Přehled
Czech Academy of Sciences announces a competition for the position of Director of the Institute of Sociology of the CAS
Requirements:
- university education and scientific qualification in a field covered by the institute’s research activities,
- scientific activities in one of the main fields of the institute’s research activities,
- organisational abilities and managerial experience,
- demonstrated insight into the social structure and dynamics of Czech society is an advantage,
- active knowledge of English, other language knowledge a benefit,
- moral integrity,
- full legal competence[1],
- clean criminal record pursuant to Section 17(4)(b) and (c) of Act No. 341/2005 Coll., on public research institutions, as amended,
- compliance with the conditions pursuant to Act No. 451/1991 Coll., stipulating additional requirements for holding certain positions in state bodies and organisations of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, as amended.
An institute director cannot be a member of managerial or supervisory bodies of legal entities performing business activities and cannot be involved in the business of legal entities active in the area that is the subject of the institute’s activities. The aforementioned restrictions do not apply to the management of own assets (Section 17(6) of Act No. 341/2005 Coll.).
Expected term of office: from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031
Applications and their annexes are submitted in writing in Czech or English. An application must contain the candidate’s contact data (residential address, telephone number, e-mail address).
Attach the following to your application:
- structured CV,
- documents confirming university education and scientific qualifications,
- summary of work experience,
- list of main scientific works and publications,
- concept for the institute’s management and the direction of its activities, including the institute’s future development,
- Criminal Clearance Certificate issued within the last 3 months[1],
- declaration of clear criminal record pursuant to Section 17(4)(c) of Act No. 341/2005 Coll.1 and on work in the bodies of legal entities pursuant to Section 17(6) of Act No. 341/2005 Coll.[2]
Compliance with the conditions pursuant to Act No. 451/1991 Coll., is documented by a certificate pursuant to Section 4(1) and a declaration pursuant to Section 4(3), which a candidate submits with an application for the selection process or subsequently, without undue delay after the certificate is issued to them, but no later than the day of appointment to the position of institute director. The same submission methods as those for the delivery of an application for the selection process apply.[3]
The statutory deadline for processing applications for the issuance of a certificate by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic is 60 days from the date of its receipt.
Applications delivered by 15:00 on March 15 will be considered.
Possible methods of delivery of applications:
- in electronic form via:
- data box ID: fr6adt5
- e-mail address: posta@kav.cas.cz
- in paper form to the following address: Czech Academy of Sciences, to the attention of director of the CAS Head Office, Národní 3, 110 00 Prague 1
In the case of delivery of an application to the e-mail address, the application must be signed with a recognised electronic signature (see Act No. 297/2017 Coll., on trust services for electronic transactions, as amended). List of the data formats of documents accepted in digital form: see https://kav.cas.cz/cs/podatelna. For candidates who are not citizens of the Czech Republic, an electronic signature issued in accordance with the legal regulations of another state is also accepted, provided that the identity of the signatory can be verified.
Mark the message or envelope with the following words:
Selection Process (Institute of Sociology of the CAS)
In the event of queries about the selection process, please contact stara@kav.cas.cz
For more information about the activities of the Institute of Sociology of the CAS, please visit: https://www.soc.cas.cz/cz/o-ustavu/vyrocni-zpravy and https://www.avcr.cz/cs/o-nas/hodnoceni/.
Description of the institute and the position:
The Institute
The Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences is a non-profit public research institution dedicated to advancing sociology and related disciplines as a vital tool for understanding and addressing societal challenges. The institute is committed to fostering high-quality, internationally relevant research that contributes to both academic knowledge and evidence-based policymaking.
Employing state-of-the-art quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the research explores historical and contemporary social transformations in regional, European, and global contexts, with a primary—though not exclusive—focus on Czech society. Institute’s members actively participate in international research networks and cross-national comparative research programmes and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across the social sciences and beyond to foster innovative research.
The Institute also supports post-graduate education in sociology, offering opportunities for doctoral research and collaboration with academic partners. The Institute houses key research infrastructures such as the Sociological Data Archive and the Public Opinion Research Centre, making it a central hub for sociological knowledge in Czechia.
The Position
The director will lead one of the foremost sociological research institutions in Czechia, shaping its strategic vision and scientific priorities. The role includes supporting interdisciplinary research departments, fostering national and international collaborations, and ensuring the institute’s contributions to social science and public debate. The director will also support the institute’s key research infrastructures such as the Public Opinion Research Centre and the Czech Social Science Data Archive. A successful candidate will have a distinguished academic record, strong leadership skills, and the ability to represent the institute within the Czech Academy of Sciences and the broader scientific community.
[1] A candidate who is not a citizen of the Czech Republic shall attach a declaration proving compliance with the conditions pursuant to Section 17(4) of Act No. 341/2005 Coll. Template of a declaration: see https://www.avcr.cz/en/about-us/career/selection-prodecures-for-the-directors-of-institutes/
[2] Template of a declaration: see https://www.avcr.cz/en/about-us/career/selection-prodecures-for-the-directors-of-institutes/
[3] The duty to submit a certificate and declaration does not apply to a candidate who is not a citizen of the Czech Republic, a candidate who is a citizen of the Czech Republic born after 1 December 1971, a candidate who has already submitted a certificate and sworn statement to the CAS and a candidate who was not invited to a personal meeting by the selection committee in the meantime. Template of a declaration: see https://www.avcr.cz/cs/o-nas/kariera/reditele-pracovist/
Application deadline: 03/15/2026
