Scientific Manager - Food Science (Maternity cover)

The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Food Biotech team is looking for a 10-12-months maternity cover for the position as Scientific Manager. We are looking for a candidate with a food technology background, with experience and competences within the health and/or nutritional sciences. Experience in interdisciplinary projects- and collaboration together with know-how on building partnerships is an advantage.

Biotech is a strategic programme area in the Novo Nordisk Foundation with the aim of advancing research and technology within biotechnology, agriculture, and food sciences. Our aspiration is to promote the development of a more sustainable society by supporting advancements that benefit people and sustainability, including activities that enable sustainable foods for healthy diets.

The Biotech area currently consists of 17 creative, diverse, and passionate colleagues working in teams. The Scientific Manager will become part of the Food team, where we strive for the highest quality in our work and give each other feedback in a trust-based working environment. We value creativity, common inspiration, teamwork, and a relaxed collegial atmosphere.

The Job

As Scientific Manager you will, together with colleagues and key external partners at universities, research centres, and companies, contribute to the development of research projects and programmes to be granted by the Foundation for the benefit of people, society and the planet. You will contribute to building and managing the Biotech Food Team portfolio of projects, and you will support the grant holders during their project to ensure impact. In the role, you will particularly collaborate across the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s two key strategic areas Sustainability and Health.

Your tasks will include:

• Project management, including day-to-day operations and implementation of projects
• Science-based evaluation and development of strategic research projects within sustainable food for healthy diets
• Prepare documents and presentations for the management and board meetings
• Manage internal as well as external stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and NGO’s
• Participation in relevant events and conferences

Professional Qualifications

To be a good fit for this job, you must thrive working with project management activities across projects and organisations in collaboration with colleagues and external stakeholders.

We envisage that you hold a PhD degree in food science or related discipline with experience and competences with the health- or nutritional sciences. You have minimum 3-5 years of relevant work experience in academia and/or the industry, alternatively from a private or public institution, having focused on food and health.

Preferably you have:

• Good project management skills and ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously.
• Experience in interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration.
• Understanding of the Danish and international academic community.
• Fluent English language oral and written.

Personal Qualifications

We are looking for a Scientific Manager with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain good relations and partnerships. The candidate should be a team-player, though be able to work independently and make decisions on issues related to administration of grants, projects, and communication. Beyond this, we are looking for a Scientific Manager who is:

• Professional, quality-conscious, and impact-oriented
• Good in seeing the “bigger picture” and to identify opportunities across disciplines
• Intellectually quick and curious
• Interested in making a difference and creating impact

Work at Novo Nordisk Foundation

We offer a committed and professional workplace in which we emphasize ensuring that our colleagues thrive, are challenged and have opportunities to develop their potential. A career at the Novo Nordisk Foundation gives you the opportunity to work: 

• on important projects that benefit society; 
• with key actors within research and development in Denmark;
• and be part of a dedicated team that is passionate about creating value for society.

Application and Information

For more information, please contact Senior Scientific Lead Sisse Marquina-Jongberg on email ([email protected]). We encourage you to upload your application as soon as possible and no later than 25 September 2024.

The expected start date for this position is by the end of the year and will be agreed upon during the recruitment process.

To apply, please upload your CV, cover letter, and University transcripts by clicking on the “Apply” button.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation 

Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.