Postdoctoral Researcher

Institute for Nonprofit Management and Governance

Fulltime, 40 hours/week

Starting March 1, 2027, or later (subject to negotiation), and ending after 2.5 years, no later than September 29, 2029.

At the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Governance, we conduct research and teach on the governance and management of nonprofit organizations and social enterprises, on the civic engagement of citizens, and on the nonprofit sector as a whole. We share our findings with the scholarly community, with nonprofit practice, and with our students. The institute's research has appeared in leading journals in nonprofit studies, management, and sociology.

The postdoctoral researcher will join the institute's work on the societal effects and embeddedness of nonprofit organizations. Current projects include research examining the relationship between nonprofits and their urban environments in cities worldwide, the social innovativeness of cities, and nascent work on the political backlash against nonprofit organizations. We are looking for a researcher who will contribute substantially to this line of work while developing an independent research agenda.

What to expect

• Research: You will contribute actively to the institute's research projects on nonprofit organizations and their effects on society, and you will develop your own research agenda with the aim of publishing in leading international journals.
• Teaching: You will independently teach courses on organizations, the nonprofit sector, and social impact in Europe and beyond. Teaching is in English; teaching in German is welcome but not required.
• Thesis Supervision: You will give students feedback and help them develop their work, including co-supervising master's theses and independently supervising bachelor's theses.
• Organizational and Administrative Tasks: You will share in the institute's administrative responsibilities, including the organization of international research workshops on topics of mutual interest, and you will help prepare applications for collaborative grants.
• Collaborative Teamwork: You will join a team of researchers in nonprofit and organization studies who advance research projects together and who support you in developing your own projects, advancing publications, and expanding your network.

What you have to offer

• Academic Background: You have completed, or are close to completing, a doctoral degree in management, sociology, nonprofit and public management, urban planning, or a related field. The doctoral degree must be in hand at the start date of the contract.
• Research Record: You demonstrate a strong commitment to research through promising publication projects and experience in scientific research projects. Peer-reviewed conference presentations and initial publications in journals listed on the WU Star Journal List or the Department of Management Journal List (both accessible online) are an advantage.
• Subject Expertise: Your work addresses the societal effects of nonprofit organizations. Knowledge of nonprofit management and governance, social entrepreneurship and innovation, urban governance, or the civic dynamics of place-based communities is an advantage.
• Research Methods: You have a strong empirical research profile with experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis. We expect deep knowledge in one method, but experience with mixed methods and computational social science, including natural language processing, is welcome.
• Teaching: You are willing and prepared to teach in the areas of nonprofit management and social innovation. Prior experience teaching at the university level and familiarity with multimedia teaching and learning formats are an advantage.
• Language Skills: Strong English skills are essential. German is not required but is an advantage.
• Engagement: You work independently, take initiative, and act as a team player. You are willing to organize research events such as workshops and professional development sessions, and you take an active part in scholarly communities such as AoM, ISTR, ARNOVA, ASA, and SASE.
• Willingness to use multimedia teaching methods: You are prepared to use multimedia teaching and learning formats.

Want to join the WU?

Please submit the following materials as a single PDF file, in this order:

• Cover letter, including your earliest possible and preferred start dates
• CV, indicating when you were or will be awarded your PhD
• Research statement (max. 2 pages)
• Teaching statement (max. 2 pages) and, if available, evidence of teaching excellence
• Contact information for two to three academic references (name, affiliation, e-mail); references will be contacted for shortlisted candidates
• One or two writing samples, ideally solo- or first-authored working papers or publications

Please also submit your full PhD thesis as a separate PDF file. Application documents may be submitted in English or German through the WU online application tool (Reference number: ID 2914).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting October 28, 2026, until the position is filled.

For questions about the position or the application documents, please contact Prof. Christof Brandtner at christof.brandtner@wu.ac.at.

What we offer you

• Six weeks of vacation/Extra vacation time
• Flexible working hours
• Training opportunities
• A wide range of benefits, from an in-house medical officer to athletic activities and a meal allowance to a variety of employee discounts
• Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment
• A modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna
• Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students
• Excellent accessibility by public transportation

Curious? Visit our website and find out more at www.wu.ac.at/benefits.

The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €5,079.50 (14 times per year). This salary may be adjusted based on equivalent prior work experience. In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive social benefits.

Do you want to join the WU team?

Then please submit your application by October 28, 2026 under www.wu.ac.at/jobs (ID 2914).

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

WU is committed to diversity and inclusion and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from women. Not sure if your profile fully matches our requirements? Apply anyway! In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities will be supported throughout each stage of the recruitment process. Candidates' qualifications will be assessed in the context of their academic age.