The Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies (VWI) invites applications for the position of a Project Assistant at the earliest possible starting date
Job Description
The Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies (VWI) is looking for a Project Assistant to perform duties across two projects related to the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI), which is coordinated by the Dutch Institute for War, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies (NIOD) and funded by the European Commission.
EHRI is a multinational consortium that aims to develop a sustainable, state-of-the-art research infrastructure for Holocaust research, while working to integrate and link up the repositories and expertise of archives, libraries, museums, memorials, and research institutions holding Holocaust-related sources.
EHRI is currently implemented via two Horizon 2020-funded projects:
- The EHRI Preparatory Phase Project (EHRI-PP) aims to transform EHRI within the framework of the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructure (ESFRI) into a permanent European Research Infrastructure as a legal entity in its own right with long-term funding streams; while
- the goals of the EHRI-3 project are the further integration of the holdings and expertise of dispersed Holocaust collection holders and the development of new and enhanced services.
The successful candidate will assist the realisation of those Work Packages (WP) in which the VWI participates. This will involve coordinating the activities of the two projects as well as contributing significantly to the output of the two WPs. She/he will further contribute to other EHRI-project activities as required.
The Projects Assistant will be part of the EHRI team at the VWI, which currently consists of three people. All activities of the Project Assistant will be carried out jointly with multidisciplinary and multi-institutional teams from across Europe, Israel, and the United States.
Requirements
- a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study, or equivalent experience;
- experience of writing high-quality research, business, and/or project reports and deliverables;
- a good understanding of at least one of the following fields: archives, digital history/digital humanities, research infrastructures;
- excellent analytical, numerical, and problem-solving skills;
- the ability to condense and synthesise complex information, both qualitative and quantitative, from multiple sources;
- excellent standard IT skills (MS Office etc.);
- excellent command of English and German both in written and spoken form;
- a flexible, proactive, and result-oriented attitude;
- a willingness to travel abroad;
- an affinity with the mission of EHRI.
In addition, the successful candidate will fulfil several of the following requirements:
- experience in project management or project assistance;
- experience in financial planning and business plan development;
- experience in working in an international context;
- awareness of the European research infrastructure landscape;
- a good understanding of the changing context in which archives and other collection holders operate, in particular with regards to international collaboration, digital transformation, and social and cultural impact
Conditions of Employment
This position is offered on a 0.5FTE basis. It is a fixed-term appointment until 30 November 2022, although, depending on future funding, an extension and an increase to a full-time position is not excluded. We are looking to fill this position at the earliest possible date.
The VWI offers an inclusive, internationally-oriented working environment with a great deal of room for individual initiative and responsibility. The salary is on a 20hrs/week-basis EUR 1.540.-
Employer
The Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies (VWI) is active in three central fields: research, documentation, and education of all issues related to antisemitism, racism, nationalism, and the Holocaust, including its origins and aftermath. The VWI’s research activities centre on the fellowship programme and on scholarly research projects.
The main collections held at the VWI comprise the Holocaust-related parts of the archive of the Jewish Community of Vienna (Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien, IKG), which are on loan to the institute at its new location and are currently being digitalised, as well as Simon Wiesenthal’s extensive estate. The VWI’s research activities in the form of projects and publications are intended to build on these collections owned by or accessible via the institute.
The third pillar of the VWI’s activities reflects the institute’s dedication to the central idea of the European Enlightenment: Scholarly lectures, conferences, and events are designed to encourage the broad public to confront antisemitism, racism, the Holocaust, and genocide via the presentation of important research results on these subjects. However, it is also important to develop and test new, even experimental concepts: The VWI also stages exhibitions, initiates interventions in the public sphere, and is developing new internet projects. Beyond this, new teaching methods and teaching aids for schools will be put up for discussion in the context of academic events.
Please send your application (CV and motivation letter in English) by November 27, 2020 to bewerbungen@vwi.ac.at