Head of the Secretariat and Dissemination Lead for the Institute of Strategy and War Studies (project appointment)

Do you want to help translate knowledge about societal security and crisis management into dissemination, skills development and collaboration? And can you ensure daily operations in a strong professional environment with many activities and partners?

Right now we are seeking a Secretariat Head and Dissemination Lead for the Center for Societal Security in the Strategy Section of the Institute for Strategy and War Studies at the Defence Academy. You will play a central role in developing the center's activities and creating coherence between research, dissemination and practice.

About us

The Institute for Strategy and War Studies is the Defence Ministry’s teaching and research unit within military strategy, security policy, security cooperation, theories of war and conflict, military history and cultural understanding. The institute contributes with teaching, educational development, research and development (FoU), and to a lesser extent advisory services and dissemination.

Education ranges from regular course activities, teaching at the Defence Language School, to the military professional bachelor’s, diploma and master’s programs. The institute’s staff possess a deep military professional background from all services – or a civilian educational and research background within the social sciences and humanities.

The Institute for Strategy and War Studies is one of four institutes under the Faculty at the Defence Academy and currently has 34 permanent staff, in addition to a number of project employees, student assistants and interns.

The Center for Societal Security works with society's ability to prevent, handle and learn from crises. We deal with societal security, emergency preparedness and civil-military cooperation and connect research-based knowledge with the needs that authorities and other actors meet in practice.

The center is a small unit with a Secretariat Head, a scientific leader (associate professor), a PhD student and a couple of postdocs. We work closely together and maintain ongoing contact with research environments, authorities, businesses and civil society.

About the position

As Secretariat Head you will create coherence between the center's academic ambitions and the practical execution of activities. You will handle daily coordination and administration in close collaboration with the academic leader, who is responsible for the research-technical direction.

You are both the one who creates an overview and the one who solves tasks. You support the researchers' work and ensure that the center’s knowledge reaches relevant professional environments, decision-makers and practitioners.

Your main tasks

• Daily management and administration: You plan and coordinate the center's activities, prioritize daily tasks and follow up on agreements and timelines. You handle project administration, meeting preparation and budget follow-up in cooperation with the institute’s administrative functions.
• Dissemination and communication: You plan and carry out dissemination of the center's knowledge through articles, publications, newsletters, digital platforms and podcasts. You support researchers in communicating to different target groups and coordinate press and communication activities with the Defence Academy’s communications section.
• Skills development and teaching: You develop and coordinate courses, webinars and workshops on societal security and emergency preparedness in collaboration with researchers and instructors. You identify the target groups’ needs, contribute with teaching and facilitation within your own areas of expertise and follow up on the outcomes of the programs.
• Conferences and professional networks: You are responsible for developing, planning and implementing conferences, seminars and networking activities. This includes program development, contact with speakers and partners, as well as practical execution and follow-up. You bring together relevant stakeholders across research, authorities, business and civil society.
• Arctic and external collaboration: You contribute to the section's focus and activities in the Arctic, including building relations with relevant actors and planning and implementing ways to bring experiences from Arctic conditions into dissemination and skills development. You also contribute to project development, collaboration agreements and applications for external funding.

About you

You hold a relevant master's degree, for example in communications, management or social science, and have solid experience with project management, dissemination and organizational coordination. You have knowledge of societal security and emergency preparedness and understand the interaction between civilian and military actors.

You can translate complex professional material into clear and targeted communication, both in writing and orally. You have experience in developing and implementing conferences, teaching or skills development activities. At the same time you work confidently with administration, budgets and follow-up.

It is an advantage if you are a reserve officer or similar in the Defence or emergency services sector. The same applies to knowledge of Arctic conditions and experience with collaboration in Greenland or with Arctic actors. You can conduct yourself professionally in Danish and English.

As a colleague you are independent, proactive and good at building relationships. You thrive in a small unit where people help each other, and where development tasks go hand in hand with practical and administrative tasks. You create momentum with respect for different professional backgrounds.

Employment terms

The appointment is in accordance with the current collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and a number of Danish academic associations for academics in the state sector (Academic Agreement).

Depending on your qualifications and competencies, there is the possibility of negotiating a supplement. There is an employer-financed pension scheme attached to the position.

The workplace is at Svanemøllen Garrison, Copenhagen North. Travel activity in connection with conferences, collaborations and activities in the Arctic should be expected.

As an employee within the Ministry of Defence area you are subject to certain special conditions. You must, among other things, be security cleared and maintain the clearance throughout your employment.

You have as an employee an obligation to render service outside the country, including at units in international operations with a view to participating in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peace-enforcing, humanitarian and other similar operations.

Contact and application

If you would like to hear more about the position, you are welcome to contact Steen Kjærgaard at telephone 4170 3727.

If you have questions about salary and employment terms, you are welcome to contact the HR consultant Emilia Kyhn Sixhøi at telephone 5171 1535.

The application deadline is 11 November 2026 and interviews are expected to be held shortly thereafter. The position is a fixed-term project appointment from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028. There may be an opportunity for extension.

You apply for the position via the link, and we ask you to attach a cover letter, CV and copies of educational certificates. Please note that attachments must be added in PDF format.

In the Defence Ministry’s organization we believe that diversity enhances task solving. Therefore we encourage all interested regardless of background to apply for the position.

About the Defence Academy

The Defence Academy (DA) contributes to the Defence’s mission by delivering relevant and up-to-date education as well as research and advisory services to Defence personnel and authorities. In addition, the DA supports the group with course administration and guidance in pedagogy and digital learning formats.

The DA consists of service locations in Copenhagen, Varde, Karup and Frederikshavn and offers undergraduate and continuing education, including sergeant and officer courses, including the language officer program, the Military Academy, and a Master in Military Studies. In addition, the DA offers a wide range of continuing education programs that help Defence personnel and reservists perform their tasks effectively and professionally throughout their careers.

The DA conducts research and development within the three military core areas: military operations, military strategy and military leadership, as well as related areas such as war history, cultural understanding and military technology. The DA collaborates with both Danish and international research and educational institutions and contributes to the development of NATO doctrines and research projects. The knowledge produced supports the education programs, but is also used and disseminated widely for the benefit of the Armed Forces, national and international partners and society as a whole. Read more at fak.dk.