a high level of proficiency in English; proficiency in German is an asset 
  • Leadership qualities: You have management experience in a comparable area of responsibility
  • Gender and diversity management skills

What we offer

  •  A top business university with renowned experts and a stimulating variety of topics, triple accredited
  • An excellent infrastructure in terms of technology and facilities, and support from a wide range of WU service units
  • A family-friendly, appreciative, and inclusive workplace
  • Flexibility and individual freedom through flexible working hours
  • Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and around 21,500 students on our easy-to-reach and architecturally unique campus in the heart of Vienna
Depending on your qualifications and professional experience, the minimum gross yearly salary is €89,075. The actual salary will be subject to negotiation and includes an additional allowance for performing the function of Dean of the WU Executive Academy.

Do you want to become part of WU?

WU is committed to diversity and inclusion, and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply and will be supported during each stage of the recruitment process. Candidates’ qualifications will be assessed in the context of their academic age. 
 
WU assesses performance in the context of each applicant’s biography and relative to the opportunities available to them. This approach recognizes that academic achievements cannot be assessed separately from each individual researchers’ biographical factors. To ensure equal opportunities, qualifications are evaluated relative to the applicant’s academic age. This means that WU takes biographical factors such as part-time employment or career interruptions due to caregiving or childcare obligations or other functions performed at or outside of a university into account. 
In your application, you can include personal data related to biographical factors. WU will keep all data that you send us as part of your application confidential. All persons involved in the selection procedure are bound by obligations of secrecy.
 
Applicants should address their applications and all relevant documents (including in any case a letter of motivation, academic CV with a list of publications, reference to the criteria specified in the call for applications, a work plan for your future activities at the Executive Academy (for the first 100 days, indicating the most important goals and milestones, challenges, and risks)) to the Rector of WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, and upload these documents using the button below.
 
Please submit your application via WU’s online recruiting tool by January 26, 2025.
 
For details about the application process, please contact the Senior Faculty Recruitment team by email at: prof.application@wu.ac.at.
 
We look forward to hearing from you!



[1] The position is initially offered on a fixed-term basis for 4 years, but an extension of the contract is possible.
 
[2] https://www.wu.ac.at/fileadmin/wu/h/structure/management/senate/Ergebnisse/Daten/Final_Satzung_20_11_2024.pdf