Director and Professor

Department Faculty of Arts - Wirth Institute

Posted date December 6, 2024

Closing date March 5, 2025

Position Type Full Time

The Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta invites applications for the position of Director, Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies, at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. The successful candidate will take up a tenured appointment in an appropriate Department within the Faculty of Arts and assume the role of Director of the Wirth Institute on July 1, 2025, for a three to five-year term, with the possibility of renewal.

Founded in 1998 through an initiative of the Austrian Government, the institute has a joint academic and cultural mandate to raise the profile of Austria and Central Europe in Canada and internationally. It accomplishes this mandate through ambitious research and scholarly undertakings, international collaborations and networking, a public and community outreach and education program, and extensive community relations. The mandate spans across seven Central European countries: Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. In recognition of Dr. Manfred and Dr. Alfred Wirth’s generous endowment, the Institute was renamed the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies in October 2003.

The Wirth Institute offers several important programs along with diverse research and publishing undertakings. These include, but are not limited to:

• Doctoral fellowship programs
• Conferences, lectures and seminar series
• Faculty exchanges
• Concerts and musical events
• Award programs, scholarships and grants
• Public education and programming
• Disrupted Ukrainian Scholars and Students Initiative (DUSS UAlberta)
• Community, academic and cultural outreach

The successful candidate must be an established scholar and will:

• Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in relevant field(s) pertaining to the Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• Be at a career stage favourable for appointment or promotion to Full Professor rank

They will demonstrate:

• Breadth of experience with Central European studies
• Capacity for strategic thinking and collegial leadership in a team environment
• Community outreach experience, including fundraising and engaging communities outside of the university
• Strong public communication skills
• Working knowledge of German or other Central European languages
• Administrative and academic leadership skills, including familiarity with financial planning and human resources
• A record of research accomplishments and expertise in relevant studies
• Enthusiasm for multidisciplinary studies and appreciation for the full range of activities conducted at the Wirth Institute
• Experience or interest in organizing events, conferences and other publicly engaged forms of scholarship
• A record of graduate and research supervision and mentorship
• Capacity to contribute to teaching in a relevant department or program at both undergraduate and graduate levels
• Willingness to take an active part in the life of the university community
• Willingness to travel on behalf of the Institute
• Experience with academic institutions in Central Europe

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Arts has 285 faculty members and more than 750 graduate students working in 16 departments and programs and 15 research centres and institutes. The Faculty boasts diverse interdisciplinary research expertise, and supports many outstanding and internationally recognized individual and collaborative research projects. Edmonton and the University of Alberta are situated on Treaty 6 territory, the homelands of the Métis Nation, and the traditional meeting ground and homeland for many Indigenous peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Dene, and Nakota Sioux. Established in 1908 as a board-governed, public institution, the University of Alberta has earned the reputation of being a top-tier university in Canada based on strengths in teaching, research and service. Edmonton is incredibly diverse and vibrant. It is a city with nearly 1.5 million people; it is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in Canada and has the second largest Indigenous population and the fourth largest Black population of any Canadian city. Nearly 10% of Edmonton’s population is of South Asian origin and 16% of East and Southeast Asian origin. The city offers the benefits of an urban lifestyle combined with high-quality schools, varied restaurants, excellent theatre, year-round festivals, reliable public transportation, and ample recreation opportunities. It provides ready access to the River Valley; is a 4.5 hour drive to the Rocky Mountains; and is an international hub for travel.

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications in accordance with the Faculty Agreement. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, which can be viewed at view benefits overview.

How to apply

To apply, please select the Online icon below and submit the following:

• A detailed cover letter (submit under “Cover Letter”) that includes
  • highlights of the candidate’s career and qualifications
  • a statement regarding their interest in this position
• Curriculum vitae (CV), including the names and titles of three referees who could be asked to submit confidential letters of reference (Please note that we are not requesting letters of reference in the initial application.) (Submit under “Curriculum Vitae”)
• Vision statement for the Wirth Institute (Submit under “Other”)
• Research statement that outlines the applicant’s main areas of current and future research (submit under “Research Plan”)
• A one-page statement of teaching philosophy. Please note that a teaching dossier may be requested at the next stage of candidacy. (Submit as an attachment under “Interests.”)

Questions about the director position can be addressed to the attention of Dr. Marie Carrière, Vice-Dean (Research) via vdrarts@ualberta.ca, using “Wirth Director position” as the email’s subject.

This posting may be extended until the position is filled.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered.

The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

Note: This opportunity will be available until midnight March 5, 2025, Edmonton, Alberta local time.