Join The Cori as Administrative Director and Co-CEO (f/m/x)
Giulio Superti-Furga has been appointed as Founding Scientific Director, and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) is now searching for an outstanding Administrative Director.
This is a founding leadership role with full responsibility as CEO for administration, finance, operations, and institutional development. The institute operates under a dual leadership model (Vier-Augen-Prinzip); Administrative Director and Scientific Director are jointly responsible for strategy and execution. Both Directors report to the Presiding Committee of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Co-lead the institute in close partnership with the Scientific Director
Build and manage all administrative functions (finance, HR, legal, procurement, infrastructure)
Develop and oversee budgets, financial planning, and reporting
Ensure compliance with labour law and public procurement regulations
Establish and oversee lab safety, regulatory compliance, and data protection frameworks
Establish efficient, service-oriented structures that actively enable research excellence
Build strong HR and international on- and offboarding systems, recognising people as the institute’s key asset
Support translational activity and technology transfer, including partnerships and IP-aware processes
Manage the transition into permanent research facilities Interface with funders, auditors, and public stakeholders
Your profile
7–10+ years of leadership experience in administration or management
Proven expertise in budgeting, finance, and organisational leadership
Experience within the research, academic, or innovation environment
Understanding of research funding systems (grants, fellowships, institutional funding)
Fundamental knowledge of labour law and public procurement regulations
Familiarity with compliance frameworks, including lab safety and data protection
High integrity, reliability, and professionalism Fluency in English and German
Your benefits
A unique opportunity to co-build and co-lead a new international research institute
Significant autonomy and responsibility in a founding phase
A purpose-driven, dynamic, interdisciplinary, and international environment
The opportunity to define a new model for research organisations
Partner and collaborate with top scientists and future leaders
Competitive salary of 120.000 EUR gross per year, based on qualification and experience, and benefits package
Giulio Superti-Furga is one of Europe’s leading biomedical scientists and a highly experienced research leader. As Founding Director of CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, which he led for two decades as Scientific Director and co-CEO, he built an internationally recognized institute at the interface of biology, medicine, and data science, widely regarded as a model for modern biomedical research in Europe. He also served in a leadership role within the EU-LIFE alliance of leading European life science institutes, contributing for several years to the development and dissemination of best practices in research organization and governance. Beyond academia, he has co-founded five biotechnology companies, actively contributing to the translation of scientific discoveries into therapeutic innovation.
Your application
You have the ambition and drive to help build The Cori into an internationally visible lighthouse for modern, high-performance research, guided by uncompromising standards of excellence?
You have a talent in finding compliant and effective ways to realise ambitious goals?
You are commitment to training, mentorship, and international talent development?You want to enable science and empower researchers with your organisational skills?
Please apply by 15.6.2026
Submit a cover letter explaining your strengths and qualifications in relation to the open position, your CV, and the contact details of 2 referees.
Apply online: ÖAW/Cori, is an inclusive employer. They value diversity and strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of background, race, gender, or personal identity. The working language at The Cori is English.
Potential Hearing Date: 3.7.2026
Preferred Starting Date: September 2026

Cori Institute of Molecular and Computational Metabolism of the Austrian Academy of Sciences