The European University Institute announces that the position of Principal will be vacant from September 2024.

The appointment is for a period of 5 years, renewable for another 3 years.

The European University Institute (EUI) offers one of the world's largest and most distinguished postgraduate and postdoctoral programmes in the Social Sciences. A distinctly international organisation, currently comprising 23 member states, the EUI was created in 1972 by the founding states of the European Communities to provide advanced academic education and to promote academic research at the highest level. The Institute runs a prestigious doctoral programme in Economics, History and Civilization, Law, Political and Social Sciences, and is home to the Historical Archives of the European Union. In addition, the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies focuses on inter-disciplinary, comparative and policy research on the main issues affecting European societies, while the Max Weber Programme for postdoctoral studies prepares fellows for a successful career in academia. In 2017, the EUI established the School of Transnational Governance to train current and future leaders and policymakers to address challenges of governance beyond the state. Information on the EUI’s main programmes and activities can be found in the Institute's comprehensive reports.

The Institute hosts a closely-knit community of scholars – roughly 70 full-time faculty, 75 part­ time faculty, 655 doctoral and masters candidates (approx. 150 Ph.D. scholarships are available annually), 90 postdoctoral fellows, around 30 policy leaders and other fellows, 155 academic assistants and research fellows, as well as 290 administrative staff – drawn from 104 countries. Served also by a library specialised in the field of Social Sciences that holds over 600.000 printed volumes and around 800,000 e-volumes, these engaged scholars conduct research in an intellectually vibrant environment at the Institute's historic campus in the hills above Florence. The campus has recently expanded to include the extensive building of Palazzo Buontalenti in central Florence.

The Principal, supported by a Secretary-General, directs the Institute in close cooperation with professors, researchers and administrative staff. Therefore, the future Principal should have the following characteristics:

Essential

• Excellent experience in leadership, preferably in higher education and research institutions, such as universities, and/or university associations, funding bodies and accreditation organisations;
• An outstanding academic background, preferably in one or more of the disciplines/fields of the EUI;
• An internationally recognised research reputation, as evidenced for instance by prizes, awards, influential publications and invited memberships;
• Experience of higher education policy-making processes both at the national and international level;
• A good understanding of European affairs and broad experience with EU higher education, research and innovation policies, as well as an involvement in the various EU policy networks concerned; 
• Commitment to the promotion of equality, diversity and inclusiveness;
• Proficiency in at least two European languages. The knowledge of a third European language will be an asset.

Desirable

• A clear experience with higher education policy-issues such as access, accountability, funding, internationalisation, profiling, system diversity and quality assurance;
• Some knowledge of the various higher education ‘models’ around the world (e.g. the ‘continental model’, the ‘British model’, the ‘American model’), including their ‘conceptual backgrounds’;
• Engagement with  the global transformation of higher education and the position and roles of transnational higher education;
• A comprehensive set of relevant ‘skills’, namely senior management skills, communication skills, diplomatic skills, negotiation skills, strategy development skills, change management skills, and the capacity to work in a team.

The EUI is an equal opportunity employer and particularly encourages applications from women, as well as under-represented ethnic groups and nationalities.

The EUI offers a competitive salary and benefits package to the successful applicant.

Applications should consist of a covering letter (of no more than 1,500 words) outlining how their CV fits with the tasks of Principal of the EUI and their views on the strategic development of the Institute, along with a full curriculum vitae. These can be uploaded at https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies quoting reference 6456. The closing date for applications is 9am CEST on 15^th May 2023.

The Committee reserves the right, at its discretion, to analyse applications received after this date.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview (to be conducted in English) in Florence on 26-27 September 2023.

All applications will be reviewed by a Search and Selection Committee. The selection procedures are available on the EUI website.

The search and selection process is assisted by the executive search firm Perrett Laver. Informal enquiries and questions can be directed to Tiziano Sartor on +31 20 2404 370 or by emailing tiziano.sartor@perrettlaver.com.