Assistant Professor, tenure track (qualification agreement) ID 2816

Role Overview
WU Vienna University of Economics and Business is seeking an Assistant Professor, tenure track (qualification agreement) at the Department of Business Communication, specifically within the Institute for Strategic Organizational Communication. The position is full-time (40 hours/week), starting December 01, 2026, and is limited for 6 years. A qualification agreement will be concluded at the start of employment. Once all objectives in the agreement are fulfilled, the employment relationship can be made permanent, and the employee is classified as an associate professor. Three years after successful completion, they are entitled to apply for promotion to full professor.

The role focuses on research and teaching in strategic communication, with a special emphasis on strategic financial communication and influencer communication. The successful candidate is expected to develop this field at the intersection of these areas as part of their qualification agreement.

Responsibilities
* **Research:** Independently gather data, work with cooperation partners and companies to conduct research with practical relevance, and publish findings in top journals. Present findings at conferences. Develop and maintain a network with leading researchers in financial communication and build a professional network of financial communicators.
* **Teaching:** Plan and teach courses (4 hours per week / 2 courses each semester), with a focus on developing new master’s courses in financial communication.
* **Student Support:** Answer student questions and act as an advisor for bachelor’s and master’s theses.
* **Collaboration:** Build bridges to other relevant departments at WU (e.g., finance, accounting, statistics, marketing, international trade) to establish research and teaching collaborations.
* **Administration:** Organize and evaluate teaching activities and support the master’s program, especially in the student selection process.
* **Funding:** Engage in collaborative funding applications and acquisition of third-party funds.
* **Professional Development:** Establish oneself as a researcher, expand professional networks, and keep WU’s third mission and societal engagement in mind.

Requirements and Qualifications
* **Education:** Doctoral Degree / PhD in communication studies or a related field (e.g., economics, sociology, linguistics, psychology).
* **Subject-Specific Competences:** Expertise in strategic communication (e.g., advertising, marketing communication, corporate communication, public relations). A focus on financial and/or influencer communication (green, sustainability, political, and/or financial) is highly desirable. Further expertise in sustainability, greenwashing, CSR communication, or mobile communication is an advantage.
* **Methodological Knowledge:** In-depth knowledge and proven experience of quantitative social science research methods, especially experimental and survey designs, are mandatory. A focus on media effects research is advantageous.
* **Research Funding:** Commitment to and potential experience in attracting research funding.
* **Teaching Experience:** Experience in the broader area of strategic communication and communication science/studies. Experience in supervising BA and MA theses is advantageous.
* **Language Skills:** Fluent command of English at C1 level. Willingness to learn German (if not already proficient).
* **IT Skills:** MS Office and SPSS (or another comparable program for quantitative data analysis, e.g., R) are necessary.
* **Publications and Outreach:** Experience in publishing and presenting research internationally.
* **Organizational Knowledge:** Knowledge of university processes and structures and willingness to organize collaborations with internal and external partner organizations.
* **Academic Mobility:** Applicants must either have completed their PhD at a university other than WU, or provide evidence of at least two years of continuous employment as a postdoc (on a tenure or non-tenure track) at another university or renowned non-university research institution, working a minimum of 20 hours per week.
* **International Experience:** Demonstrated by presentations at international conferences, longer stays abroad, or international work experience outside of Austria is advantageous.
* **Personal Attributes:** Interest in developing a own research focus and pursuing a habilitation project. Team spirit, flexibility, commitment, and creativity.

What They Offer
* **Salary:** Minimum monthly gross salary of €5,904.00 (14 times per year), plus a wide range of attractive social benefits.
* **Leave:** Six weeks of vacation plus extra vacation time.
* **Work-Life Balance:** Flexible working hours.
* **Benefits:** In-house medical officer, athletic activities, meal allowance, and various employee discounts.
* **Environment:** Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment.
* **Campus:** Modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna, excellent accessibility by public transportation, and inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees and approximately 21,500 students.
* **Development:** Training opportunities and the chance to work with renowned researchers.