Aarhus University is seeking a head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences

Shape the Future: Exciting Opportunity to Head Aarhus University's Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics! The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics is an internationally highly recognized department with a strong international profile.

We are looking for a new head of department and a leader who can ensure a strong focus on securing a high quality and coherence, in research, teaching, talent development, collaboration and innovation at the department.
Aarhus University (AU) is research-intensive with a high national and international impact. Moreover, AU supports study programmes and research-based consultancies of high academic quality. Finally, AU has a sharp focus on close collaboration with the business community, the public sector, and internally between researchers across AU departments.
Your responsibilities
You will be the AU-internal and external representative of the department, and under the authority of the AU rector and the dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, you will be in charge of academic, financial and personnel-related matters, including the planning and allocation of job responsibilities.

You will be responsible for drawing up strategy and action plans for research and education at the department, with a particular focus on active contributions to interdisciplinary research across traditional academic boundaries, both within the department, and with the other departments and centres at the faculty and beyond.

You will implement the visions of the department in contributing to shape the university of the future through the further development of the department's profile as an attractive and inspirational research, work and study environment. In doing so, you will help attract the best employees, PhD students, students and partners from Denmark and abroad.

You will maintain a focus on strategic management, financial responsibility, and good HR management. For this, you will be supported by a professional and specialized administrative support function at both department and faculty levels.
You will refer to the dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and you will be a member of the faculty management board. The faculty management board has the overall responsibility of the Faculty of Natural Sciences’ departments and centres and you are expected to contribute to the overall development of the faculty, and for securing the faculty in achieving its goals and being managed as a coherent and well-functioning organization.

You are expected to be abel to read and understand Danish whitin 2 years.
Your leadership style and personality

• You are a motivational and unifying leader who understands how to manage a complex organisation with many stakeholders.
• You have the authority to secure organisational cohesion between academic environments.
• You are visionary and strategic, with an eye for the future needs of our society for research and education.
• You are capable of generating synergy and you are a strong bridge-builder across disciplines and in close collaboration with the outside world.
• You have personal authority and integrity.
• You are skilled at creating a good collaborative environment and strengthening collaboration across the organisation, which you will use both within the department, and towards other relevant departments as well as within the faculty management board.
• You communicate clearly and credibly (in both Danish and English) with respect for others and with propriety.
• You are a loyal management colleague and team player, and you are aware of your personal responsibilities and authority.
• You value a healthy physical and psychological working environment and know how to work to secure these.
• You have a focus on competency development among the personnel.

Your experience and academic competences

• You have solid experience within the university sector and academic environments.
• You have several years of management experience, and you have a genuine interest in personnel management of scientific, technical, and administrative staff.
• You are an internationally recognised researcher.
• You have a profound interest and experience in teaching and education.
• You have shown strategic management skills, e.g. via fundraising and recruitment.
• You have insight into national and international trends in the research areas at the department.

AU has active focus on gender diversity, equity and inclusion, and applicants are expected to have an interest in working with this part of the culture and to have constructive suggestions for how to attract, include and develop talents from underrepresented groups.
The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
The main tasks of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics are to teach research-based degree programmes at the BSc, MSc and PhD levels; to conduct high-impact research at an international level; to exchange knowledge with businesses and industries, and to disseminate research activities and results to the public.

At the department research ranges from basic to applied within molecular biology and genetics, and the educational programmes are within the areas of molecular biology, molecular medicine and bioinformatics.. The department is organised into six research sections (bioinformatics; cellular health, intervention and nutrition; plant molecular biology, neurobiology; protein science; and RNA biology and innovation): Within these sections the department houses several interdisciplinary centres and centres of excellence. Departmental research is often collaborative between local laboratories as well as with other research groups within Denmark and abroad.
The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics strives to ensure that new knowledge generated by its researchers is efficiently communicated to a wider group of our society and when relevant leads to the development of new products and technologies. This is for example reflected in the collaboration of the department with companies, the filing of patents, its stimulation of start-up entrepreneurship, its industrial PhDs and its active interaction with secondary school pupils as well as dissemination of knowledge to the general public by the Department.
The department consists of approximately 150 academic staff, 70 technical and administrative staff, 80 PhD students and 400 bachelor and master’s students.

The department's activities are primarily located at Universitetsbyen, 8000 Aarhus C and the place of employment will be in Aarhus.
Read more about the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics here.
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Aarhus University is recognized as one of the world´s best universities, and the Faculty of Natural Sciences has serval internationally leading research environments. The ambition is to enhance the faculty´s position of strength as well as to develop new ones – in interaction with the outside world and across disciplines. The faculty´s primary activities cover research, education and business collaboration within the fields of biology, physics, chemistry, geology, mathematics, computer science, molecular biology and nanoscience.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences has strong and international basic research environments that address major societal challenges. There is also a proud tradition of communicating scientific contexts and insights to policymakers and the general public. The faculty comprises seven departments, a department-like center, a graduate school, and several research centers. There is also a number of interdisciplinary centers and initiatives across Aarhus University. The Faculty of Natural Sciences is one of five faculties at Aarhus University and has approx. 3,300 students and 1,400 employees. Learn more at www.nat.au.dk
Appointment procedure
If you have any questions regarding the position, you are welcome to contact: The dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Birgit Schiøtt at email: [email protected] or mobile: +45 2982 6882 or Senior Recruitment Consultant from Actief Hartmanns Erik Bernskov at e-mail: [email protected] or mobile: +45 4121 1329.

You are welcome to send your thoughts and ideas regarding the department's development over the next few years in your application, along with your CV and a list of your publications.

The recruitment takes place in collaboration with Actief Hartmanns, and preliminary interviews with the senior recruitment consultant are held in week 27. Interviews with the appointment committee are planned for week 32 (1st interview) and possibly in week 34 (2nd interview).
Applicants invited for a second interview will be expected to participate in a leadership profile test after the first interview.

According to the University Act and the university's by-laws, the employment procedure must ensure that the head of department has academic and managerial legitimacy. Therefore, an advisory committee has been set up to advise the Dean on which candidates are to be invited to an interview. The advisory committee consists of academic staff, technical/administrative staff, and students.

Application deadline: 11 June 2024
Expected start date: 1 October 2024

Formalities and salary range
Employment is on terms under collective agreements and subject to the collective agreements for academics employed by the state concluded between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC), including the circular on heads of department and deans at the universities.

The employment is a fixed-term appointment in accordance with the principles in the circular on limited tenure in the Danish state. The tenure is for three to six years, and with the option of extension for up to a further three years.

An agreement on a scientific fallback employment option is possible.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equity and diversity as assets, and all interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Aarhus University is a signatory of the Danish government’s charter regarding the appointment of more women in management. Both women and men are encouraged to apply. No one will have priority, and all applicants will be assessed in accordance with the requirement profile for the position.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Department: Molekylærbiologi og Genetik, Inst./Molecular Biology and Genetics, Dept. of

Deadline: 11 June 2024

Location: Aarhus C Universitetsbyen 81