Are you passionate about cultivating an inspiring and healthy international research culture, designing high-quality educational activities, and building a strong, engaged community of researchers working to combat climate change? Are you interested in people leadership of a small team? Then this could be the role for you.


The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center (CORC) is seeking a committed and people-oriented Head of Community, Culture & Education to join our team of teams. In this role, you will play a central part in shaping and sustaining a collaborative and inclusive research culture across the center in collaboration with the center leadership.


You will lead ongoing efforts to strengthen community, collaboration, and learning at CORC, supporting researchers at all levels of seniority, who are geographically distributed and span a wide range of research disciplines. Through strategic initiatives, high-quality educational activities, and hands-on engagement, you will help ensure that CORC remains a vibrant, connected, and inspiring place to work and collaborate.
 


Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a permanent position starting on 1st of April 2026 or as soon as possible.
 


Job Description

 
Head of Community, Culture & Education (CCE)
The Community, Culture & Education (CCE) function is a newly established area at the Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center (CORC). As Head of Community, Culture & Education, you will lead and develop this function and play a central role in shaping how CORC builds, sustains, and evolves its research culture, community engagement, and educational activities.


You will head a small, dedicated team consisting of a CCE Manager, an Event Manager, and yourself. Together, you will drive both internal and external events, branding-related initiatives, and educational efforts across the center. The CCE team works closely and cross-functionally with colleagues in CORC Operations including Administration, Research Operations, Innovation, and Communication.


In this role, you will drive CORC’s community-building efforts, support the development of high-impact educational initiatives, and strengthen the cultural foundations of a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and geographically distributed research environment.


The position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution. You will lead community, culture, and education initiatives within CORC, while also collaborating closely with the broader Operations team and external stakeholders to ensure coherence, quality, and engagement across activities in close interaction with research, innovation, and communications.


Key Areas of Responsibility:


Community Building & Culture Development
You will help create and sustain a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative research community at CORC. This includes developing initiatives that bring researchers together across disciplines and locations, supporting onboarding and integration of new researchers, and maintaining the small traditions, rituals, and communication practices that shape CORC’s daily culture.
In close collaboration with CORC leadership, you are responsible for promoting strong cultural practices and consistent communication that promotes the CORC values of trusting, high-impact collaboration on research and innovation.


CCE Team Leadership & Cross-Operational Collaboration
A key priority of the role is to be both a people leader of the CCE team and driver of the functional agenda to become a highly efficient, collaborative, and well-integrated function within CORC. 
Strategy, Finance & Reporting
As head of the CCE team, you are responsible for executing the CCE strategy through 2028. You will manage the CCE budget in close collaboration with a finance manager and ensure that allocated funds are used effectively to strengthen collaboration, culture, and engagement across CORC and its affiliated groups.
You will also be responsible for defining relevant success metrics, measuring impact, and reporting on activities funded through the CCE budget, including initiatives already planned toward 2028.


Educational Activities
You are responsible for ensuring that CORC delivers high-quality educational activities for PhD students and postdocs that provide clear added value beyond their departmental training. Given CORC’s multidisciplinary nature, a key priority is to design educational formats that promote collaboration, shared understanding, and knowledge exchange across scientific silos, and an overall understanding and vision for the future CCUS landscape.


Internal and External Events & Workshops
You will oversee the planning and execution of internal and external events, workshops, and meetings in close collaboration with colleagues across CORC & in your team. This includes ensuring well-structured processes, clear documentation, and efficient coordination so that community- and education-related activities run smoothly and professionally.



Your Profile

We are looking for a people-oriented and confident professional who enjoys taking responsibility for community, culture, and educational activities in a high-impact international research environment. You see clear value in creating an inclusive, welcoming, and well-functioning research culture, and you are motivated by supporting a community of researchers working toward climate solutions.

You thrive in a role that combines leadership, planning, and strategic prioritization with creative input and hands-on execution. You enjoy daily interaction with many different stakeholders and feel comfortable operating in a visible role, both on stage and on site. You take initiative, create momentum, and ensure that activities are well-organized, meaningful, and aligned with CORC’s overall objectives.

You support and develop others, encourage collaboration, and contribute to a positive working environment. You are attentive to team dynamics and help ensure that people feel valued, included, and able to perform at their best.


Background:
The following background qualifications and experience is required for the role:
 

• A relevant master’s degree or PhD within life sciences, chemistry, engineering, or a related field, and who has chosen a career path outside of active research
• A background and track record of working in a bigger research center in a role outside of direct research
• Experience planning, coordinating, and delivering events, activities, or educational programs, with the ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution
• Comfort with visibility and representation, including facilitating sessions, hosting events, and engaging directly with diverse audiences
• Experience leading people, projects, or teams - or a clear motivation to develop as a people leader
• A leadership approach that is encouraging, inclusive, and people-centered, aligned with CORC’s emphasis on collaboration and trust
• Knowledge of CCUS research and the CCUS ecosystem
• Experience with project management, budgeting, and financial and/or activity-based reporting
• Experience working closely with researchers at different career stages within a higher-education or research setting
• A strong interest in research culture, education, and community building in the context of climate and sustainability research
• Fluent in both Danish and English

Relevant Competencies:
 

• You create clarity, trust, and engagement through your leadership. You support and develop others, encourage collaboration, and contribute to a positive working environment. You are attentive to team dynamics and help ensure that people feel valued, included, and able to perform at their best.

 

• You build and maintain constructive, professional relationships across disciplines, functions, and seniority levels. You communicate clearly, manage expectations, and align stakeholders around shared goals.

 

• You can maintain an overview while managing multiple parallel activities. You plan realistically, prioritize effectively, and follow through on commitments. You ensure that initiatives are delivered with high quality, within agreed frameworks, and with attention to detail.

 

• You translate strategic priorities into concrete actions and ensure alignment between long-term objectives and day-to-day activities.

 

• You communicate confidently and professionally in both formal and informal settings. You are comfortable facilitating discussions, and acting as a visible and trusted point of contact.

 

• You bring curiosity, openness, and genuine interest to your work. You value working in a multidisciplinary research environment and enjoy engaging with people from diverse academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds.

 

Who we are:

The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center (CORC) was established in 2022 and is a mission‐oriented international research center with headquarters at Aarhus University.
The center’s purpose is to develop novel science and early technologies for carbon capture and conversion for utilization. The Center comprises 15+ research groups at Aarhus University, Stanford University (US), Caltech (US), Rice University (US), University of Tübingen (DE), University of Copenhagen (DK) and Technical University of Denmark (DK). In total, the center encompasses +100 researchers.
You will be part of the CORC Operations team at Aarhus University, consisting of 10-15 engaged colleagues.

See more on www.corc.au.dk



What we offer

At CORC we offer:

• A key position in the global climate change journey with the opportunity to create and grow a community of researchers
• Being the team-leader for a small team, in a modern team-of-teams structured organization
• An exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international, and industrial collaborators
• A work environment encouraging lively, open and engaging dialogues
• A work environment with close working relationships, networking, and social activities
• A workplace characterized by professionalism, equality, and work-life balance

Join us in building an innovative research center dedicated to driving change by advancing sustainable CO2 technologies.
 


Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is at Gustav Wieds Vej 10c, 8000 Aarhus C, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with affiliated institutions.



Contact information

For further information, please contact:  Head of Operations, Anita Friis Sommer, +45 93517771



Deadline

Applications must be received no later than February 24 2026.
 
Interviews are planned to take place during March.
 



Formalities and salary range

Salary and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Unions.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

 

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/