Scientific Manager, Education & Outreach

Are you passionate about driving social and behavioural change and facilitate societal engagement in the green transition? Do you share our vision that interdisciplinary research and education across humanities/social and natural sciences are instrumental for the green transition of society? And do you have a strong background in research on green societal change? If so, you might be just the person we are looking for to join us.

In the Education & Outreach department we aim to promote scientific literacy, inspire the next generation of scientists, and support society in the green transition. We believe that in addition to natural and technical solutions, a successful green transition also needs to build on societal engagement. Hence, we aim to support the development of positive visions for a sustainable future and the buildup of individual and collective capacity for sustainable change.

The Job

You will join a dedicated and ambitious team of colleagues who lead grant awarding, support excellent research and development, and develop impactful projects together with our key stakeholders internally and externally. You will be responsible for further developing the Foundation’s project portfolio within research, education, and societal engagement to support the green transition in society.

Key responsibilities:

• Contribute to, or drive idea generation and project development of stand-alone grants and thematic open calls within social and behavioural change and societal engagement related to the green transition
• Participate in cross-departmental project teams developing initiatives related to interdisciplinary education and/or social sciences and humanities research in relation to the green transition/green tripartite
• Build and drive key stakeholder relations and activities with external stakeholders engaged in the green transition, including the recent Danish green tripartite agreement
• Prepare and deliver documents for our internal portfolio board and the Foundation’s Board of Directors
• Manage granted projects, including evaluation of progress of the projects in relation to an agreed impact framework
• Facilitate committee meetings and interact with committee members regarding scientific content

About you

Ideally, you are passionate about sustainability and the green transition of society, have a strong background in scientific research, and possess excellent project management skills. You have a master’s degree in social sciences/humanities, or a natural science subject combined with a PhD including social and/or behavioural sciences as a strong component.

You have:

• 2+ years of working experience (on top of your PhD) within sustainability from social sciences/humanities or interdisciplinary perspective
• Knowledge and understanding of the higher education and research ecosystem in Denmark
• Knowledge and understanding of societal dimensions of the green transition, preferably including knowledge of economics of green transition
• Project management skills and ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously
• Fluency in English, oral and written, and working knowledge in Danish (reading and basic writing)
• Experience from an international working environment

To thrive in this role, it is crucial that you are:

• Professionally ambitious, quality-conscious, and impact oriented
• Able to make independent decisions and provide input on issues relating to project development, administration and communication
• Proactive and has a structured approach to problem-solving
• Intellectually open-minded, disciplined, and resilient
• Possess strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain professional relationships
• A team player

Work at the Novo Nordisk Foundation

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

• on important projects that improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet.  
• with key actors within research and development in Denmark and internationally.
• and as part of a dedicated team that is passionate about creating impact.

Application and Information

For more information, please contact Senior Vice President Berith Bjørnholm at [email protected]. We encourage you to upload your application as soon as possible and no later than 3 April 2025. Planned start date is 1 August 2025.

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.

In the coming years, the Foundation will broaden its scope and increase its grants for scientific, humanitarian, and social purposes, including solving the climate crisis and developing tomorrow’s food production. As a consequence, we are a growing organisation, which means new job openings and exciting opportunities for employees to be part of forming the future of the Foundation.