The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile lines Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000 employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.

The Cluster of Excellence “Imaginamics: Practices and Dynamics of Social Imagining” is offering a full-time (100%) position as

Managing Director

to commence on 01.10.2025 for a fixed term expiring on 31.12.2032.

The Cluster of Excellence “Imaginamics” is an interdisciplinary research project of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena that conducts research on the practices and dynamics of social imagining. Funded by the DFG, the Cluster brings together scholars from multiple departments. For more information, see https://www.uni-jena.de/imaginamics. The managing director of the Cluster Office will partner closely with the Cluster’s researchers, speakers, coordination team, and others to ensure the project’s overall success and to facilitate seamless work flows.

Your responsibilities:

• Lead the Cluster’s administrative office in close collaboration with the speakers of each research area; you will be supported by a team of assistants.
• Manage and proactively maintain communication and work flows within the Cluster as well as public relations (partially in English).
• Support the executive board in the strategic development of the Cluster’s research and share your own ideas about strategies.
• Coordinate hiring and other personnel matters in collaboration with the human resources department.
• Develop and organize research events, including but not limited to conferences, workshops, and colloquia.
• Conduct budget planning together with the Cluster’s financial administration.
• Compose funding applications, reports for the DFG, presentations, and other documents.
• Negotiate contracts with external partners and service providers as well as with the university administration.
• Manage administrative procedures, including orders, acquisitions, and a range of different types of contracts.

Your profile:

• A university degree, ideally a doctoral degree, in one of the subjects represented in the Cluster.
• Experience in management and administration; knowledge of the workings of large research groups and the structures of university administration.
• Excellent written and spoken German and English.
• Advanced knowledge of common office software like Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Capacity to maintain focus in challenging situations with many participants and an ability to structure complex processes.
• Team player who is friendly, open-minded, flexible, creative, and well organized, and performs well under stress.
• Experience as a team leader.
• Specialist knowledge of one or more of the fields represented in the Cluster is desirable.
• Unsure about whether to apply? We encourage you to apply anyways and give us the chance to get to know another!

We offer:

• Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV-L) at salary scale E14 — depending on the candidate’s personal qualifications — including a special annual payment.
• Support for continuing education and professional development.
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families, including the University Family Office (JUniFamilie) and flexible childcare (JUniKinder).
• Attractive benefits such as retirement accounts (VL) and an occupational pension (VBL).
• 30 days of vacation per calendar year plus two days off on December 24 and 31.

The advertised position is offered as a fixed-term position for seven years. The position may be extended contingent upon an extension of the Cluster’s funding.

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week).

The University of Jena has received multiple awards for its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and its family-friendly work environment. The university seeks to employ more women, first-generation college graduates, people with a history of migration, and people of eastern German background. Severely disabled persons with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential consideration.

Interviews will take place in person in Jena in July or August 2025. Unfortunately, the university cannot reimburse expenses incurred for travel to the interview.

Interested? Apply by 20.07.2025 using our online form