Director, External Relations

Director, External Relations (f/m/d) Location: Vienna CEU is looking for a Director to lead its External Relations Office. The External Relations Director will report to the Pro-Rector for External Relations, and will lead a large team of communication, marketing, fundraising, and partnership experts. The External Relations Director will work closely with the university leadership to advance strategic priorities, anticipate issues, respond to opportunities, and build strong relationships with stakeholders inside and outside of CEU. The role is responsible for providing strategic leadership of, and oversight for, the work of the Public Affairs and Media Relations Office; the Partnerships, Philanthropy and Alumni Relations Office; the Digital Communications and Marketing Office; the Student Recruitment Office, the Academic Partnership Office, the Educational Outreach Office, and the university's internal communications function. The ideal candidate will hold exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, excel in navigating complex challenges and finding innovative solutions, and be capable of building strong relationships across diverse stakeholder groups within the university and the environment in which it is embedded. The candidate will demonstrate an ability to inspire others, foster collaboration, and cultivate an inclusive and supportive working environment. Duties and Responsibilities * Develop and implement the university's external relations strategy to support its mission and goals. * Identify and prioritise building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, corporate partners,the press, donors, alumni, and the community, to foster collaboration and support. * Act as the university's representative at external events, meetings, and forums. * Liaise with government officials and policymakers to advocate for the university's interests. * Identify opportunities for partnerships with businesses and organisations to advance the university's research, educational, and financial goals. * Oversee the development of proposals and agreements for external funding and sponsorships. * Oversee the development of programmes to engage alumni in university activities, fundraising, mentoring, and career support initiatives. * Ensure external messaging is aligned with the university's brand. * Oversee public relations efforts to promote university achievements and mitigate reputational risks. * Ensure the successful implementation of designated high-profile events such as conferences, public lectures, and award ceremonies to promote the university's visibility. * Serve as the focal point for the university and respond to media inquiries in alignment with communication policies. * Manage crisis communications in relation to media and external stakeholder management to safeguard the university's reputation during challenging situations. * Work with academic and administrative leaders to identify external engagement opportunities. * Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration to present a unified and strategic approach to external relations. * Oversee the tracking and evaluation of the impact of external relations activities to inform future strategies. * Prepare reports and presentations for the university's senior leadership and board. * Lead the external relations team of over 50 people, ensuring alignment with the university's strategic priorities. * Promote and support the university's international engagement efforts, including partnerships with foreign institutions and organisations. * Ensure effective collaboration with the admissions team to execute effective student recruitment strategies, ensuring alignment with the university's goals. * Oversee the organisation of outreach activities, such as open days, recruitment fairs, and school visits, to attract a diverse and talented student body. * Build partnerships with schools, community organisations, and international education agencies to support student recruitment initiatives. * Oversee internal communication strategies to ensure clear, consistent, and transparent messaging across the university, which fosters a culture of engagement Skills and Experience * An advanced degree in public relations, communications, marketing, business administration, or a related field is required. * A minimum of 10 years of experience in external relations, public relations, corporate affairs, or a similar field, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles. * Experience within a higher education or non-profit sector context is highly desirable. * Experience in building partnerships with corporate entities and securing philanthropic support. * Demonstrated experience of handling media inquiries, public relations campaigns, and external communications. * Experience managing budgets and ensuring financial accountability. * Experience working in an international context or with global partners is a significant advantage. * Familiarity with digital communication platform strategies is required. * Ability to develop and execute comprehensive external relations strategies aligned with organisational goals. * Proven skills in building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders * 7-10 years of experience in managing and leading large teams. * Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills in English and German. Knowledge of other languages desirable. * Strong negotiation and influencing abilities. * Experience managing complex projects, meeting deadlines, and allocating resources effectively. * Proven expertise in handling public relations challenges and crises * Exceptional organisational skills to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously. * Understanding of, and ability to work effectively in, a diverse, international, and multicultural environment. * A well-developed professional network and the ability to cultivate and expand it strategically. * Familiarity with branding principles and marketing strategies to enhance organisational visibility. What CEU Offers We offer a competitive salary starting from a gross of 100,000 EUR/year. A higher salary is possible if warranted by the candidate's working experience. To view a comprehensive list of our benefits, please visit our Employee Benefits page. How to Apply Applicants need to submit: * CV * Motivation letter * Contact information of 3 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/.