European Consortium of Political Research.

Director

The ECPR

The European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) is an independent, scholarly association of charitable status, established in 1970. The ECPR supports and encourages the training, research and cross-national co-operation of political scientists throughout Europe and beyond through its programme of highly regarded conferences and events, standing groups, funding opportunities and its prestigious publishing portfolio.

Membership of the ECPR is institutional, meaning that any institution of higher education (department, centre or institute) that is wholly or principally engaged in teaching, research and training in political science may apply to join. With some 300 institutional members, the ECPR’s membership spans 50 countries and reaches over 10,000 individuals.

The ECPR’s headquarters are located in Colchester, UK.

The Director Position

The Director of the ECPR is appointed by and is responsible to the Executive Committee of the ECPR. The term of appointment is three years, renewable once. Financial compensation is to be negotiated with both the Director and his/her home institution.

The Director:

• works with the ECPR’s Executive Committee;
• is a member of the Senior Management Team, which comprises the Executive Committee’s Chair, Deputy Chair and the Director;
• is the Director of the Central Services team (based in Colchester).

Major Responsibilities

The Director’s broad role is to:

• provide vision and advice to the Executive Committee;
• participate in the making of key strategic decisions;
• implement Chair and Executive Committee decisions;
• have managerial oversight of and responsibility for Central Services staff;
• chair the Central Services Management Group including policy, procedural and staffing matters;
• work with all Executive Committee members, assisting them in their portfolio responsibilities;
• ensure that the ECPR meets its obligations with regard to its members, its Constitution and the Charity Commission;
• represent the ECPR at events/meetings, if so requested by the Chair and the Executive Committee.

Profile

The Director should have a permanent academic position at one of the ECPR’s full-member institutions, and is expected to be involved in political science research. The applicant should:

• have substantial experience with nonprofit management or academic administration;
• have demonstrated capacity to think creatively and strategically and meet the challenges of a changing environment;
• have outstanding leadership, management, and advocacy skills;
• have a proven record of staff management;
• have sensitivity to and demonstrated experience of constructively working with constituents of diverse institutional and cultural backgrounds;
• have an interest in the use of new media for public outreach and provision of information and services;
• have knowledge of the duties and responsibilities implied by UK Charity law and willingness to familiarise him/herself with UK Human Resource law; and
• have a deep appreciation of the ECPR’s commitment to promoting research, teaching and dissemination in all fields of political science;
• be fluent in English.

To Apply

Applicants should submit a letter of interest and resumé or curriculum vitae in English, listing relevant managerial experience and other relevant expertise, to Collette Shepherd (chughes@essex.ac.uk) by 1 March, 2013. Interviews will take place between March and May.

Formal appointment will start on 1 September 2013, but the successful candidate must be available for a handover period with the outgoing Director from, at latest, 1 June.

Further details on the position can be provided upon request.

Collette Shepherd

HR Manager

I work Monday – Thursday 9.30 – 16.30

European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)

Central Services

John Tabor Building, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ

Tel: +44 (0)1206 873580 (direct line) or 872501 (main office)

Fax: + 44 (0) 1207 872500

Web: www.ecprnet.eu