Jannik Pfister — CEO

Strategist & communicator at the intersection of civil society and research for democracy and peace, with extensive experience in program leadership, project management and cross‑sector cooperation. Focused on European and international exchange, democratic cooperation, civil‑society engagement and initiatives that connect scholarship with public debate and policy dialogue. Interdisciplinary background in (International) Politics, Cultural Studies and History, complemented by substantial expertise in science management and science communication/ knowledge transfer through formats that make complex ideas accessible and impactful. Further areas of engagement include civil liberties and human rights, memory culture, as well as science policy and social innovation. Consulting for research institutions on strategy, knowledge transfer, and impact‑oriented collaboration. Driven by strategy for progress, team development and meaningful collaboration. Proud father of two, film maniac, and always open to new contacts and ideas!

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Nonprofit and Research professional with expertise in democratic governance and civil society initiatives.

Location: Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany

Experience: 12 yrs 8 mos

Skills

Program Management
Strategy
Project Management
Governance
Public Engagement
Content Development
Research Skills
Event Organization

Career Highlights

Expert in democratic cooperation and civil society engagement.
Proven track record in managing large-scale research projects.
Skilled in science communication and knowledge transfer.

Work Experience

Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung

Head of European Identity (11 mos)

PRIF Peace Research Institute Frankfurt

Associate Fellow (11 mos)

JMP Strategie & Wissenstransfer für Forschung

Independent Consultant (11 mos)

Research Center “Transformations of Political Violence” (TraCe)

Academic Coordinator (3 yrs 1 mo)

Universität Konstanz

Project Manager Forum Konstanz, Staff Unit Communications and Marketing (KuM) (2 yrs)

Dornier Museum

Scientific Project Director - "Landshut" Exhibition (1 yr)

Peace Research Institute Frankfurt

Advisor to the Executive Director (1 yr 7 mos)

European University Institute

Visiting Researcher (3 mos)

Goethe University

Research Associate, Cluster of Excellence „Normative Orders“ (4 yrs 1 mo)

Scientific Assistant (6 mos)

FernUniversität in Hagen

Online Tutor, Module "International Governance", MA Governance (11 mos)

Education

Master of Arts - MA at Goethe University Frankfurt

Politics at The New School

Bachelor of Arts - BA at European-University Viadrina

International Relations at Sciences Po Lille

Jannik Pfister

CEO

Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany12 yrs 8 mos experience

Key Highlights

Expert in democratic cooperation and civil society engagement.
Proven track record in managing large-scale research projects.
Skilled in science communication and knowledge transfer.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Nonprofit and Research professional with expertise in democratic governance and civil society initiatives.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Program ManagementStrategyProject ManagementGovernancePublic EngagementContent DevelopmentResearch SkillsEvent Organization

Other Skills

Stakeholder EngagementPublic PolicyProgram DevelopmentConsultingStrategic PlanningNonprofit OrganizationsPolicy AnalysisProgram EvaluationCivil SocietyScience CommunicationKnowledge ManagementStrategic CommunicationsEvent ManagementInternational RelationsAnalytical Skills

About

Experience

12 yrs 8 mos

Total Experience

2 yrs 2 mos

Average Tenure

11 mos

Current Experience

Gemeinnützige hertie-stiftung

Head of European Identity

Jun 2025 – Present · 11 mos · Frankfurt

Leading the new European Identity focus within the Strengthening Democracy division, driving project initiatives focused on shared values, cross-border dialogue, and democratic cohesion amid global challenges.
Designing and implementing formats that strengthen European civic engagement and democratic resilience.
Coordinating the Foundation’s European activities to ensure strategic alignment and measurable impact.
Building networks across political, civic, and cultural spheres at national and European levels.
Leading a program team, guiding cross-departmental collaboration and cultivating external partnerships.

Program ManagementStrategyStakeholder EngagementProject ManagementGovernancePublic Policy+20

Prif peace research institute frankfurt

Associate Fellow

Jun 2025 – Present · 11 mos

Co-editor of the "Routledge Handbook on Transformations of Political Violence" to be published in 2026 (together with Thorsten Bonacker, Christopher Daase, Jonas Driedger and Nguyễn Phạm Lam Phương).

