Project Manager and Coordinator

We are seeking two Project Managers with experience in European or national research project management to support two key areas:

1. Large-scale research impact project implementation within SDU NAT's External Relations Team
2. Coordination of SDU activities for the Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education, a cross-institutional initiative funded by the Novo Nordisk, Lundbeck, and LEO Foundations.

You will be responsible for operational and administrative management across projects involving Danish and European research institutions, life science education, and data science.

The ideal candidate(s) brings hands-on experience from EU Missions initiatives, combining project coordination with data-driven reporting, stakeholder engagement, and citizen science approaches to maximize impact and uptake of project outcomes.

Your Profile
The ideal candidates have a strong background in environmental and ocean-related projects or pharmaceutical, health, or data science education initiatives and are comfortable bridging operations with analytics—supporting deliverables, monitoring progress, and translating complex data into clear insights for partners, funders, educators, and diverse stakeholder groups.

Key Responsibilities
Project and operational management:

• Implement and take responsibility for the operational management of the projects & research 
• Manage daily operations across research projects and the Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education
• Support leadership and act as an administrative contact for stakeholders at SDU, the University of Copenhagen and other organizations
• Ensure processes align with SDU rules and funder requirements
• Liaise with funding agencies, SDU administrative staff, and academic and industry partners
• Assist in internal and external communications (e.g. website, newsletters, social media)
• Support, facilitate and coordinate organizing project-related events, training schools, workshops, and meetings
• Contribute to outreach and capacity-building initiatives
• Prepare periodic and continuous scientific and financial reports
• Document project progress and ensure timely submission to funders
• Coordinate internal data collection and information sharing among partners
• Coordinate stakeholder and community engagement activities across partner organizations, including citizen science initiatives, supporting events, collaborations, and public-facing initiatives that strengthen educational impact and visibility
• Lead data collection and synthesis across partners; support evaluation, reporting, and evidence-based communications (newsletters, web, social media) using clear metrics and insights
• Contribute to policy analysis and impact evaluation to strengthen societal relevance and uptake of project results, particularly within ocean and water sustainability contexts

Required Qualifications

• A degree (preferably PhD) in molecular biology, data science, environmental science, or another relevant natural science discipline
• Experience in project coordination, administration, or research management within universities, research institutions, or consultancies
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English; Danish and other European languages are an advantage
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage multiple priorities, and meet strict deadlines
• High attention to detail and organizational skills
• Familiarity with tools such as Conference Manager and website CMS platforms
• Demonstrated experience applying data analysis and reporting skills (e.g., SPSS, GIS, qualitative analysis tools) to support decision-making, evaluation, and high-quality deliverables in research or public-interest settings
• Experience with structured, transparent ways of working and digital collaboration platforms such as Basecamp
• Experience coordinating interdisciplinary education initiatives in pharma, health, or data science, with responsibility for stakeholder engagement and communication

Desirable Experience

• Working with Danish and European funding schemes
• Organizing large-scale international events and/or EU project deliverables
• Experience with EU Mission-aligned environmental/ocean projects and international consortia coordination, including deliverables, timelines, and compliance processes
• Experience designing or supporting citizen science and public engagement activities (workshops, seminars, community partnerships) to strengthen impact and participation
• Implementing workflows and administrative systems in university settings
• Supporting education or training programs (including lifelong learning)
• Experience supporting cross-institutional collaboration and helping build an active community around education

You are enthusiastic, a team player, supportive and highly flexible to meet the variety of work. Due to the specificity of the projects and funding programmes, with strict application deadlines, and “last-minute projects” there are peak periods where you must be able and willing to work longer hours.

We offer:
We offer a motivating and exciting position with ample potential for personal development at the Faculty of Science at SDU, a faculty characterized by ambition, commitment and an informal and flexible working environment. You will also work locally in close collaboration with strong scientific environments. You will become part of the External Relations Team that bridges project management, policy intelligence, liaison with funders, capacity building, leadership support with hands on grant writing. SDU offers two full time permanent positions, an attractive work-life balance, a competitive salary with the option for qualification allowance, frequent trainings and personal development.

We strongly encourage European experts to apply for these positions. SDU and the Region of Southern Denmark provides excellent repatriation services, language courses, day-care and international schools, and a strong and growing international community. 

The External Relations Team is part of the Dean’s office with around 45 colleagues and study-administration, communication and finance teams. The science faculty consists of four Departments: Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy. The faculty hosts 500 employees and 2000 students.

Contact team leader Mikkel Girke Jørgensen (m: +4565502330; mikkelj@sdu.dk) for more information.
Expected Start Date: 15 April 2026 or soon after

Application, salary etc.
Salary and employment conditions are related to educational background and applicable collective agreements between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

To be considered for this position, please fill out an online profile and attach the following documents:

• Cover letter  
• Resume (CV) including information on previous employment with start and end dates 
• Certificates, and if possible, a list of up to three references. 

All documents in connection with the application should not contain CPR number (civil registration number) – in that case, the CPR number must be crossed out.
All attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. Cover letter and CV can contain max. 5 Mb.

We recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

About SDU
The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education or learning, we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains, develops and recruits talent. At the same time, we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities – and we can only do that with the right people. The University’s researchers, lecturers, students, managers and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.