MicrobiomeSupport is an international association open to any stakeholder interested in investigating, promoting and making use of food system microbiomes (Mission Vision Goals - MicrobiomeSupport). The key mission of MicrobiomeSupport is to function as an internationally recognised and strategically impactful actor for promoting microbiome understanding and applications as key drivers on food security, One Health and human well-being. MicrobiomeSupport was founded in November 2023 and currently comprises 21 member institutions. The association builds on the previously ongoing Coordination and Support Action MicrobiomeSupport (for the legacy of this project, visit MicrobiomeSupport Legacy - MicrobiomeSupport).

We are looking for a Managing Director (full-time, 38.5 hours per week) who will support the President and Vice-President in implementing the Association’s activities. A key focus will be coordinating the Association’s involvement in several European projects. Further tasks include expanding the network, acquiring new members and organising workshops, meetings and conferences, such as the Food System Microbiomes Conference (e.g., FSM 2025 :: HOME). The candidate will work closely with the President in Austria and the Vice-President in Italy, primarily remotely, and should be willing to travel internationally. The contract will initially be for one year, with the possibility of extension, under Austrian law. The minimum gross annual salary on a full-time basis (38,5 h / week) is EUR 70.000,--. The actual salary will be determined individually, based on your qualifications and experience. Start date: ideally December 2026.

The candidate

The ideal candidate should be highly motivated, reliable and well organised, with strong project management, coordination and communication skills. He/she should be able to work independently, take initiative and prioritise his/her work effectively. He/she should also be eager to learn about topics relevant to the Association and willing to contribute ideas to its further development. The candidate should be comfortable interacting with international partners and stakeholders from different sectors and should be able to communicate fluently in English, both verbally and in writing. Residency has to be in Austria.

Professional qualification

- MSc or PhD (or equivalent) in biology, ideally microbiology or similar

- Excellent coordination and project management skills

- Fluent in written and spoken English, proficient in German

- Excellent networking capacities

- Basic/medium understanding of microbiology and microbiome

- Ideally experience in scientific communication to a broader audience (from professionals to social media content generation)

- Preferably experience with EU projects

- Good organisational skills and willingness to work flexibly

- Independent working style and high degree of self-responsibility

Application

Please send your application (CV, motivation letter, and ideally contact info of references) to:

info@microbiomesupport.eu.

Deadline: 30 September 2026