Head of Administration with a strong financial profile at Design School Kolding

Do you want to lead finance and administration at a smaller institution of higher education with short decision paths and high ambitions? As Chief Administrative Officer, you will be responsible for ensuring professional financial management and a coherent administration that supports the school's core tasks and development.

You will become a close sparring partner for the principal and play a central role in cross-functional collaboration across Finance, Study Administration & IT, and Facilities.

About the position

You will have the overall responsibility for the school's financial governance and administration, including budgeting, financial follow-up, reporting, project finance, and fundraising.

You will have personnel responsibility for the staff in the finance department as well as the heads of Study Administration & IT and Facilities. The two heads have the professional and day-to-day responsibility for their respective areas, while you ensure coordination, prioritization, and follow-up across them.

You report to the principal, participate in the rectorate, and participate in the board as needed.

Your key tasks

• Lead and develop the school's financial governance and administration
• Ensure budgeting, financial follow-up, financial planning, and reporting
• Ensure proper governance and compliance with applicable grant and accounting rules
• Have overall responsibility for project economics, including externally funded projects
• Contribute to fundraising and the development of new funding opportunities
• Lead the finance department as well as the heads of Study Administration & IT and Facilities
• Ensure coordination and prioritization across the administrative areas
• Drive digitalization and automation of administrative processes and systems
• Prepare financial and administrative matters for the rectorate and the board
• Represent the school in relevant networks, committees and reference groups

Experience and education

We are seeking a Chief Administrative Officer with solid experience in financial management, administration and leadership. You combine strategic overview with a solid understanding of operations and can translate goals and decisions into clear priorities and well-functioning processes.

You have a relevant higher education degree, e.g., in economics, administration, social sciences or management. Experience from a public or self-governing institution is an advantage, just as knowledge of the education, research or culture sectors will be relevant.

The crucial factor is that you have documented leadership experience, a strong financial understanding and experience in creating development across administrative disciplines.

We imagine that you

• have solid experience with financial management, budgeting and reporting
• have documented experience with personnel leadership and preferably leadership of leaders
• have knowledge of public or other rule-based financial governance
• have an understanding of project economics and preferably experience with fundraising
• can set direction, prioritize and follow up
• give professional leaders a clear mandate and room to take on their responsibility
• have experience with digitalization and development of administrative processes
• work analytically, structured and with a holistic view
• make well-founded decisions and communicate them clearly
• build constructive relationships and collaborate across boundaries
• can work in both Danish and English in speaking and writing

We offer

• A central leadership position with influence on the school's financial and administrative development
• A close collaboration with the principal, the rectorate, the board and the administrative managers
• The opportunity to develop the school's financial management, processes and digital solutions
• An organization with short decision paths and the ability to quickly translate decisions into action
• A professional work community with different perspectives and an informal tone
• Flexible working hours with the possibility of remote work

Designskolen Kolding is a smaller organization with short distances between management, administration, teachers, researchers and students. This provides good opportunities to create visible results and follow initiatives from decision to implementation.

Terms of employment and application

This is a full-time position. The position is not covered by the rules on maximum service time, and the working hours will be arranged in consideration of the position's responsibilities and tasks.

The position is to be filled by 1 November 2026 or as soon as possible, and we conduct interviews on an ongoing basis.

Send your application, CV and examination papers via the link provided no later than 19 October 2026 .

We do not process applications received by email.

The appointment is made in accordance with the applicable agreement for managers at institutions within teaching, education and research in the Ministry of Education and Research's area. The specific salary is determined based on qualifications and experience.

References will be obtained as part of the employment process.

Further information

If you would like to hear more about the position, you are welcome to contact the principal Carina Christensen by email [email protected].

About Designskolen Kolding

Designskolen Kolding is a higher artistic education and research institution focusing on design, innovation and sustainability. We work at the intersection of technology, business and society and show how design can create value and solutions to contemporary challenges.

We view diversity as an asset and encourage all qualified candidates—regardless of personal background—to apply. Together we can shape the future of design with different perspectives and common ambitions.

Read more at www.dskd.dk

Application deadline: October 19, 2026

Department: Ågade 10 6000 Kolding

Location: Designskolen Kolding, Ågade 10, 6000 Kolding