Chief Administrative Officer with a strong financial profile for Design School Kolding

Do you want to lead the finance and administration at a smaller higher education institution with short decision-making processes and high ambitions? As Chief Administrative Officer you will be responsible for ensuring professional financial management and a cohesive administration that supports the school's core tasks and development.

You will become a close sparring partner for the rector and will play a central role in collaboration across Finance, Study Administration & IT, and Facilities.

About the position

You will have overall responsibility for the school's financial management and administration, including budgeting, financial follow-up, reporting, project economics, and fundraising.

You will have personnel responsibility for the staff in the finance department as well as the heads of Study Administration & IT and Facilities. The two heads have the professional and daily responsibility for their respective areas, while you ensure coordination, prioritization, and follow-up across them.

You will report to the rector, be part of the rectorate and participate in the board as needed.

Your key tasks

• Lead and develop the school's financial management and administration
• Ensure budgeting, financial follow-up, financial planning and reporting
• Ensure correct administration and compliance with applicable grant and accounting rules
• Have overall responsibility for project economics, including externally funded projects
• Contribute to fundraising and development of new funding opportunities
• Lead the finance department as well as the heads of Study Administration & IT and Facilities
• Ensure coordination and prioritization across the administrative areas
• Drive digitalization and automation of administrative processes and systems
• Prepare financial and administrative matters for the rectorate and the board
• Represent the school in relevant networks, committees and reference groups

Experience and education

We are seeking a Chief Administrative Officer with solid experience in financial management, administration and leadership. You combine strategic overview with a solid understanding of operations and can translate goals and decisions into clear priorities and well-functioning processes.

You have a relevant higher education degree, e.g. in economics, administration, social sciences or management. Experience from a public or self-governing institution is an advantage, just as familiarity with education, research or culture sectors will be relevant.

The essential thing is that you have documented leadership experience, a strong financial understanding and experience in creating development across administrative areas.

We envision that you

• have solid experience with financial management, budgeting and reporting
• have documented experience with personnel management and preferably management of managers
• have knowledge of public or other rule-based financial management
• understand project economics and preferably experience with fundraising
• can set direction, prioritize and follow up
• give professional leaders a clear mandate and space to take on their responsibilities
• have experience with digitalization and development of administrative processes
• work analytically, structured and holistically
• make well-founded decisions and communicate them clearly
• build constructive relationships and collaborate across borders
• can work in both Danish and English in writing and speech

We offer

• A central leadership position with influence on the school's financial and administrative development
• A close collaboration with the rector, the rectorate, the board and the administrative managers
• Opportunity to develop the school's financial management, processes and digital solutions
• An organization with short decision paths and the possibility to quickly translate decisions into action
• A professional working community with different perspectives and an informal tone
• Flexible working hours with the possibility of home office

Designskolen Kolding is a smaller organization with short distances between management, administration, teachers, researchers and students. This provides good opportunities to create visible results and to follow initiatives from decision to implementation.

Employment terms and application

This is a full-time position. The position is not covered by the rules on maximum tenure, and the working hours are arranged with regard to the position's responsibilities and tasks.

The position is to be filled on 1 November 2026 or as soon as possible, and we conduct interviews on an ongoing basis.

Send your application, CV and exam papers via the indicated link no later than 19 October 2026 .

We do not process applications received by email.

The employment is made according to the applicable agreement for managers at institutions within teaching, education and research under the Ministry of Education and Research. The specific salary is determined on the basis of qualifications and experience.

References will be collected as part of the recruitment process.

Further information

If you would like to hear more about the position, you are welcome to contact the rector Carina Christensen at email [email protected].

About Designskolen Kolding

Designskolen Kolding is a higher artistic education and research institution with a focus on design, innovation and sustainability. We operate in the intersection of technology, business and society and show how design can create value and solutions to the challenges of our time.

We view diversity as an asset and encourage all qualified candidates - regardless of personal background - to apply. Together we can shape the future of design with different perspectives and shared ambitions.

Read more at www.dskd.dk