Director of the Rectorate

The College of Europe is seeking applications for the position of Director (100% FTE), joining the Rectorate at its Bruges campus from 1 September 2025 onwards.

About the College: Welcome to the laboratory of European integration

The College of Europe is the oldest postgraduate institute of European studies, with campuses in Bruges (est. 1949), Natolin/Warsaw (est. 1992) and Tirana (est. 2024). Across the campuses, and under the motto of “studying and living Europe together”, the College hosts every year approximately 500 students of over 50 different nationalities,  pursuing advanced Master’s programmes with a duration of 10 months in a residential format. Beyond a broad spectrum of additional executive education activities, the College also implements comprehensive training programmes for junior diplomats/officials from EU member states and the enlargement region.

Centred around its core educational and training activities, the College of Europe has the mission to contribute to the construction of Europe and to good relations between the European Union and its international partners. All staff members contribute to the College mission with professional dedication, a spirit of pro-active collegiality and mutual respect. 

For more information about the College, please visit our website.

The Role

Based in Bruges, the Director of the Rectorate will be working under the direct supervision of Rector Federica Mogherini and, assisted by the team of the Rectorate, contribute to the overall management and coordination across all fields of operation of the institution.

The main tasks and responsibilities of the Director of the Rectorate will include:

  • Lead the operations of the Rectorate as a key support pillar for the work of the Rector and the College as a whole;
  • Prepare decisions and projects on the Rectorate level and ensure implementation/monitoring in coordination with the Directors within the different College pillars (and academic departments, where applicable);
  • Coordinate the work of the Directors within the different College pillars by chairing weekly coordination meetings and taking on a liaison function vis-à-vis the Rector;
  • Oversee the work of the Deputy Director of the Rectorate in charge of the liaison with the Tirana branch of the College and provide advice/guidance where necessary;
  • Coordinate the work of the Advisors in function of their respective areas of (independent) expertise across the College and vis-à-vis the Rector;
  • Manage the work of the Administrative Assistants in the Rectorate to ensure smooth secretarial support for the Rector and the Rectorate;
  • Support the work and processes of the College’s governing bodies, by taking on the role of “Secretary of the Administrative Council and Executive Committee”, providing advice and assistance to the President of the Administrative Council/Executive Committee and ensuring communication/follow-up on decisions taken;
  • Act as a key contact point for coordination with the Natolin campus of the College, most notably with the Vice Rector’s Office;
  • Engage with external stakeholders in areas of the Rector’s direct involvement (e.g. cooperation agreements, high-level meetings/visits) and take on external representation of the College in adequate/relevant contexts;
  • Plan and execute the budget of the Rectorate (with Tirana-related budget lines being delegated to the Deputy Director);
  • Provide advice directly to the Rector on all College dimensions.

Your Profile

For the position of Director of the Rectorate, the College is looking for candidates with:

  • A postgraduate degree in Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Law, European Studies, or a related field;
  • Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in a higher education and/or EU context;
  • Past responsibilities should include project management, coordinating/leading teams, budget planning/execution;
  • Excellent command of English and French; knowledge of Dutch, Polish, Albanian or any other European language is considered an asset;
  • Strong decision-making, communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Ideally, experience or familiarity with the activities and operations of the College of Europe;
  • Full digital literacy (including MS Office 365 and alike);
  • Result-oriented, proactive and cooperative approach;
  • Outstanding analytical and organisational skills, with an eye for detail; 
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, with respect for deadlines.

Our offer

  • A pleasant and stimulating international working environment;
  • An employment contract under Belgian law of indefinite duration;
  • A competitive remuneration in line with the seniority of the profile;
  • A comprehensive benefits package including the legal holiday pay and an end-of-year bonus, meal vouchers, a transportation allowance, hospitalisation insurance, and a complementary pension scheme;
  • Legal holidays plus two extra public holidays (9th of May and 11th of July) and eight closing days during the winter break;
  • A telework policy (up to two days per week) and allowance;
  • An invaluable opportunity to contribute to a renowned project of European integration.

How to apply

Applications in English or French, comprising a detailed CV (max. 2 pages) and a motivation letter (max. 1 page) should be submitted by 7 May 2025 to the HR Office at recruitment.be@coleurope.eu, mentioning “Director Rectorate” in the subject line.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

For further information on the position, please contact Carsten Gerards, Principal Coordinator in the Rector’s Office (carsten.gerards@coleurope.eu). 

For HR related questions, please contact Julie Favril, HR Co-Director at recruitment.be@coleurope.eu.

 

***

By submitting your application, you consent to have your personal data processed for the purpose of recruitment and the specific position you are applying for. You acknowledge that your data, as well as data we receive from academic institutions we can contact for verification purposes, will be processed by the College of Europe, the members of the selection committee appointed by the College of Europe related to this recruitment process. All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and in line with the current data processing regulations. For more information on how we use the information you have provided and how to exercise your rights, please see our privacy notice for recruitment (https://www.coleurope.eu/privacy).

***

The College of Europe is committed to equal treatment and opportunity. It aims to reflect the diversity of our society and to offer an inclusive work and study environment for all members of its community. Consistent with these goals, the Bruges campus has a zero-tolerance policy for any acts against the dignity and integrity of individuals, whether in the form of discrimination, bullying, harassment, stalking, violence, or sexual misconduct. Candidates are therefore recruited and selected on the basis of skills and experience, regardless of sex, age, ability, ethnicity, class and background, political belief, race, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, culture, or any other grounds.