Videnskabelig Assistent - Project Management and Stakeholder Relations: Corporate Heritage Communication

SDU Center for Organizing Social Sustainability is excited to announce a research assistant position in the field of (business) communication / cultural studies. Application deadline 17th February 2025 at 12.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST).
SDU Center for Organizing Social Sustainability is excited to announce a research assistant position in the field of (business) communication / cultural studies. The research program is located at the University of Southern Denmark, Department of Design, Media and Educational Science. The campus is located in Sønderborg, directly at the beach side.

We are offering the opportunity to manage a regional part of a EU project on cultural / corporate heritage and sustainable tourism. We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to be a part of the EU-funded HORIZON project led by Associate Professor Klarissa Lueg (VERNE - The one-stop-shop of accessible circular solutions for sustainable tourism).

The research assistant will take on a responsible, managing role for the implementation of the project. The candidate will join our interdisciplinary team, representing business studies, sociology, communication studies and history, inter alia. The research assistant will be affiliated with the “Center for Organizing Social Sustainability” and invited to attend its meetings, workshops and to make use of the given publication and development structures.

Short presentation of the project:
The successful candidate will be employed to conduct a large case study and pilot development in the Danish-German border region. They will focus on corporate heritage communication and how to make corporate history and heritage accessible to tourists in a sustainable way. They will initiate contact with local and regional companies and other stakeholders and motivate them to install corporate museums. The candidate will help corporations to leverage their own history and stakeholder relations as cultural attractions. The project maps corporate heritage tourism destinations, emphasizing the overlooked cultural richness in rural areas. The applicant will work with the ‘micro-museum concept’ (Lueg), that incorporates existing and recycled materials, and aligns with circular economy principles. The candidate will develop a non-profit business model for corporate museums and gather data for an accompanying app, which will be developed by another project member.

Overall, the HORIZON project seeks to improve the European tourism sector by transitioning regional tourist destinations toward sustainable and circular economy models.

Ideally, the successful applicant

• Is interested in working in the Danish-German Sønderjylland-Schleswig region. Any form of previous connection to the region as well as knowledge of its history and social life is highly welcome.
• Is highly proficient in at least two of these languages: English, Danish, German. A good command of all three languages is desirable.
• is interested and knowledgeable in the topics sustainability, circular economy, cultural tourism and corporate heritage / museum development (or willing to acquire this knowledge)
• holds a relevant higher education degree (e.g., in cultural studies, design, sociology, business studies)
• is highly professional in interacting with regional and local stakeholders, such as company representatives, agencies, NGOs and business associations
• has an interest in (micro) museum design/development and an eye for design
• is knowledgeable of business model development (or can acquire this knowledge)
• is interested in both in-depths research and applied, cooperative work
• is highly communicative and network-oriented
• is willing to travel to European destinations in order to present and workshop the project with our European partners
• has an interest in academic research and publishing, ideally experience in this field

The position (67,7%, with a 25 hours week) shall ideally start by April 1st, 2025, and will last until 31.10.2027. A different workload per week can be negotiated (up to 30 hours/week; 80%), in this case, the lengths of employment would be adjusted. The place of employment will be the University of Southern Denmark, campus Sønderborg.

For inquiries about the position, feel free to contact Associate Professor Klarissa Lueg at [email protected].

Application, salary and conditions of employment
The employment as research assistant is temporary. Employment stops automatically by the end of the period.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations), Cirkulære om overenskomst for Akademikere i staten 2024 (the document only exists in Danish).

Applications should be sent electronically via the link "apply online". The faculty expects applicants to read the information “How to apply” before applying.

The application must include:

• Cover letter summarizing how your qualifications will contribute to the project (max. 2 pages)
• Curriculum Vitae with applicant's e-mail and phone number
• Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/diploma, references etc.)
• If applicable: Complete list of publications indicating the publications attached
• A coherent commentary on all the desired qualifications described in this job ad (max. 2 pages)

Application and all appendices must be in Danish or English. Please always include a copy of original diploma/certificates. We only accept files in pdf-format [KL1] no more than 10 MB per file. In case you have more than one file per field you need to combine the pdf-files into a single file, as each field handles only one file. We do not accept zip-files, jpg or other image files. All pdf-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

The assessment process
Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee and the applicant will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns him/her. The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.

If the application does not meet the requirements mentioned above, the faculty may reject your application without further notice. Applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

Shortlisting and tests may be used in the assessment process. You can find more information about shortlisting at SDU on our website Assessment of applicants for academic staff positions. Please note that only a shortlisted applicant will receive an assessment.

We recommend that as an international applicant, you take the time to visit Work in Denmark where you will find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.

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

Application deadline 17th February 2025 at 12.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST).

Placering: Sønderborg, Denmark