Assistant or Associate Professor in Social Work Professions and Organizing Social Services

At the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Society and Politics, a position as Assistant or Associate Professor in Social Work and Organizing Social Services is available from 1 february 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position offers an opportunity to strengthen research and teaching on professional organizations related to social work and organizational aspects of practice in social services and welfare systems that shape social work.

Your work tasks

As Assistant or Associate Professor in Social Work and Organizing Social Services at the Department of Society and Politics, Campus Aalborg, you will contribute to developing and consolidating the department’s research and teaching activities within the interplay between organizing and social work. You will join the Organizational Sociology Research Group (OrgSoc) or one of the research groups organized in The Section for Social Work.

Your research may examine questions related to social work and organizing social services using theories from organization sociology, social work, and social science related to professional practice. For instance, you may focus on:

Institutional and systems change; e.g. how institutions such as Social Work are changing and with which implications for professionals’ discretion and responsibility Leadership, organizational change processes and how user innovation happens in/across professional organizations and practices related to social work Technology, work and organizing in social services: e.g., implications of technology implementation for decision-making processes, learning, emotional aspects of social work, or social inequity

You will contribute to strengthening the department’s national and international research profile through high-quality publications, participation in research communities, and collaboration with relevant partners in the practice field. You will also contribute to the development and implementation of externally funded research projects.

Your teaching activities will include course planning, teaching, supervision, examinations and feedback, primarily within the Bachelor of Social Work programme and the Master of Social Work programme. You will supervise students at bachelor’s and master’s level and contribute to the continued development and quality assurance of the study programmes. You will take part in the department’s shared academic and administrative responsibilities, including relevant committee work.

Your Competencies

We are looking for candidates with a strong academic profile within organizing and social work and with an interest in contributing to research and teaching in social work and the organization of social services.

If you apply for the position as Assistant Professor

You hold a relevant PhD degree within the social sciences or a closely related field, or have academic qualifications at PhD level, and demonstrate a clear research profile or research potential within organizing and social work. You are able to connect theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches and empirical studies of welfare organisations and/or social work practices.

You have a solid understanding of social work and the organisational and institutional conditions that frame professional practices in social services. This includes knowledge of how decisions are made in social work, the use of professional discretion, and the ethical, legal and organisational dilemmas that arise when social workers meet citizens in frontline practice.

In the assessment of applicants for the position as Assistant Professor, emphasis will be placed on your research potential and pedagogical qualifications, as well as your experience with teaching and supervision. Experience with research projects, collaboration with relevant research communities and engagement with the practice field will be considered an advantage.

If you apply for the position as Associate Professor

You hold a relevant PhD degree within the social sciences or a closely related field and have a clear and coherent research profile within organizing and social work. You can document research at an international standard and demonstrate how your research contributes knowledge relevant to social work practice, the organizing, leadership and development of social service organizations, policy development and/or society.

You have a solid understanding of social work and the organisational and institutional conditions that frame professional practices in social services. This includes knowledge of how decisions are made in social work, the use of professional discretion, and the ethical, legal and organisational dilemmas that arise when social workers meet citizens in frontline practice. You can address these questions analytically in your research and teaching and support students in understanding the complex realities of social work.

You can document experience with research projects, collaboration with relevant research communities and engagement with the practice field. You have experience of publishing in recognized academic outlets and contributing to collaborative research environments. You can contribute to the development of external research funding applications and communicate research-based knowledge clearly to academic colleagues, students and relevant societal actors.

Appointment as Associate Professor requires research and teaching qualifications at the level that can be achieved through the satisfactory completion of a period of employment as an Assistant Professor, although equivalent qualifications may also be obtained in other ways. You are expected to have received supervision and pedagogical skills development and to have obtained a positive written assessment of your teaching qualifications.

For both positions

You are able to contribute to teaching and supervision at bachelor’s and master’s level and to plan and deliver teaching that supports students’ learning and engagement with complex social work and organisational questions. Teaching is generally conducted in Danish, and you must therefore be able to read students’ written work in Danish. Familiarity with Problem-Based Learning is relevant, as Aalborg University’s educational approach centres on students working with real-world problems in collaboration with researchers and practice partners.

As a colleague, you combine independent academic judgement with a collaborative approach to research, teaching and shared responsibilities. You communicate clearly with students and colleagues, contribute constructively to academic dialogue and take responsibility for a respectful and inclusive learning environment.

Who we are

The Department of Society and Politics at the Faculty of Social Sciences brings together several strong research disciplines within the social sciences. We pursue research at a high international level while developing knowledge that informs policy, improves practice and contributes to societal development.

The department offers Denmark’s only university-based Bachelor of Social Work programme. We educate social workers who can navigate complex organisational contexts, welfare systems and professional collaborations. The Bachelor and Master of Social Work programmes are closely connected to current research in organisational sociology and social work and to ongoing collaboration with the social work field. This gives you an opportunity to bring your research into dialogue with students, professionals and organisations working with central welfare challenges.

You will join a collegial community where researchers and teachers work together to develop study programmes, research projects and external partnerships. We value careful academic dialogue, engaged teaching and a constructive working environment. You will have the opportunity to shape your own research agenda while contributing to shared initiatives and responsibilities. We expect you to participate actively in the everyday academic life of the department in Aalborg, including meetings, seminars and other academic activities

How to apply

The documentation required depends on whether you apply for the position as Assistant Professor or Associate Professor. You can only apply for one of the positions. You need to indicate clearly in your application which positions you are applying for.

Your application must include the following

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma)
• List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment.

For the position as assistant professor you may attach a maximum of five publications.

For the position as associate professor you may attach a maximum of ten publications.

• Documentation of teaching qualifications. Please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities . If this is not enclosed, the applicant must enclose the reasons for this .
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc.
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position
• References/recommendations

You can read more about the requirements for your application here .

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

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Policy of parallel language: Assistant professor

Aalborg University has a policy of parallel language use. International staff are encouraged, with support from the university, to learn Danish during their employment in order to support their integration into the workplace and Danish society.

Danish language courses will be offered as part of the employment.

Policy of parallel language: Associate professor

Aalborg University has a policy of parallel language use. The successful applicant is expected, with support from the university, to acquire Danish language skills over time and to be able to contribute to teaching in Danish within 2–5 years of employment, including grading and supervising students, at a level corresponding to the teaching undertaken.

Danish language courses will be offered as part of the employment.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information

Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here .

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employment

The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Furthermore, your terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities.

You can find information about the salary and salary structure for the position in the Salary Overview for Recruitment - Scientific positions (VIP ). Please refer to the introductory section of the page and the section entitled “Assistant professor” and “Associate professor”.

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world

Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.