Director (m/f/d)

in connection with the W3 Professorship in History of East Central Europe, Justus Liebig University Giessen.

Based on a cooperation agreement and in a joint appointment procedure with the Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe – Institute of the Leibniz Association in Marburg, the Faculty of History and Cultural Studies of the Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) invite applications for the position of the

Director (m/f/d) of the Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe – Institute of the Leibniz Association in connection with the W3 Professorship in History of East Central Europe

as of October 1st , 2026. Reference is made to § 67 Para. 7 Hessian Higher Education Act (HessHG) and to the conditions of employment based on § 68 HessHG, either as a civil servant position or non-tariff employment. You will be appointed as a professor (m/f/d) at JLU and granted leave from this position in order to assume the position of the director (m/f/d) at the Herder Institute in accordance with the Jülich model. The appointment as directoris limited to a five-year term, with the intention of continuous reappointment until retirement.

Duties:

As director (m/f/d), you will lead the Herder Institute together with the other members of the executive board as well as the research and transfer department. In the first-mentioned capacity, you will represent the Herder Institute in and out of court in accordance with Section 26 of the German Civil Code (BGB). The Herder Institute is an internationally renowned center for East Central European studies. Through its activities in research, knowledge dissemination, documentation, and transfer, it supports the study of the history, art history, and cultural history of East Central Europe in a pan-European comparative context. A core element of the Institute’s work is its unique collections, which include historical documents, images, maps, newspapers, and musical materials, as well as its research library. These resources serve as a starting point for the Institute’s own research, its close collaborations with the universities of Giessen and Marburg, and its networking with numerous other institutions in the Leibniz Association and beyond. For several years, the institute has placed a special emphasis on digital humanities and the expansion of digital resources. The goal is to further develop national and international collaborations, such as those within the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) consortia, as well as to strengthen the strategic cooperation with JLU. As part of your role, you will actively participate in collaborative research projects and infrastructure initiatives and contribute to the committees of the Leibniz Association.

At JLU, the professorship is located in the Faculty of History and Cultural Studies and is assigned to the Department of Eastern European History within the Institute of History. Founded in 1607, JLU is a research university with a rich tradition and focuses on Eastern European studies and cultural studies, which you will be expected to support actively. You will also be expected to work intensively in the Giessen Center for East European Studies (GiZo), the strategic research area of potential “Culture – Conflict – Security (Focus: Eastern Europe)”, and to participate in relevant JLU joint projects (including, for example, involvement in the university alliance EUPeace – European University for Peace, Justice, and Inclusive Societies). The professorship also contributes to interdisciplinary cooperation within the faculties and other centers of JLU and involves the further development of courses. It is integrated into the faculty’s teaching program with two semester hours per week and includes the supervision of examinations and theses.

Requirements:

You must have a research profile in the history of East Central Europe, preferably with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries.

Further requirements include a completed university degree, a relevant doctorate of outstanding quality, and additional academic achievements (demonstrated, for example, through a habilitation or relevant peer-reviewed publications) in the field of the history of East Central Europe. Furthermore, success in independently acquiring and managing externally funded projects (preferably from DFG, BMBF, or EU) is also a prerequisite.

You are be able to show that you have initial experience in the management of academic institutions and scientific collaborations with national and international partner organizations. Very good language skills in at least one East Central European language are also required, as well as very good English skills and business proficiency in German.

An additional requirement for this position is an interest in the development and expansion of academic infrastructures related to the history, art, and culture of East Central Europe, as well as in the issues of digital transformation in academia. You must also be willing to engage in collegial cooperation and to work effectively as part of a team.

In case the candidate exceeds the basic age limit of 50 years, a civil servant appointment under § 66 Para. 3 sentences 2 and 3 Hessian Higher Education Act (HessHG) in conjunction with § 11 Hessian Career Regulation (HLVO) requires a specific functional interest.

The Herder Institute is committed to the professional equality of women and men. Therefore, we strongly encourage qualified women to apply. Since 2010, the Herder Institute has been certified with the Total E-Quality Award for equal opportunities, affirming its commitment to a fair and appreciative personnel policy, including the active promotion of gender equality and the prevention of discrimination as outlined by the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). The Herder Institute prides itself on being a family-friendly institution. Applicants with children are warmly welcomed. We also offer flexible working hours, the option to work remotely, and a parent-child room.

The JLU aims to employ more women in academic research. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply. JLU also pursues the goal at faculty leadership level of increased competence in dealing with gender and family-related issues. JLU is regarded as a family-friendly university. Applicants with children are very welcome.

Applications from disabled people of equal aptitude will be given preference.

We strongly recommend candidates to refer to our fact sheet on application procedures.

Please send your application with the required documents via online form to the President of Justus Liebig University Giessen by May 31st , 2025, quoting the reference number 4-05/25.