Head of Research and Development for Health and Society

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

As Chief Research and Development Officer for Health and Society at VIA University College you will be responsible for an area with engaged researchers whose work tackles central challenges for the welfare society.

You will lead and develop the shared professional direction, support the centre leaders and strengthen the connection between research, education and practice. The position includes both 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 centres
• A close collaboration with the R&D Director, senior colleagues and key partners across VIA

Key responsibilities in the position include

• setting the direction for Health and Society, prioritising strategic initiatives and following up on results
• leading and developing the four centre leaders individually and collectively and having line management responsibility for two leadership partners and a project coordinator.
• strengthening collaboration between the centres and developing a shared leadership practice
• strengthening the interaction between research and VIA’s education areas
• actively participating in the overall R&D leadership in close collaboration with the R&D Director and other R&D managers
• developing external partnerships and a more robust financing as well as increasing the visibility of the area’s research

Your background

We are looking for a manager who can set a clear direction and at the same time give space to strong professional expertise. You can prioritise, generate 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 and a PhD
• have solid experience with people management. Experience with managing managers 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

Applications, 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

The application deadline is 25 October 2026 at 23:59. We plan to conduct initial interviews on 2 November 2026 and subsequent interviews on 16 November 2026. The interviews will take place in Aarhus. A personality test and a cognitive test are included between the 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 Research and Development Director Helle Kryger Aggerholm at [email protected] or phone +45 87 55 39 90, or Senior Consultant Line Renate Hanssen, Mercuri Urval, at [email protected] or phone +45 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 continue to educate for example 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.

At 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 at this link: https://via.career.emply.com/persondatapolitik

Department: Research and Development

Application deadline: 25 October 2026

Location: Hedeager 2, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark