Vacancy for the position of President

The Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach (HfG) am Main is seeking a person for the position of President (m/f/d) as a fixed-term civil servant (WL2 HBesG) to begin September 15, 2024. Together with the Presidium and other administrative bodies, the roll of the President is to represents and lead the school in its development as an independent institution.

The HfG is a Hessen state art academy with an art/technologies orientation at the university level able to offer doctorate awards. The student body consists of around 800 students, enrolled in the departments of art and design for bachelor, master and diploma (being phased out) degrees. About 140 employees are on staff.

The HfG sees itself as an open space, as a shelter for the development of critical thinking and the development of innovative ideas. It strives to serve as a laboratory in which experimentation in the shaping of society using art, design and theory takes place. The goal of the HfG is to educate artists and designers to be able to meet the demands of the myriad and ever changing pallet of existing creative fields, or enable them to, themselves, open up new perspectives and generate new possibilities for intervention. The teaching and research methods practiced are a cross-pollination between theory and practical applications—for all areas of study.

We are looking for a committed person who is familiar with the tasks and challenges of a university of art and design in the fields of art, design and their related theory. He/she must be capable of advancing the teaching and research profile of the school in its own interdisciplinary curriculum as well as to promote the school both nationally and internationally; to advance the HfG’s teaching and artistic practices profiles as well as engage in regional and international networking. The person should have vision and an awareness of the challenges of the various impending digital transformations at hand such as artificial intelligence. Accompanying the construction of the new HfG campus building, as well fundraising tasks are other relevant areas of responsibility.

We are asking for proven leadership skills, pronounced team and social competences, a transparent communication style as well as integrative and collegial leadership. We expect an open and sensitive approach to diversity and gender equality issues. Any person with a completed university education and the necessary professional experience to handle the job requirements qualifies for the position of president. Working language is German. The term of office is six years.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applicants—regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation/identity. People with disabilities in accordance with section two para. two SGB IX will be given preferential consideration to those with the same qualifications. The HfG aims to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching and therefore strongly encourages qualified women to apply.

Information about the university can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact the chancellor, Dr. Susanne Eickemeier, at eickemeier [​at​] hfg-offenbach.de or T 069 80059 104.

We look forward to receiving your application with meaningful documents via our online portal by December 15, 2023.

The collection and processing of your personal data for the purpose of carrying out the application procedure is based on Section 23 of the Hessian Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act (HDSIG). Information with regard to the processing of your personal data in accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the

Council of April 27, 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation) can be obtained at datenschutz [​at​] hfg-offenbach.de. After completion of the procedure, the personal data will be deleted in accordance with data protection law.