Founding Director – AU Cyber Applied

Black Swans Exist ApS; Aarhus; On-site; DKK 1,100,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Job summary

AU Cyber is being established at Aarhus University to strengthen cybersecurity research and collaboration across faculties and with external partners. The director will shape the centre’s agenda, governance and operations, recruit the core research team and position AU Cyber as a leading national and international hub for cybersecurity.

We seek an experienced leader with a PhD and a proven ability to translate strategic ambitions into organizational outcomes, build cross‑sector collaborations,

Qualifications

• PhD with substantial postdoctoral experience in cybersecurity research or related fields.
• Proven leadership in complex research/teaching environments.
• Strong track record in cross-sector collaboration and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead AU Cyber, including governance and operational model.
• Recruit and manage the core research team and coordinate with AU departments.
• Shape the centre’s strategic direction and research agenda in cybersecurity.
• Build and maintain relationships with industry, public sector and foundations.
• Ensure alignment with university-wide strategic priorities and external stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Stakeholder management

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Postdoctoral experience

Experience in NAT-TECH cybersecurity

Job description

Director of AU Center for Cyber Security (AU Cyber), Aarhus University

The senior management team at Aarhus University (AU) invites applications for the position of director of the AU Center for Cyber Security (AU Cyber), a new strategic interdisciplinary research initiative.
As centre director, you will be responsible for establishing and leading the centre, shaping its development and positioning it as a focal point for cybersecurity research and collaboration at Aarhus University. The role is an opportunity to drive the development of a new organisational unit with a clear mandate, strong institutional backing and strategic importance to the university, with a scope spanning research, education, innovation and external engagement.
We are seeking to appoint an experienced research leader with a strong track record in complex research and teaching environments and a proven ability to translate strategic ambitions into organisational outcomes, while strengthening connections between research, education, industry and society.

Your responsibilities

AU Cyber is currently being established, and as centre director you will play a key role in building the organisation. This involves shaping the centre’s research agenda, establishing its governance and operational model, recruiting and leading the core research team and positioning AU Cyber both within the university and in the broader national landscape. As director, you will report to AU Cyber’s steering committee. You will have responsibility for the leadership and performance of AU Cyber, and together with AU Cyber steering committee, you will develop the centre’s strategic direction and shape its research agenda.

The director of AU Cyber is responsible for:

• Developing and realising the strategic vision and objectives forAU Cyberset by the senior management team and ensuring that its activities contribute to AU’s high international standing within cybersecurity.

• Ensuring that AU Cyber has a strong focus on excellent research, while contributing to the education of cybersecurity specialists as well as innovation for society’s security and growth.

• Developing AU Cyber as a new organisational unit, including defining structures, processes and ways of working, and ensuring a strong and coherent operational foundation.

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with companies, public-sector organisations, foundations and other external stakeholders, and positioning AU Cyber as a trusted and attractive collaboration partner both nationally and internationally.
• Promoting externally funded initiatives in the field and facilitating collaboration across faculties and units at Aarhus University.

• Ensuring alignment and collaboration with the planned Innovation Hub under AU’s Kitchen.

• Providing inspirational input to the ongoing development and alignment of courses and programmes relevant to cybersecurity across AU, including continuing education and training.

• Leading the AU Cyber organisation, which will consist of a lean administrative team and a group of 30+ senior and junior researchers. The majority of affiliated researchers will be drawn from AU departments with established strengths within cybersecurity, with the remainder coming from a broader spectrum of departments with emerging strengths in the field.

• Reporting to a steering committee and exercising overall responsibility for the management of AU Cyber, for collaborative and interdisciplinary initiatives as well as for monitoring, communicating and reporting on activities and outcomes.

Your qualifications

We are seeking a candidate with the following profile

• A PhD and substantial documented international postdoctoral experience in academic and/or industrial research within NAT-TECH cybersecurity, including areas such as cryptography, software and systems security, network security, hardware security, AI security and related fields.

• A clear interest in the human and organisational aspects of cybersecurity, including crisis management, leadership, regulation and applications across sectors such as health, finance and civil society.

• Documented experience with innovation processes and cross-sector collaboration beyond technical disciplines, with the ability to engage researchers across faculties.

• Proven experience with strategic leadership, preferably from senior roles involving organisational development, collaboration or innovation in academia or industry.

• The ability to build and lead complex collaborations involving stakeholders with diverse incentives, cultures and time horizons.

• Strong strategic, analytical and communication skills, with the ability to translate ambitions into concrete organisational frameworks.

• Experience with innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of cybersecurity is an advantage.

About AU Cyber

AU Cyber is a new strategic initiative at Aarhus University that is being established to strengthen cybersecurity research and collaboration across faculties and with external partners. The centre builds on existing research strengths and works to deepen their integration and development across disciplines and in engagement with our wider society.
AU Cyber brings together researchers from different faculties and engages with companies and public organisations to advance research, education and talent development in cybersecurity. The centre is comprised of a network of affiliated researchers, supported by a lean administrative team, and serves to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and externally funded research.
As the centre is in its establishment phase, the director will play a key role in shaping its structure, priorities and position as a focal point for cybersecurity at Aarhus University.