Deputy Director for the Agency for Education and Research

At the Danish Agency for Education and Research, we help create the framework for knowledge, research and education to shape the future and create value for society. At the same time, we have a major responsibility to ensure that state subsidies of just under DKK 40 billion for higher education, research and innovation are administered correctly, efficiently and with an eye to the value they should create. We are seeking a deputy director who will lead a central area across research, innovation and education.

You will play a central role in creating coherence, setting direction and ensuring results in a complex and broad sector.

About the position

As our new deputy director you will lead a broad professional area with responsibility for supervision, governance, guidance and implementation across research, innovation and education. You will have a central role in translating strategy and reforms into strong operations, creating coherence and building on an exciting organization.

You will as part of this be responsible for central governance and implementation tasks, including follow-up on major initiatives and politically decided reforms, as well as the governance of the entire higher education sector, as well as GTS institutes and public funds in the research and innovation area.

The area also includes the agency’s overall expertise in quality assurance, accreditation and recognition of educational programs, as well as a number of cross-cutting legal tasks, including handling of complaints, legality supervision and interpretation and maintenance of rules. Geographically, the accounts are distributed across addresses in Copenhagen and Holbæk.

A substantial part of your task is to set direction for strong and uniform task solving across disciplines and ensure close coordination with the Ministry of Research, Education and Digitalisation, universities, university colleges and the business and industry sectors as well as other central partners and stakeholders.

The Danish Agency for Education and Research has just undergone a comprehensive organizational change, which is to strengthen coherence across disciplines and create a clearer organization of the agency’s tasks. As deputy director you will therefore play a central role in taking the new organization from design to operation. This includes, among other things, leading the establishment of new offices and the creation of new collaborative work forms, working relationships and professional environments. You must also ensure continuity and support continued high professional quality in task execution.

You will join a well-functioning executive board and, together with a strong team of skilled and experienced leaders, be responsible for daily operations and a number of cross-cutting strategic development tasks for the Danish Agency for Education and Research.

You will report to the Director of the Danish Agency for Education and Research. We expect you to play a central role in the continued development of the group and the entire ministry area.

Further information about the agency’s and the ministry’s organization and tasks can be found at ufsn.dk.

Are you our new deputy director?

We expect that you

• Have substantial leadership experience at a strategic level and with working in a politically governed organization.
• Can see solutions and navigate complex issues while providing clear direction for an organization undergoing change.
• Have high work capacity, good overview and sound judgement.
• Set a high professional standard and create the framework for an organization where both employees and leaders develop.
• Have good judgement and are adept at building well-functioning relationships and trusting collaboration internally and externally.

Salary and terms of employment

You will be employed in the Ministry of Research, Education and Digitalisation’s group according to the applicable framework agreement on the appointment of managers in the state. The position is classified in salary grade 2 (corresponding to pay grade 38), and the appointment will be on a permanent basis. There is an opportunity to negotiate allowances that match your qualifications.

It is a condition of employment that you can obtain a security clearance, and you must be able to maintain the security clearance throughout your employment.

Questions may be directed to the Director of the Danish Agency for Education and Research, Julie Lungholt, at phone number 72 31 83 15 or HR Manager Kristiane Thorius at 72 31 79 79.

Apply for the position

Click the “apply for the position” button or apply via our website ufsn.dk. We must have your application no later than 2 November 2026.

We expect to conduct two rounds of interviews. We expect the first round in week 46 and the second round in week 48. Between the first and second rounds, personality testing and logical testing will be conducted, and case work may be used in connection with the employment interviews. References will be requested prior to employment.

Equality in all its aspects is important. Therefore, all interested are encouraged to apply regardless of ethnic origin, religion, gender, age and similar factors.