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Director of Danish Institute for International Studies

At DIIS, we are looking for a unifying and visionary director with strong leadership skills. DIIS is an internationally renowned and independent research institution contributing with knowledge within international relations based on the work of its researchers covering a number of scientific disciplines. DIIS has the ambition to make an even stronger impact on academic and public debates concerning contemporary societal issues, and, in the role of director, you will be at the forefront of DIIS' visibility and impact in these important issues and in relation to its stakeholders. As the director, you will also further develop the organisation internally in cooperation with the institute's employees.

About the institute

DIIS  conducts outstanding research and dissemination on international relations of crucial importance for Denmark's role in the world. DIIS’s purpose is to strengthen independent research, analysis, commissioned studies and dissemination in Denmark within the areas of foreign, security and development policy. The institute has a host of highly profiled researchers, and through high-quality knowledge, DIIS both nuances and contributes to raising the level of knowledge within international and global politics and society.

DIIS' total revenue of around DKK 100 million includes both fixed government grants and significant external funding through competitive national and international research schemes . The institute has a total of 125 employees across five research units and five administrative units. The director refers to a board of directors consisting of representatives from a number of institutions in Denmark, see https://www.diis.dk/en/about-diis/the-institute/management.

Your role

DIIS researchers carry out basic research, policy analyses and research-based commissioned studies that are disseminated in books and journals as well as reports, analyses, evaluations and policy publications. DIIS has a special national obligation to contribute with knowledge to provide the foundation of a wide range of political decisions in Denmark. This requires impartiality, relevance, timeliness, substance and quality across all work carried out at DIIS – and you, as director, will be responsible for ensuring that the knowledge production and dissemination at DIIS meets these requirements.

You represent the institute externally and ensure close interaction with the relevant authorities – including ministries, government, and parliament – and develop relationships with relevant research environments and institutions both at home and abroad.

Overall, as director, you take care of the professional, administrative, financial and personnel management of DIIS. This means that, among other things, you must ensure:

  • National and international visibility of DIIS and its researchers and professional environments.
  • Synergy and coherence in a large institute with different professional environments.
  • A good working environment through your presence and authentic leadership, including, for example, working to find a good balance between the obligations of research, analysis and knowledge dissemination and creating fluent workflows across administrative areas.
  • The recruitment of skilled professional and research profiles and ensuring talent development at both junior and senior levels through, among other things, good and clear career paths.
  • Effective and inclusive leadership on all levels, clear boundaries and well-functioning workflows.

A brief description of the candidate profile for director, as well as DIIS' leadership basis, strategy, etc., can be requested by contacting the recruitment agency.

We are looking for

A skilled and insightful leader with high personal integrity and a sense of building strong relationships both internally and externally. We expect you to be well acquainted with leadership in a research environment and to have a professional background in the social sciences or humanities. You must be willing to articulate the major current agendas, be visionary and able to strengthen international research and public sector consultancy – based on a vision and extensive insight into international politics and security and development policy, as well as Danish governance and policymaking.

Furthermore, it is important to us that you have:

  • The ability to create good cohesion and a fruitful working environment in an organisation with self-directed employees.
  • An interest and eye for talent development and for creating attractive professional environments.
  • The ability to think and work strategically in research and have an insight into the role of research in its interaction with wider society.
  • The ability to work to promote employee well-being as well as professional and personal development.
  • The willingness and ability both to involve the institute's employees proactively in the development of the institute and to make and implement visible and legitimate decisions.
  • Experience with finance, administration and leadership from a relevant institution.
  • Distinct and good communication skills, including Danish/Scandinavian as a working language.

You find your energy both in making things succeed internally and in being the outward-looking relationship builder who can move effortlessly at all levels while creating and maintaining relationships with important partners. 

Further information

The appointment is for a 5-year term with the possibility of an extension for up to 3 further years. The expected start date is approx. 1 September 2023.

The position is classified in salary group 2 (equivalent to salary grade 38) in accordance with the framework agreement for the contractual employment of managers in the state. The employment takes place in accordance with The Ministry of Finance's circular on fixed-term employment in the state. If relevant, employment as Senior Researcher or Senior Analyst at DIIS maybe negotiated after the expiry of the term.

If you have any questions about the position, you are very welcome to contact board chairperson Henrik Halkier (+45 2076 2004 / halkier@ikl.aau.dk) or director Jan Thomsen from Ramsdal Executive (+45 4040 7719 / jth@ramsdalgruppen.dk), who is assisting DIIS in the recruitment process. Additional material regarding the position can be requested by contacting Jan Thomsen.

Applications are made by uploading a motivated application, CV and any relevant attachments to DIIS' recruitment system no later than 1 May 2023.

Applicants are kindly asked to take note of the interview dates; initial interviews on 24 May 2023 and in-depth interviews on 12 June 2023.

DIIS considers diversity a strength and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply for the position regardless of personal background and orientation.