Programme Director in Intergenerational Fairness

Vedi l’offerta su Go Lavoro: golavoro.it/annuncio-lavoro/7k0ic8

The Department of Political and Social Sciences (SPS) at the European University Institute (EUI) is seeking applicants for the position of Programme Director to lead work on the urgent challenge of intergenerational fairness in a Europe marked by inequality, technological disruption, and demographic change.

The EUI at a glance:

We are an international organisation set up in 1972; a research university focusing exclusively on post-graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral studies, and advanced research, located in the hills overlooking the city of Florence, Italy. The Institute also hosts the Historical Archives of the European Union.

More on our Institution: https://www.eui.eu/About The Institute is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to balanced gender, geographical and minority representation. The successful candidate will be expected to provide major input in research, teaching, supervision and administration, as follows:

Policymakers currently lack a robust conceptual foundation for intergenerational fairness, a reliable empirical basis for assessing it, and comprehensive policy responses. Addressing this gap requires the development of a conceptual framework grounded in the capability approach and in the idea of decluttering disadvantages across the life course. Building on this foundation, an intersectional indicator of intergenerational fairness will be developed to enable transparent, multidimensional comparisons across countries and social groups.

This research programme will include a comprehensive analysis of how inequality, technological change, and demographic pressures interact to shape fairness outcomes across cohorts and over the life course, identifying where opportunities arise and where vulnerabilities accumulate. It will also involve the formulation of a coherent policy framework informed by the social investment approach, integrating these insights into stock, flow,



and buffer policy packages that offer policymakers actionable reform strategies tailored to diverse national contexts. The objective is to produce a distinctive set of outputs: new comparative datasets and indicators; tools for stress‑testing reforms under varying macroeconomic conditions; and a Social Investment Action Plan illustrating how European welfare states can renew solidarity between generations.

Through citizen deliberation and structured co‑creation with policymakers and social partners, the resulting proposals will be designed to be both scientifically rigorous and socially legitimate. With this integrated approach, tools, data, and policy solutions will be generated that will enhance social and economic resilience and sustainability, promote inclusive growth, and reduce vulnerabilities in order to safeguard intergenerational fairness.

The Programme Director will provide the overall coordination of the research programme, including coordination of research activities, partners and team members, to ensure the successful delivery of objectives within the project timelines. The role combines programme management with active research responsibilities, including conducting research activities, preparing and delivering scientific outputs and reports, and overseeing the dissemination of scientific outputs, including presenting findings at international conferences and other scientific events.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in Political Science, with a focus on Political Economy,



and have significant experience in conducting research in the field of comparative political economy and in the acquisition of external research funds. They will demonstrate expertise in the political economy of inequality, technological change, welfare state reforms, and social investment in the European context, with particular attention to how structural transformations shape social policy and intergenerational fairness. They will demonstrate a strong command of both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Experience in comparative cross-national research and working within large international research projects will be considered an advantage.

The candidate will also possess a track-record of research publications in the field, research dissemination and policy engagement beyond academia, including experience translating research findings into policy recommendations and engaging with policymakers and other stakeholders.

What we offer

- A role in an inspiring community of young scholars with an exclusive focus on master's, doctoral and post-doctoral studies.
- A truly multicultural community of 1100 academics at all career stages and support staff of approximately 85 different nationalities.
- The commitment to a genuine culture of equality, diversity and inclusion, and the commitment to attracting, encouraging and retaining a diverse and highly qualified workforce.
- A world-class research library, the Historical Archives of the European Union, and many other excellent research facilities.
- Language courses and soft skills training opportunities.
- Access to all EUI facilities: library, PC rooms, crèche, cafeteria, gym, participation in seminars and workshops.
- Competitive salary package.
- A healthy work-life balance in a family-friendly environment.

To know more about the positions and the application process, please read the

- Vacancy Notice V/PR/SPS/4/2026 (pdf)
- Further particulars (pdf)

Applications must be submitted electronically via the online application form. The deadline: 31 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST

Vedi l’offerta su Go Lavoro: golavoro.it/annuncio-lavoro/7k0ic8