Job Title:  Research Assistant

The CEU Democracy Institute (DI) invites applications for a Research Assistant position in the De- and Re-Democratization Workgroup and the Inequalities and Democracy Workgroup. This is a fixed-term position, with the contract ending on July 31, 2027.

The new colleague is expected to support and carry out both administrative and research-oriented tasks for the two Workgroups, some of which will be recurrent and others occasional. These tasks include, for example, assisting with the organization of academic seminars and events, providing orientation to fellows and visitors, liaising between the two Workgroups, DI staff, and other CEU units, and coordinating financial administration, including budget tracking, invoice processing, and reimbursements. Required compliance with all relevant CEU policies and procedures while carrying out these responsibilities.

The CEU Democracy Institute is CEU’s Budapest-based research institute, dedicated to supporting the transformative defense of democracy through multidisciplinary and comparative research. It brings its scholarly work to broader audiences through a diverse portfolio of public engagement activities and experimental teaching.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project & Grant Management

• Support the administration of projects, including implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Coordinate financial administration, budget tracking, procurement, invoice processing, reimbursements, and compliance.
• Support project-related communication with partners, workgroup members, and relevant CEU units.
• If needed, assist with background research, literature reviews, editing and data collection.

Event & Conference Management

• Organize academic seminars, events, workshops, and conferences.
• Handle venue booking and logistical arrangements including domestic and international travel.
• Handle speaker and participant communications and registrations including invitations, travel, accommodation, and reimbursements.
• Prepare and circulate event announcements and support the dissemination of event-related information.
• Provide on-site support before, during, and after events, including catering, room setup, registration, visitor cards, guest management, and ad hoc problem-solving.

Administrative & Contract Management

• Process contract requests if needed, manage onboarding and orientation processes.
• Administer grant applications, including submission to the Grant Management Committee.
• Coordinate the internal processes regarding the nomination of Research Affiliates of the Workgroups. 
• Provide operational and institutional support to Workgroup members, as needed.

Research & Data Support

• Assist with research and data collection, if needed.
• Provide desk research, if needed.

Stakeholder Coordination & Operations

• Liaise with CEU departments and external partners for project execution.
• Participate in weekly DI administrative meetings and ad hoc operational meetings.
• Contribute to the improvement of DI administrative processes, templates, trackers, workflows, and internal coordination practices.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree, MA/MSc or equivalent, in social sciences, public policy, international relations, law, or a related field.
• Minimum two years of relevant professional experience in program management, academic, policy, or international organizational settings.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent written and spoken language skills in English.
• High level computer literacy.
• Ability to work effectively, both independently and collaboratively, in an international team.

What CEU Offers

• Competitive salary starting from a gross monthly salary of HUF 980,000
• International environment
• Salary supplement for meals
• In-house opportunities for job-related training and workshops
• Modern office space, easily accessible
• Hybrid work model, allowing home office for part of the week while maintaining regular in-person collaboration in the office.

How to Apply

Applicants need to submit:

• CV;
• Motivation letter;
• Contact details of two references

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 The Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA), and its Hungarian language public educational programs and public lectures.

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