Jmp strategie & wissenstransfer für forschung

Independent Consultant

Jun 2025 – Present · 11 mos

Research center “transformations of political violence” (trace)

Academic Coordinator

Apr 2022 – May 2025 · 3 yrs 1 mo · Frankfurt

Managed a €5.2M federally funded research consortium on new and emerging forms of political violence, overseeing strategy, governance, operations, internationalization, quality management, finances, and funder relations across five research institutions, as well as science communication and knowledge transfer together with the PR team.
Co-led in a shared leadership model fostering a collaborative and effectiveworking culture; built and led a cross-functional team, supported early-career researchers, and advanced inter-university collaboration.
Led the successful external evaluation of the consortium, securing BMFTR funding for a second funding phase.
Curated high-level events and developed impactful formats for science-policy dialogue and public engagement at local, regional, national and EU levels.

Project ManagementGovernanceScience CommunicationKnowledge Transfer

Universität konstanz

Project Manager Forum Konstanz, Staff Unit Communications and Marketing (KuM)

Mar 2020 – Mar 2022 · 2 yrs · Constance

Led the €100M flagship initiative “Forum Konstanz” within the University’s Excellence Strategy.
Coordinated planning, implementation, and stakeholder alignment for a major new research, science communication, and public engagement infrastructure - envisioned as a shared space for academia and society, including a new exhibition space for the University of Constance.
Developed concepts for knowledge transfer, public outreach, and dialogue; managed internal and external project communications.
Recruited and led teams for pilot projects such as the FabLab and supported strategic fundraising.
Contributed to institutional strategic development in diverse other areas, including software implementation, program evaluation within the science communication unit, and major infrastructure proposals.

Project ManagementStakeholder EngagementPublic EngagementScience Communication

Dornier museum

Scientific Project Director - "Landshut" Exhibition

Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 · 1 yr · Friedrichshafen

Developed the concept for a federally funded exhibition on the hijacked Lufthansa plane “Landshut” and the history of 1970s left-wing terrorism and state responses in Western democracies.
Led the project team, budget planning, and reporting for the multi-million-Euro initiative; coordinated with funders and external stakeholders.
Oversaw content development, research and scientific review in cooperation with the external Scientific Advisory Board, and managed strategic communications.
Co-author of the forthcoming monograph "Die Landshut. Ein deutscher Erinnerungsort" (with Dr. Barbara Wagner), scheduled for publication by De Gruyter Brill in 2027.

Project ManagementBudget PlanningContent Development

Peace research institute frankfurt

Advisor to the Executive Director

Jan 2017 – Aug 2018 · 1 yr 7 mos · Frankfurt Am Main Area, Germany

Supported executive leadership under Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff in strategy development, institutional planning, and evaluation.
Coordinated multi-stakeholder processes bridging research, policy, and administration.
Contributed to communications, fundraising initiatives, and international partnership development.

European university institute

Visiting Researcher

Apr 2015 – Jul 2015 · 3 mos · Florence Area, Italy

Department for Political and Social Sciences

Goethe university

2 roles

Research Associate, Cluster of Excellence „Normative Orders“

Promoted

Nov 2012 – Dec 2016 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Project "The Transnationalization of Rule and Resistance"; Co-Coordinator of research group "International Dissidence", directed by Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff and Prof. Dr. Chistopher Daase.
Conducted independent research on transnational protest and policing, focusing on democracy beyond borders and the threats it faced at the time.
Organized major academic events and coordinated international scholarly exchange on social movements, democratic contestation and global governance.
Shaped the group’s communication and publication strategy to increase visibility and foster dialogue with wider society.
Taught at M.A. level on social movements and repression in liberal democracies.

Scientific Assistant

Apr 2012 – Oct 2012 · 6 mos

Chair for International Relations and Theories of Global Orders (Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff)
and
Chair for Political Science/ Postcolonial and Gender Studies (Prof. Dr. Nikita Dhawan)

Research SkillsEvent OrganizationCommunication Strategy