Job Description

Research Development Manager

The Dean's office at the Faculty of Science at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) is looking for a Research Development Manager to join our External Relations Team. Do you have an interest in working with science, cultivating research ideas and collaborations, and increasing funding success? Do you have experience with networking, proposal development, funding intelligence, and scientific communication? Then you may be the colleague we are looking for.

As Research Development Manager, you will work with individual researchers, research groups, and faculty leadership to develop ambitious research ideas into competitive proposals, strategic collaborations and externally funded projects. The role combines hands-on proposal development with proactive funding intelligence, research group strategy and strategic input to management.

Job purpose and overview:

You will be part of an international team providing a core and high-level support function at the Faculty of Science.

Your tasks will be to:

• Support research groups and departments in developing and implementing funding strategies.
• Provide funding intelligence, analytical briefings, and strategic input to faculty and department management.
• Identify, interpret, and communicate funding opportunities, and proactively match researchers and research groups with calls based on scientific fit, career stage, timing, and strategic potential.
• Work closely with researchers, research groups, and department management in developing and transforming ideas into research projects and grant proposals.
• Assist researchers in building networks and research consortia.
• Identify, promote, and support best practice in successful proposal development.
• Write, review, and develop proposals in collaboration with researchers and internal/external partners.
• Onboard new academic staff and introduce them to national and international funding landscapes.
• Support researchers at different career stages in developing competitive funding profiles.
• Seek new avenues for funding and new grant opportunities.
• Support and develop initiatives on innovation and research commercialization at the faculty.
• Contribute to shared ERT activities, including funding-related data analysis, internal communication, events, web content, and costing processes.

Your profile:

• You have a relevant academic degree (preferably in science*) preferably at PhD level, or substantial experience in research support, proposal development, research funding, science policy, innovation support or a related field.
• You must be fluent in written and spoken English and be an excellent communicator.
• You are collaborative, service-minded and analytically strong, and you can maintain quality and overview in a work environment shaped by changing priorities and external deadlines.
• Experience with EU research funding, Danish private foundations and/or major national funding schemes is a strong advantage.
• Experience with research strategy, funding strategy, portfolio development, or strategic support to research groups or academic leadership is considered a strong advantage.
• Experience with innovation support, societal impact, industry collaboration, entrepreneurship, or knowledge valorisation is an advantage.
• You work independently and can manage and prioritize your own time.

* For example within biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, pharmacy or adjacent fields relevant to the Faculty of Science.

The work follows external funding cycles and strict funder deadlines. Some periods therefore require flexibility, which we handle through planning, teamwork and mutual flexibility.

Who we are and what we offer:

The External Relations Team is part of the Dean's office with around 50 colleagues including study-administration, communication, and accounting teams. The faculty consists of four departments: Biology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Mathematics and Computer Science; and Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy. It hosts approximately 500 employees and 2,000 students, strong research environments and strategic initiatives across research, education, and innovation, with a shared ambition to create value for and with society through high-quality science. The faculty is characterized by ambition, commitment, and an informal and flexible working environment. You will also work locally in close collaboration with strong scientific environments.

You will join the External Relations Team that bridges research development, policy intelligence, funder liaison, capacity building, leadership support, proposal development, and project implementation. We offer collaborative working culture and expect that you will contribute actively to the team and to a balanced workload of the team’s tasks. SDU offers an attractive work-life balance, a competitive salary** with the option for qualification allowance, a full-time position, frequent training, and personal development.

English is the working language in our team, and a high level of professional proficiency in both written and spoken English is essential for this position. At the same time, Danish is the administrative and everyday language at SDU. If you do not speak Danish, you are expected to be willing to learn it. We value an inclusive, international environment and fully support language development. We will do our best to help you feel at home, both in the team and at SDU more broadly.

We welcome applications from candidates in Denmark and abroad, including Danish and European research support professionals and researchers who are interested in returning to or relocating to Denmark. SDU and the Region of Southern Denmark provide excellent repatriation services, language courses, day-care, and international schools, and a strong and growing international community. The University is committed to fostering a staff body that reflects the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of personal background.

Contact Team Leader Mikkel Jørgensen (tel.: +45 20 65 85 52; e-mail: mikkelj@sdu.dk) for more information.

The first round of interviews is expected to take place in week 25, 2026 and the second round of interviews is expected to take place soon after, if relevant. First-round interviews may be conducted online.

Expected job start is 1 August 2026 or soon thereafter.

Application, salary etc.

Salary and employment conditions are related to educational background and applicable collective agreements between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

To be considered for this position, please fill out an online profile and attach the following documents:

• Cover letter
• Resume (CV) including information on previous employment with start and end dates
• Certificates, and if possible, a list of up to three references.

All documents in connection with the application should not contain CPR number (civil registration number) – in that case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

All attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. Cover letter and CV can contain max. 5 Mb.

We recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.

If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk

Application deadline: 14 June 2026 at 23:59 hours local Danish time

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.