Event Manager (Project Staff)

Institute for Finance, Banking and Insurance
Fulltime, 40 hours/week
Starting December 01, 2026, and ending after 3 years Are you passionate about making a real impact, taking on high-level responsibility, and shaping the premier hub for European finance academics?
Based at WU Vienna within the Institute for Finance, Banking and Insurance, you will work on a 3-year project directly supporting the European Finance Association (EFA). In this role, you will serve as Event Manager, the operational backbone of the EFA, bringing its flagship Annual Meeting and global initiatives to life. You will bridge the gap between high-level planning and on-the-ground execution—from guiding the academic program and collaborating with local hosts to design engaging meetings, to establishing streamlined processes for new EFA initiatives.
Working alongside EFA leadership, host teams, and international sponsors, you will bring together every moving part of our events. Your goal will be to support a diverse academic community, ensure operations run with quiet precision, and create a welcoming, inspiring environment for finance scholars from Europe and around the world.

What to expect

• International Team: You will be based at the WU Vienna and work along an international team. The EFA Chairman, located at the WU Vienna, the EFA Executive Officer located in Brussels and the EFA Program Chairs located at the conference host institutions (e.g. 2026-Aarhus, Denmark).
• Academic Program Administration Annual Meeting: Coordinate paper submissions, peer reviews, scheduling, and program creation using specialized software (e.g., ConfTool). Manage communication with chairs, reviewers, and authors, and handle academic prize logistics.
• Doctoral & Ancillary Events: Organize events, doctoral tutorials, and workshops - managing student applications, grant administration, room setups, and catering.
• On-Site/Online Operations: Evaluate venues, review supplier quotes, support in the management of local staffing/volunteer.
• Web & Design: Manage CMS website updates, user accounts, and registrations. Build digital newsletter content, support the Executive Officer with social media posts, and coordinate printed programs, signage, and mobile app layouts with graphic designers.
• Budgeting & Sponsor Relations: Assist local host organizers by sharing institutional knowledge, partner dossiers, and documentation for sponsors and exhibitors.
• Reporting: Report operational updates to the EFA Chairman and Executive Committee, and co-draft the yearly final report.

What you have to offer

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (Fachhochschule)
• Experience: Initial practical experience in event coordination, academic administration, project assistance, or customer support (e.g., through internships, student worker roles, or early professional experience).
• Working style & organization: Exceptional organizational skills with a structured, proactive, and independent mindset. You take ownership of your work, show high flexibility to adapt to project cycles, and are willing to travel for work trips to attend and manage the Annual Meeting.
• Language Skills: The job will be performed in English. Business fluency in English (written and spoken) is required. Proficiency in German or French is a plus, but not required.
• IT Skills: Excellent proficiency in MS Office, basic experience with Content Management Systems (CMS) for web updates, and a strong readiness to learn specialized event management tools (e.g., ConfTool).
• Personal Skills: A growth mindset with a desire to actively acquire new skills, continuously build on existing knowledge, and take pride in doing meaningful work.