EIT Water, Europe's innovation community for water, marine and maritime systems, is recruiting a Regional Hub Manager Central & Danube based in Vienna, Austria, within BOKU University and in collaboration with TU Wien. The role is EIT Water's senior representative and business development, relationship and ecosystem lead for Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Switzerland. Salary and benefits are listed as competitive, and applications with a CV and cover letter close at 12pm CET on 20 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy and set out every detail below.
Quick Facts
💼 Role: Regional Hub Manager Central & Danube
🏢 Organisation: EIT Water
📍 Location: Vienna, Austria (within BOKU University, in collaboration with TU Wien)
🗺️ Region covered: Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Switzerland
🧪 Sector: Research, Technology & Innovation
💶 Salary & benefits: Competitive
🔢 Reference: 8696
👤 Role coordinated by: Erik Hafner, Perrett Laver
EIT Water: Europe's Innovation Community for Water
EIT Water connects industry, innovators, researchers, educators and policymakers to tackle the most urgent water challenges, from scarcity, drought and flooding to pollution and ecosystem decline. It is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, and this activity is co-funded by the European Union.
Founded in 2026 With a Source-to-Sea Mandate
🏗️ EIT Water was founded in 2026
🌐 It has eight regional hubs across Europe
🌊 Its mandate is to deliver systemic innovation from source to sea
🧭 It is now establishing the governance structures that will guide its first Strategic Agenda and long-term impact
🇩🇰 EIT Water is an established Danish Association based in Aarhus
Your Mandate in the Central & Danube Region
As senior representative and the business development, relationship and ecosystem lead for the Central & Danube region, the Regional Hub Manager is the primary regional point of contact. The role builds and mobilises the regional Member, partner and participant community, connecting Central & Danube stakeholders to EIT Water's pan-European ecosystem and Action Programmes.
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Regional Themes the Hub Focuses On
The role strengthens regional opportunities across water, marine and maritime sectors, with particular relevance to:
⚡ The water-food-energy nexus
🏞️ Hydropower and renewable water-energy solutions
🏙️ Urban water cycles
🐟 Sustainable aquaculture
🌧️ Flood and drought resilience
Vienna's Research Strengths: BOKU University and TU Wien
Based in Vienna within BOKU University, in collaboration with TU Wien, the role leverages the region's strong expertise in:
🛠️ Hydraulic engineering
🔬 Applied research
🧫 Water quality
🏭 Large-scale test facilities
The aim is to build collaboration and accelerate innovation, business creation and skills development.
Capabilities the Role Calls For
The Regional Hub Manager works for EIT Water centrally while operating alongside the regional host organisation. This requires strong:
📈 Commercial capabilities
🚀 Entrepreneurial capabilities
🤝 Diplomatic capabilities
These are needed to connect regional priorities and opportunities with European-level impact.
How to Apply
📄 Prepare a current CV
✉️ Write a cover letter setting out your interest and relevant experience
🖱️ Submit your application through the Perrett Laver application form by 12pm CET on Friday 20 November 2026
ℹ️ Further information is available on Perrett Laver's EIT Water Regional Hub Managers recruitment page
Perrett Laver Runs the Appointment Process
The appointment process is led by Perrett Laver on behalf of EIT Water. For questions about the process, contact Erik Hafner at Perrett Laver; the email address is listed in the Links section below.
Equal Opportunities at EIT Water
EIT Water is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications without discrimination on any grounds.
Find more roles like this in the Jobs section on Youth Works Hub →.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the EIT Water Regional Hub Manager Central & Danube based?
The role is based in Vienna, Austria, within BOKU University and in collaboration with TU Wien. It covers Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Switzerland.
What does the Regional Hub Manager do?
The Regional Hub Manager is EIT Water's senior representative and business development, relationship and ecosystem lead for the region. As the primary regional point of contact, the role builds the Member, partner and participant community and connects it to EIT Water's pan-European ecosystem and Action Programmes.
Which sectors and themes does the role focus on?
It covers water, marine and maritime sectors, with particular relevance to the water-food-energy nexus, hydropower and renewable water-energy solutions, urban water cycles, sustainable aquaculture, and flood and drought resilience.
What is the salary?
The vacancy lists salary and benefits as competitive. No specific figure is given.
What do I need to submit?
Submit a current CV and a cover letter setting out your interest and relevant experience through the Perrett Laver application form. The deadline is 12pm CET on Friday 20 November 2026.
Who can I contact with questions?
Questions about the process go to Erik Hafner at Perrett Laver, which leads the appointment process on behalf of EIT Water.
What is EIT Water?
EIT Water is Europe's innovation community for water, marine and maritime systems, founded in 2026 with eight regional hubs. It is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
Deadline
⏳ 20 November 2026
Links
🔗 Vacancy (Perrett Laver): https://plusportal.perrettlaver.com/VacancyDetail/436b12e3-d98f-dddc-bf28-3a244179842e
📝 Application form: https://plusportal.perrettlaver.com/VacancyForm/436b12e3-d98f-dddc-bf28-3a244179842e
ℹ️ EIT Water Regional Hub Managers recruitment page: https://perrettlaver.com/eit-water-regional-hub-managers-recruitment/
📧 Questions (Erik Hafner, Perrett Laver): Erik.Hafner@perrettlaver.com
