In a Nutshell

AustrianStartups is looking for a Chief Operating Officer to shape the next chapter of Austria's leading startup association. From day one, you will co-own our strategy, drive operational excellence, and lead your team. For this you will work closely with our CEO and the AustrianStartups Board (real rockstars with exits worth €400 mio, revenues exceeding €3bn, and a former member of parliament). You will hold responsibility across our community strategy, operations, finance, and people, making sure AustrianStartups runs at a high standard while continuing to grow its impact. The ideal candidate is ecosystem-native, data-driven, and AI-fluent, with real leadership experience and the ambition to build something that matters.

Who we are

AustrianStartups is the leading non-profit platform and think tank for startups and innovative entrepreneurship in Austria. Together with our 30,000+ supporters, we are working towards making Austria the place to build the future.

Over the past 13 years, we have inspired more than 1 mio people across our channels, connected more than 50,000 event visitors, started Austria's biggest entrepreneurship project for schools, and published Austria's largest startup study, the Austrian Startup Monitor. With your help, we aim to change Austria's entrepreneurial culture sustainably and for the better!

What you will be doing

Owning how AustrianStartups runs and where it goes through…

Driving operational excellence:

Building the systems, processes, and metrics that keep us running,
Owning our finances: lead budget planning, controlling, and financial reporting
Implementing AI-powered workflows: You actively bring in the newest tools to make our team faster, smarter, and more effective.
Working closely with the CEO: Steering operative development & prepare and present relevant updates to our board, ensuring transparency and alignment on key decisions.

Team Leadership:

Holding direct leadership responsibility for our community team, setting clear expectations, supporting their development, and guiding them towards reaching their potential.
Owning people operations: You shape how we hire, onboard, and develop talent, building a team that's motivated and high-performing

Shaping the future of AustrianStartups:

Co-shaping strategy: Bringing in your own ideas for developing AustrianStartups, co-designing its future with our CEO and the board, taking responsibility for outcomes from day one.
Representing the ecosystem: You show up at events, build personal relationships with founders and become a trusted face of AustrianStartups.

What we are looking for

Senior ecosystem member, at least 5 years of experience as a founder, operator, investor, startup/ scaleup employee or similar role in the startup world
Proven leadership experience. You've managed people and taken responsibility for team performance
Financial literacy. You're comfortable owning a budget, reading a P&L, and making data-informed decisions
Result driven. You care about bringing the best output on the table.
AI-native. You actively use AI tools and know how to implement them to improve real-world processes
Strategic thinker who still rolls up their sleeves and gets things done
Fluency in both English & German

Why you should apply

This is a rare opportunity to step into a small, high-impact organization and genuinely shape its future. You'll work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, politics, and community, with real ownership across operations, finance, and people from the start.

We work hard, but we also celebrate creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. You'll join a team with a strong culture, high motivation, and a genuine commitment to Austria's startup ecosystem and beyond.

Hard facts

Position: 40h/week
Salary: Annual gross salary of €56,000 (full-time)
Location: Startup House Austria – Vienna, a beautiful co-working space with lake terrace just next to Prater.
Start: June 2026

If you have any questions, please reach out to hannah.wundsam@austrianstartups.com

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