ESSEC Business School is an international higher education institution specializing in top-tier management and business training. Spread across four campuses (Cergy, La Défense, Singapore, and Rabat) and a virtual augmented campus, ESSEC welcomes over 7,000 students in initial education programs—more than 40% of whom are international students—and over 5,000 managers annually for executive education.

Working at ESSEC means growing within a stimulating environment underpinned by our core values: humanism, responsibility, innovation, and openness, all reinforced by an enriching international and multicultural context. Diversity, mutual respect, and mutual assistance are at the heart of the humanistic values we cultivate daily.

Dedicated to research, teaching, and entrepreneurship, the Cergy campus of ESSEC Business School is recruiting a

Executive Director of the ESSEC Center for Geopolitics & Business

ESSEC Business School recently announced the launch of the “ESSEC Center for Geopolitics & Business,” an interdisciplinary center for scientific research and pedagogical innovation that explores the interactions between geopolitics and business. Since geopolitical developments shape the environment for companies and organizations, leaders must understand geopolitics to make positive contributions. The Center will serve as a think-and-do tank, producing knowledge, educational experiences, and opportunities for discussions and debates at the intersection of geopolitics and business.

Operating across all ESSEC campuses, the Center aims to build bridges between academia and practitioners worldwide and extend the school’s existing initiatives in these fields. Ultimately, the Center aspires to establish ESSEC as the leading business school on the subject of Geopolitics for Business.

In pursuit of growth and impact, ESSEC seeks an experienced Executive Director to actively contribute to the development of the ESSEC Center for Geopolitics & Business. ESSEC is a leading European business school with campuses in France, Singapore, and Morocco, offering undergraduate, graduate, and executive-level training in business administration (Global BBA, Master in Management, PhD, Specialized Masters, GMBA, EMBA).

Position Responsibilities

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Strategy and Sustainability, and working closely with the Center’s two Academic Directors, the Executive Director will oversee:

• Strategic Planning: Defining strategies to maximize the Center’s visibility, influence, and impact.
• Action Plan Implementation: Developing and executing action plans aligned with the Center’s strategic objectives.
• Initiatives Management: Launching and overseeing new research initiatives, programs, and partnerships (such as events, masterclasses, hackathons, conferences, roundtables).
• Coordination with Existing Programs: Supporting and integrating initiatives from related ESSEC programs (IRENE, Centre GDL, etc.) to enhance the Center's impact.
• Fundraising: Identifying and securing funding opportunities with public, corporate, and private donors, in coordination with the Academic Directors and ESSEC’s Corporate Partnerships Director.
• Project & Team Management: Leading project teams, coordinating cross-functional activities with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Financial Management: Overseeing the Center’s P&L.
• Internal and External Relations: Collaborating with internal stakeholders (BUs, support services) and external partners (ESSEC alumni, ESSEC Foundation) to integrate the Center into ESSEC’s broader activities.
• External Representation: Representing the Center publicly, contributing to public discourse via position papers and op-eds, in line with institutional communication policies.
• Communications Strategy: Collaborating with ESSEC’s communications department to develop tools to promote the Center to external audiences.

Experience and Skills

Candidates should possess:

• Extensive knowledge and a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in international relations or geopolitics and their impact on business.
• Proven experience in fundraising (public grants, corporate and private donations) and resource mobilization.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing, managing, monitoring, and evaluating programs and projects.
• Strong background in communication and outreach activities.
• Experience developing and sustaining partnerships with national, regional, and international partners.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in multicultural settings.
• Experience within academic or research ecosystems.
• Availability and willingness to travel frequently within France and internationally.
• A PhD is an advantage, given the academic context of the Center.
• Fluency in French and English is required, with strong written communication skills. Additional language skills are a plus.

What ESSEC Offers

• A permanent position based at our Cergy Campus with up to two days of remote work and opportunities for international travel.
• A balance between responsibility and autonomy to achieve your mission successfully.
• A competitive salary based on qualifications and experience.
• The opportunity to work in one of Europe’s leading business schools, committed to “Enlighten, Lead, and Change” the world to create value and make it more sustainable, inclusive, and just.

In line with ESSEC’s diversity policy, this position is open to all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities.