Brief Description of DANUBIUS-ERIC
DANUBIUS-ERIC (the International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems) is a pan-European distributed Research Infrastructure Consortium established pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 of 25 June 2009 on the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), as amended by Council Regulation (EU) No 1261/2013.
DANUBIUS-ERIC operates in accordance with its Statutes, as published in the Official Journal of the European Union, with the aim of facilitating and advancing interdisciplinary research on river-sea systems, providing access to services, facilities, data and expertise to a wide range of users.
The main objective and task of DANUBIUS-ERIC is to establish and operate a pan-European distributed research infrastructure to facilitate and contribute excellent science on the continuum from river source to sea; to offer state-of-the-art research infrastructure; and to provide the integrated knowledge required to sustainably manage and protect River-Sea Systems in the face of societal and climate pressures. DANUBIUS-ERIC is supported by the DANUBIUS-ERIC Partners, who provide major scientific infrastructure, sets of instruments, research facilities, resources and related services to the DANUBIUS-RI Components and through them to the user community, enabling the conduct of top-level research in their respective fields.
In accordance with Article 18 of the DANUBIUS-ERIC Statutes, the General Assembly hereby launches an open, transparent and merit-based selection procedure for the appointment of the Director General.
Functions and Legal Responsibilities of the Director General
In accordance with Article 18 of the Statutes, the Director General (DG) is the chief executive officer of DANUBIUS-ERIC and is responsible for the overall management, coordination, and execution of the organisation’s operations and activities. Acting as the legal representative of DANUBIUS-ERIC, the DG ensures that the decisions of the General Assembly are implemented effectively and in compliance with the Statutes and Rules of Procedure. The DG is responsible for steering DANUBIUS-ERIC to full operational maturity and excellence and further promoting it as a leading organization in its domain.
The DG is the chief executive officer of the organisation, responsible for its overall leadership, strategic direction, and operational day-to-day management, ensuring that DANUBIUS-ERIC fulfills its mission, scientific objectives, and commitments to its Members and stakeholders while maintaining financial and administrative stability.
The mission of the DG is to lead the development of DANUBIUS-ERIC to full operational maturity and excellence in service provision across the distributed research infrastructure. The DG shall be an outstanding person that acts as the legal representative of DANUBIUS-ERIC, leads and continues the development of DANUBIUS-RI, and coordinates the proper and effective implementation of all decisions of the GA.
In particular, key responsibilities include:
- Strategic Leadership: develop and oversee the implementation of the strategic plan in alignment with the objectives of DANUBIUS-ERIC. Represent DANUBIUS-ERIC at the international level, promoting its mission and fostering collaborations with stakeholders.
- Operational Management: manage the day-to-day operations of DANUBIUS-ERIC, including its staff, resources, and facilities. Prepare and present the annual work plan, budget, and activity reports to the General Assembly for approval.
- Financial Oversight: ensure proper management of financial resources in accordance with the approved budget. Supervise the preparation of financial statements and audits for submission to the General Assembly.
- Reporting and Accountability: report to the General Assembly on the progress and performance of DANUBIUS-ERIC. Provide regular updates on scientific, technical, and administrative developments.
Duties and Scope of Mandate
The Director General, assisted by the staff of the Secretariat, shall:
- Develop and submit to the General Assembly a strategic document outlining the vision and objectives of DANUBIUS-RI for the next five (5) years, ensuring alignment with the mission and long-term goals of the organisation, and continuously assess and revise the strategic plan based on emerging scientific, technical, and policy developments.
- Prepare the annual work programme and budget, detailing planned activities, resource allocation, and key performance indicators, and submit them to the General Assembly no later than three (3) months before the start of each financial year, including a provisional programme and budget for the subsequent two (2) years.
- Lead the organisation and establishment of the Scientific Advisory Committee, with fair representation of the various disciplines, countries and institutions. Appoint members of the Ethics Sub-Committee upon the recommendation of the members, and convene regular meetings of these boards.
- Collaborate with the members of the General Assembly, nominated representatives from each country, and ERIC staff to prepare a detailed annual report summarising the implementation of the work programme, financial accounts, and key achievements, presenting progress reports at each General Assembly meeting.
- Maintain and regularly update the official list of Members and Observers, and develop and sustain relationships with Scientific Partners.
- Recruit and appoint the staff of the DANUBIUS-ERIC Secretariat in line with the approved work plan and budget, overseeing daily management of staff and selecting senior positions in collaboration with the General Assembly.
- Discuss, negotiate, and sign Framework Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, and specific agreements with Partners, Sponsors, Scientific Partners, and Service Contributors, in accordance with decisions of the General Assembly.
