PhD Fellowship – Mapping the role of civil society and non-profit organisations in delivering social services in Denmark

The Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as PhD of Social Science from September 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position as PhD is limited to a period of 3 years.

Description of the PhD project
The PhD project will contribute to the research project "The Privatisation Paradox: Evaluating Social Services in Denmark" funded by the Carlsberg Foundation. The overall project will document, map, and analyse the privatisation of social care and social services (including, but not limited to, residential care for children and adults) in Denmark. The PhD project will focus on researching the distinct role of civil society and non-profit organisations in the delivery of social services in Denmark. The research design and activities are flexible, and the PhD candidate will co-develop and independently shape the project based on their own research interests and methodological expertise. Potential approaches to this topic may (but does not need to) include activities such as:

• Mapping and analysing the development of civil society and non-profit providers in Danish social service provision over time
• Examining the quality of non-profit provision
• Understanding value creation in civil society-operated social services
• Investigating collaboration patterns between civil society organisations, municipalities, and other stakeholders
• Working with and developing theory that explains the distinct role of civil society's contribution to social services

The PhD Fellow will work closely with the principal investigator, Associate Professor Anders Malthe Bach-Mortensen from Department of Social Sciences and Business, and project team, including collaborators at Oxford University, and will contribute to the project's broader examination of how ownership shapes service outcomes.

The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD fellow at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Business with approximately 47 PhD fellows from all over the world.

The Doctoral School of Social Sciences & Business provides PhD training and research within an interdisciplinary, international, and professional environment. It is part of a dynamic community of researchers who share a commitment to understanding society in diverse contexts of change and global engagement. Researchers come from all over the world and engage in topics that are geographically, theoretically and methodologically diverse. The Doctoral School has one PhD program. The program offers work in progress seminars, thematic professional development seminars, feedback and social activities for the enrolled PhD fellows. As a PhD fellow you will be associated with the Roskilde School of Governance.

Responsibilities and tasks
The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team working on social service provision in Denmark and be part of a larger research community with Oxford University. This position offers a unique opportunity to conduct policy-relevant research that combines rigorous academic analysis with stakeholder engagement and practical impact.

As part of this research project, you will:

• Develop and conduct independent research within the project's scope, focusing on civil society organisations' role in social service delivery
• Collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data on non-profit social service provision
• Engage with stakeholders through interviews, workshops and collaborative meetings with civil society organisations, municipalities and other key actors
• Author academic publications and present findings at international conferences
• Participate in the broader research team's activities, helping to integrate findings about civil society organisations into the project's overall analysis
• Contribute to developing theoretical frameworks and practical recommendations for improving collaboration between civil society organisations and other social service providers
• Help organise and facilitate project workshops and stakeholder meetings
• Undertake a research stay at Oxford University as part of the project's international collaboration

As a PhD fellow you are trained at an international level to undertake research. You are responsible for carrying out independent research under supervision and receiving constructive feedback in the PhD program to finish your PhD thesis. During your employment you are required to take 30 ECTS of coursework, and gain experience in teaching and supervision. You are also required to have a research environmental change during your PhD enrollment. The environment change can take place at foreign or local universities or research institutions.

For more information, please see chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Program at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions and Ph.d.-protokolattet i Cirkulære om overenskomst for Akademikere I Staten.

Qualifications
You must hold a master’s degree or equivalent within the social sciences (e.g., sociology, public administration, political science, public health).

Qualifications within the following areas are required

• Strong analytical skills and research potential
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

We also emphasize the following qualifications:

• Proficiency in Danish
• Experience with quantitative analysis of administrative data
• Knowledge of mixed-methods research approaches
• Understanding of social service provision and civil society organisation

You are required to be enterprising and to possess good communication skills and to be a visible, involved participant in the institutions’ daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across them.

Applications are invited from both inside and outside Denmark.

Assessment
In the assessment regarding employment consideration will be given to;

• Relevant Master’s degree or equivalent (according to Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/transparency-tools/qualifications-frameworks/other-qualifications-frameworks/danish-qf-for-higher-education?set_language=en&cl=en).
• Any additional academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.

In the assessment regarding enrollment consideration will also be given to the following criteria:

• Educational skills and any further professional qualifications
• Grades at Master’s program or equivalent
• Quality and relevance of the project description
• Quality and relevance of the methodical and theoretical choices
• Consistency and coherence between the problem and the choice of method and theory
• If the PhD project seem realistic and feasible
• Ability to complete the PhD project
• Relevance of the project to the profile of the Doctoral School
• Your project description shall be no more than 5 pages

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Anders Malthe Bach-Mortensen ([email protected]). For technical or administrative questions, please contact PhD Coordinator Ida Bruhn Bull ([email protected]).

Terms of employment
The employment is full time, 37 hours per week and you will refer to the Dean of Social Sciences Morten Frederiksen.
The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.

Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.

The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.

Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/

Only applications in English are accepted.

Applications must include:

1. Cover letter

2. CV

3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent

4. Your description of the PhD project

5. Your time schedule of the PhD project

6. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications.

Please submit your application no later than April 27, 2025.

Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.