Job Title:  Director, Central European University Blinken OSA Archivum (f/m/d)

Central European University (CEU) seeks a highly committed professional with deep familiarity with memory institutions and a broad range of demonstrated interests in the humanities, the social and information sciences to lead the Blinken OSA Archivum. Located in central Budapest, the Archivum (www.archivum.org) is one of the richest repositories of Cold War, human rights, and social justice documentation. It also serves as the records center and archive of CEU and the historical archive of the Open Society Foundations. Blinken OSA’s archival and research work is integrated with public programs and exhibitions. The Archivum aims to strengthen credibility and trust in archival institutions and provide a safe haven for the histories of marginalized communities. The Archivum employs over 40 staff, some of whom teach at different departments of the University. The Director of Blinken OSA Archivum reports to the Rector-President of CEU.  

Duties and responsibilities

The new director will be responsible for managing and setting the strategic directions of the Archivum in preserving, researching and making accessible documentary traces of the recent past, in close cooperation with the teaching and research programs of the University, the Open Society Foundations and other network partners. The director represents the Archivum externally in public-facing events, builds strategic partnerships and networks, and cultivates donors of collections and funds in order to advance the mission of the institution.

Qualifications  

•  A doctorate in the social sciences or humanities; qualifications in archival or information studies (e.g., Master’s in Archival Studies; Master’s in Library and Information Science).  
• A strong record of accomplishments working at a memory, cultural, research or higher education institution. Strong candidates will have significant experience in organizational leadership.  
• Demonstrated managerial expertise in leading teams and managing change.  
• A working knowledge of the technical aspects of modern archives, including digitization processes, metadata encoding, digital asset management systems, and library services platforms.  
• A forward-leaning stance regarding the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence in organizing archival collections, and making them accessible to researchers and the public.  
• Extensive experience with, and readiness to work with major donors, including familiarity with external funding opportunities.   
• Extensive professional networks. Familiarity with the Eastern and Central European region. 

What CEU offers

The initial appointment is for five years, renewable, and remunerated according to relevant University policies applicable to senior staff.

How to apply       

Please address your application (detailed CV, personal motivation letter, and the name of three referees) to the chair of the search committee, Professor Michael Ignatieff, Rector-President Emeritus, and upload it by March 1, 2025. 

CEU is strongly committed to the promotion of gender equality and equal opportunities within our institution. Previous training, work experience and/or engagement with matters of equality, diversity and inclusion at the organizational level will be an asset.

Central European University does not discriminate on the basis of—including, but not limited to—race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, gender and sexual orientation in administering its educational policies, admissions policies, employment, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

About CEU

One of the world’s most international universities, a unique founding mission positions Central European University as both an acclaimed center for the study of economic, historical, social and political challenges, and a source of support for building open and democratic societies that respect human rights and human dignity. CEU is accredited in the United States and Austria, and offers English-language bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the social sciences, the humanities, law, environmental sciences, management and public policy. CEU enrolls more than 1,400 students from over 100 countries, with faculty from over 50 countries.

In 2019, CEU relocated from Hungary to Austria as the Hungarian government revoked its ability to issue US-accredited degrees in the country. As a result, CEU offers all of its degree programs in Vienna, Austria; and retains a non-degree, research and civic engagement presence in Budapest, Hungary, through its CEU Democracy Institute, the Institute for Advanced Study, the CEU Summer University and Blinken OSA Archivum, and its Hungarian language public educational programs and public lectures.

For more information, please visit https://www.ceu.edu/.