Head of Research and Development for Health and Society

Would you lead four research centres and set the strategic direction for practice-oriented research in health and society?

As the Research and Development Manager for Health and Society at VIA University College you will be responsible for an area with engaged researchers whose work addresses central challenges for the welfare state.

You will lead and develop the common professional direction, support the center leaders and strengthen the connection between research, education and practice. The position includes people management, organizational development and external representation.

At VIA we offer

• Opportunity to shape the professional and strategic development of Health and Society
• A leadership space where you will consolidate the area after an organizational change and create clear frameworks for the four centers
• A close collaboration with the R&D Director, line managers and key partners across VIA

Key tasks in the position include

• set the direction for Health and Society, prioritize strategic initiatives and monitor results
• lead and develop the four center directors individually and collectively and have personnel responsibility for two management partners and a project coordinator.
• strengthen collaboration between the centers and develop a common leadership practice
• strengthen the interplay between research and VIA's education areas
• actively participate in the overall R&D leadership in close collaboration with the R&D Director and other R&D managers
• develop external partnerships and more robust funding as well as increase the visibility of the area’s research

Your background

We are looking for a leader who can set a clear direction while allowing space for strong professional expertise. You can prioritize, build buy-in and translate decisions into action in an organization with many collaboration interfaces.

We imagine that you

• have a relevant higher education degree in health, society or a related field, plus a PhD
• have solid experience in people management. Experience in leading leaders is an advantage
• have experience with strategic leadership and can translate ambitions into priorities and results
• are clear and persistent, even when interests and expectations pull in different directions
• create collaboration across disciplines and organizational units
• have an eye for external partnerships and funding and can represent the area with professional weight

We look forward to hearing from you

Application, CV, certificates and any other relevant material should be uploaded to Mercuri Urval’s website here:

Research and Development Manager for Health and Society - Mercuri Urval

Application deadline is 25 October 2026 at 23:59. We plan to hold initial interviews on 2 November 2026 and follow-up interviews on 16 November 2026. The interviews will be held in Aarhus. A personality test and a cognitive test are included between interviews. Start date is expected 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

If you want to know more about the position, you can confidentially contact the Research and Development Director Helle Kryger Aggerholm at [email protected] or telephone 87 55 39 90, or senior consultant Line Renate Hanssen, Mercuri Urval, at [email protected] or telephone 51 67 13 40. Read also the detailed material here .

WE ARE VIA

VIA is one of Denmark’s largest educational institutions with locations across the Central Denmark Region. We educate and upskill, among others, teachers, nurses, engineers, designers and many more. We develop education in close collaboration with practice. We are a workplace with flexibility, freedom and good opportunities for development. If you are curious about what it is like to work at VIA, you can read some of our stories here .

In VIA we value competence and talent in all forms. We believe in the strength of diversity and welcome everyone regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or background. We therefore encourage everyone to apply for the position and become part of an inclusive community.

Read more about VIA University College at www.via.dk

Read information about the use of personal data in connection with recruitment on this link:  https://via.career.emply.com/persondatapolitik