Job Title:  Public Affairs Manager (f/m/d)

The Public Affairs and Media Relations Unit at CEU helps to elevate CEU’s reputation and brand recognition, fosters strategic cooperations and builds partnerships with civil society representatives, international organizations, embassies et al. (non-academic partnerships) in Austria, and manages media relations in the DACH region and internationally. 

This role leads a team of professionals working to position CEU as a thought leading institution of distinct academic excellence on the Austrian market and elevate CEU’s high profile in Austria and beyond. The Public Affairs Manager will drive overall strategic engagement and institutional reputation building, which includes government relations, international media communications, crisis communication, and community engagement in Austria. The Public Affairs Manager will help shape and steward the process of engagement with key audiences in Austria and the region, and further foster and oversee the building of new strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in Austria. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Work in close partnership with CEU’s leadership to develop, lead, and manage strategic partnerships with a specialized focus on CEU’s mission and strategic plan
• Develop and implement the strategy for the Public Affairs and Media Relations Unit to enhance CEU's brand
• Enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with relevant media in Austria and internationally
• Provide media support for faculty to help their research reach new audiences, decisionmakers and outlets
• Serve as the first and main contact for all media requests, including the management and execution of press conferences 
• Further the development of CEU’s involvement in civic engagement activities, such as those encompassed by CEU’s Science for Society Hub
• Oversee the execution of strategic events
• Resolve Public Affairs issues
• Keep abreast of important media stories and current affairs relevant to CEU on a daily basis
• Supervise a team. Promote a culture of high performance, collegiality, mutual support, and continuous improvement that values learning and high-quality work

Qualifications 

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of 10 years of experience. 
• Native level of German, excellent command of English required; additional languages a plus   
• Senior leadership experience in the Austrian/Vienna public affairs and civil society landscape
• Advanced understanding of the academic and media sector, its development trends; existing relationships within these areas is preferred 
• Well established networks in Austria (politics, policy making, NGO, arts and culture etc.) and track record of high-level interaction with key institutional stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead a high-performing team with competing priorities 
• Senior level experience in nurturing media relations 
• Experience in managing crises, leading successful strategic communications and advocacy efforts
• Highly organized, experienced in leading cross-functional initiatives 
• Diplomacy skills
• Leadership and people management skills 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and formal presentation skills 
• Exceptional at multi-tasking, follow-through, and problem-solving 
• Ability to focus on both big picture strategy and operational details to ensure high-quality execution 
• Familiarity with the dynamics of an academic environment is a plus

What CEU offers 

• International environment 
• Salary supplement for meals 
• Family Support Scheme 
• Employer contributions to Resaver private pension plan 
• In-house opportunities for job-related trainings and workshops 
• Pet and child friendly office 
• Hybrid working environment   

We offer a gross annual salary of 68,000 EUR/year. A higher salary is possible if warranted by the candidate’s working experience. 

How to Apply 

Applicants need to submit in English:  

• CV  
• Cover letter describing your motivation in applying for the position and relevant skills and experience  
• Contact information of two referees  

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/.