Director of VIVE, the National Research and Analysis Center for Welfare

Do you want to lead one of Denmark's strongest interdisciplinary research and analysis environments within welfare – and ensure that solid knowledge about welfare is translated into a basis for better decisions and solutions for policymakers at national and local levels?

The National Research and Analysis Center for Welfare – VIVE – is seeking a director who can set a clear strategic direction, safeguard the center's academic independence and strengthen VIVE's position as a central supplier of applied-oriented and practice-oriented research and analysis in the welfare field.

About VIVE

VIVE was established in 2017 and today is one of Denmark's largest interdisciplinary research and analysis environments for welfare policy questions. The center develops and disseminates knowledge about the welfare areas and about societal conditions affecting the population's living conditions. A particular focus is the factors that shape citizens' lives and the interaction between citizens and the welfare state's institutions.

VIVE has about 260 employees based in Copenhagen K and Aarhus. The center is an independent government institution under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Interior and is led by a board with a chair and 14 members.

The task

As director you are VIVE's top executive and, with reference to the center's academic and research independence, have overall responsibility for professional and administrative leadership. You are responsible for the organization, staff and financing, including the revenue-funded activities, and you must, together with the board and in close cooperation with the other management and staff, ensure high-quality research and analyses with clear relevance to the surrounding society.

A central task will be to maintain and further develop VIVE’s key role in establishing knowledge-based solutions in the welfare area. You must ensure that the center's research, analyses and communication provide a strong basis for political decisions and action capacity – and that VIVE continues to be a credible, visible and relevant partner for the state, municipalities, regions, research environments and other actors in the welfare field.

You are expected to play a prominent outward-facing role and be a strong representative for VIVE. This requires you to navigate safely in the intersection between research, authorities, market and the public, develop the center's national and international relationships and communicate complex issues clearly and convincingly.

The profile – we are seeking a leader with

Academic depth and understanding of VIVE’s reality. You have a relevant social science background, substantial insight into research and analysis within public economics, administration and welfare, as well as understanding of the conditions in organizations that operate at the interface between science, market and authorities.

Organizational impact and abilities for strategic leadership. You are a prominent and unifying leader with experience from a larger public organization, including management of managers and knowledge workers. You set direction, achieve results through others and motivate strong intellectual environments with strategic vision and sound judgment.

Political understanding as well as strong relational and communication skills. You have in-depth knowledge of how municipalities, regions and the state are organized and governed in welfare areas, insight into external research funding and visibility to relevant professional environments nationally and internationally. You build trusting relationships, communicate clearly and credibly and you are a confident communicator who can handle media and the public with visibility and authority.

See the full job and competency profile.

Salary and employment terms

The director is appointed, subject to positive security clearance, under the framework agreement on contract employment of senior executives in the state. The position is classified in salary grade 3 and is filled on a permanent basis. The employing area is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Interior with the institutions attached to it at any time, regardless of geographic location.

Expected start date: March 1, 2027.

Application deadline : Wednesday, 25 November 2026

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting the department head Stig Henneberg at telephone 24 95 69 06, the chair of the board Nina Smith at telephone 61 70 12 88, partner at Muusmann, Jan Thomsen at telephone 40 40 77 19 or CEO of Muusmann, Carsten Søgaard at telephone 30 30 28 81.