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There is currently one vacancy at the Egmont Institute.

(for info on Student Internships, please scroll down to end of the page)

 

Director-General of the Egmont Institute

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 18th March 2026

 

Position Details
  • Function: Director-General, Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations
  • Contract: Full-time, three-year contract (renewable)
  • Starting date: As soon as possible
  • Place of work: Rue des Petits Carmes 24A, 1000 Brussels

 

General Description of the Role

In an uncertain international environment characterised by growing tensions between major powers and significant challenges for the European Union as a geopolitical actor, Egmont aims to further strengthen its position as an independent knowledge institution in the coming years. This will involve continued professionalisation of the organisation, alongside increasing the impact of its research and expanding its training activities.

To this end, Egmont is seeking a Director-General responsible for the strategic direction, fundraising, positioning and external representation of the organisation. Internally, the role focuses on strengthening governance, collaboration and a shared organisational vision. Externally, it requires high-level visibility and profile-building with government, the private sector and academia.

 

Main Responsibilities

The Director-General will be responsible for:

  • Overall coordination and day-to-day management of the Institute.
  • Defining and ensuring a clear strategic direction for the research and training portfolios.
  • Acting as a change manager and implementing necessary organisational reforms.
  • Human resources management, fostering team cohesion and collaboration.
  • Financial management and fundraising, with the aim of structurally increasing the share of external sponsors and projects other than the MFA.
  • Identifying, developing and managing partnerships with institutional, governmental and private partners, as well as with other knowledge institutions.
  • Interaction with and reporting to the Board of Directors.
  • External representation of the Institute at national and international level.

 

Profile

The ideal candidate:

  • Is an academically trained, inclusive and inspiring leader (minimum Master’s degree required).
  • Has experience leading a knowledge-based or policy-oriented organisation with societal relevance at the intersection of academia, politics, public policy and diplomacy.
  • Demonstrates a strong understanding of current international challenges and the ability to translate these into a strategic focus for the Institute.
  • Connects strategy with implementation, safeguards the independence and quality of research, and effectively bridges research and policy.
  • Possesses strong governance and management skills, with the ability to motivate and unite teams around a shared mission.
  • Brings a relevant (international) professional network or demonstrates the capacity to further develop one in support of partnerships.
  • Has proven experience in financial management, including increasing and diversifying funding sources.
  • Communicates clearly and credibly in Dutch, French and English.
  • Is willing to work flexibly, including regular evening commitments.

 

Application procedure

Applications should be submitted to the Chair of the Board, Mr Alexis Brouhns, at alexis.brouhns@gmail.com, no later than 18 March 2026.

The application will include a letter of motivation, a detailed CV and a short note (one page maximum) setting out the strategic view on Egmont.

 

APPLICATIONS FOR STUDENT INTERNSHIPS FOR THE AUTUMN SEMESTER OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/2027 WILL OPEN MID-APRIL 2026! 

For an Autumn semester internship (Sept-Jan), applications must be received by 15 June at the latest.
For a Spring semester internship (Feb-June), applications must be received by 15 November at the latest.

Please note that due to the large number of applications we receive, we can only reply to shortlisted candidates.

 

The Egmont Institute offers student internships in both their Communications & Events department and in the European Affairs Programme. Please make sure to apply to the correct one!

The Communications & Events department of the Egmont Institute is regularly looking for the assistance of a full-time Intern for periods of 3-5 months during the academic year. The student internship is not remunerated, is onsite in our Brussels office, and must be combined with ongoing Masters studies in a Belgian university (students from a neighbouring country’s university are also eligible if they are within a distance of max. 150 km from the Belgian border). Our working language is primarily English, so a minimum C1 level is required.

If you are interested and meet these criteria, please send your CV to Jean-Christophe Hoste, Communications & Events Director, by email to media@egmontinstitute.be mentioning in the subject line: Comms Student Internship.

 

The European Affairs Programme at the Egmont Institute regularly seeks a full-time Intern to support its research activities and events for 3–4-month periods during the academic year. Knowledge of the internal workings of the EU institutions and decision-making processes is essential.

This onsite internship, based in our Brussels office, is unpaid and must be combined with ongoing studies in a Belgian university. The working language is English, and proficiency in Dutch or French is an asset. We are looking for a fast learner with a positive attitude and a wide range of interests.

If you are interested and meet these criteria, please send your CV and motivation letter as 1 pdf to application@egmontinstitute.be, with “European Affairs Internship” in the subject line.

 

 

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