- Act as the principal representative of DANUBIUS-ERIC at international, European, and national levels, promoting the visibility and impact of DANUBIUS-ERIC through active engagement with stakeholders, including governments, research institutions, and funding bodies.
- Ensure that all activities of DANUBIUS-ERIC comply with ethical standards, legal requirements, and the principles outlined in its Statutes and Rules of Procedure, working with the Ethics Sub-Committee to address ethical issues arising from research or operational activities.
- Respond promptly to any operational, financial, or reputational crises, reporting to the General Assembly and proposing mitigation measures.
Eligibility Criteria, Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Desirable Attributes
Candidates shall be individuals of high professional standing and integrity, possessing the qualifications and experience necessary to perform the duties of Director General. Required qualifications and skills are:
- A PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field (preferably fresh water, marine and transitional environments, geo and environmental sciences, analytical sciences, social sciences and economics).
- A solid international scientific and management experience, especially in the European Research Area.
- Knowledge of environmental research and innovation landscape of Europe.
- Experience in managing environmental research infrastructures, with focus on international distributed environmental facilities.
- A good record of achievements in previous career.
- Strategic competence.
- Excellent operational leadership abilities and managerial skills, with ability to inspire and provide thought leadership.
- Experience in leading professional teams, consortia or organisations, preferably in international settings.
- Proven experience in the management of research-based bodies such as Research Institutes, Innovation Facilities, Research Infrastructures, or similar organisations.
- Proven experience in the management of international initiatives such as networks, programmes and projects in scientific and innovation domains, namely within the European Union.
- Demonstrable ability to engage and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrable experience in fund raising strategies for research and innovation projects, especially EU programmes.
- Excellent communication and public relations and negotiation skills.
- High proficiency in the English language.
Working Conditions
The Director General shall be appointed by decision of the General Assembly in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Statutes. The appointment shall be for a fixed term of five (5) years, renewable subject to a decision of the General Assembly.
The Director General shall be employed under the applicable legal framework of DANUBIUS-ERIC and the host country. The place of employment shall be the statutory seat of DANUBIUS-ERIC in Murighiol, Romania.
It is a full-time position. The gross salary is according to the standards for similar roles, approximately 8,500 euros per month. This amount includes taxes, social and health security and pension funds, with a net monthly equivalent of about 4,700 euros (payments are made in Romanian Lei). The employment terms and the details of the work contract will be negotiated between the Selection Committee and the selected candidate.
Duties will entail travel within and outside Europe. Availability can be occasionally required beyond the daily work time. The initial probationary period is 6 (six) months. The Director General shall be accountable to the General Assembly, which shall evaluate performance against agreed objectives.
Application Procedure
Applications for the DG shall be submitted in writing to the Chair of the General Assembly of DANUBIUS-ERIC, Mr. Viorel Vulturescu, via email to the DANUBIUS-ERIC Secretariat (danubius.research@geoecomar.ro) by September 16th, 2026, 17:00 EET, at the latest. When submitting the application, please use the following subject in the email: “Application for the DANUBIUS-ERIC Director General position”.
Applications sent through other channels cannot be considered. Documents should be submitted in PDF format. Applications should consist of: a cover letter describing motivation and demonstrating qualifications for the position; the Curriculum Vitae of the applicant (including expertise in project coordination and list of publications); the names and contact details of at least three persons as references of previous professional experience; and a maximum two-page vision statement on where DANUBIUS-ERIC will be in 10 years.
Selection Procedure
DANUBIUS-ERIC is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fostering an equitable and ethical workplace culture.
The selection procedure shall be conducted in accordance with the principles of transparency, impartiality and merit. The Selection Committee appointed by the General Assembly shall evaluate applications and propose a shortlist of candidates. The composition of the panel will include 3 General Assembly delegates and 2 External Experts.
The first round of selection will be done based on the written application. Shortlisted candidates may be invited by the DANUBIUS-ERIC Interim Director for virtual interviews to be held by October 15th. The Selection Committee will communicate its proposal and final ranking to the General Assembly, which will make the final appointment.
DANUBIUS-ERIC Interim Director, Mr. Adrian Stanica, may be contacted for informal enquiries and questions about the position at astanica@geoecomar.ro.
It is estimated that the DG will be selected by November 5th, 2026. The successful candidate will begin the term between 1 December 2026 and 1 February 2027, subject to negotiations with the selected candidate and in agreement with the General Assembly, to ensure a smooth handover. The Interim Director will provide secondment to the selected Director General during the first three months of the mandate.
By submitting the application, candidates explicitly consent to the processing of their personal data for the purposes of the selection procedure, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR) and applicable national legislation, including Romanian Law no. 190/2018.
How to Apply
More information: https://danubius-ri.eu/job-announcement-director-general-danubius-eric/