Programme Manager for Bridge4Water – Aarhus University, AU Open Innovation Science Centre

Open Innovation in Science; Denmark; On-site; DKK 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Aarhus University is seeking a Programme Manager to develop and position Bridge4Water – an Open Innovation in Science platform for water. You will work on ecosystem building, stakeholder alignment, programme design, and national/international positioning.

You will liaise with industry participants, researchers and partners, organise information meetings and events, and manage the competitive project call to fund high-impact research projects.

Responsibilities

• Stakeholder recruitment and engagement
• Information meetings about the programme
• Developing guidelines and application materials
• Setting up the programme's digital platform and marketplace
• Designing and implementing administrative processes for the programme
• Facilitating ideation and matchmaking events
• Carrying out a competitive project call and supporting the review process
• Collecting and assessing progress reports from funded projects
• Coordinating with the Poul Due Jensen / Grundfos Foundation and the EIT Water team
• Budget management
• Monitoring overall programme progress and reporting to the foundations

Job description

Bridge4Water is an Open Innovation in Science (OIS) platform where academia and industry co-create open, precompetitive research projects addressing shared challenges in water systems. The platform supports early-stage research and generates knowledge, data, and solutions for broad use across the water sector.

Bridge4Water is supported by the Poul Due Jensen Foundation / Grundfos Foundation and fully aligned with EIT Water. Bridge4Water is coordinated by Aarhus University.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 1–year position from 1 March 2027 or as soon as possible.

Job description

As Programme Manager, you will be responsible for the development, positioning and potential long-term sustainability of Bridge4Water – an Open Innovation Science (OIS) platform for water, funded by the Poul Due Jensen / Grundfos Foundation and run by the AU OIS Centre. You will act in both a strategic and an implementing capacity, with a focus on ecosystem building, stakeholder alignment, programme design, and national and international positioning.

You will be a key contact for the programme's industry participants, researchers and partners. Through information meetings and ideation and matchmaking events, and by drawing on your industry-based background, you will help participants find the right input and partners for their research ideas. You will also run the programme's competitive project call in which the international reviewers select the best ideas so that Bridge4Water can fund high-impact research projects.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the programme. You will work closely with the AU OIS Centre, which provides guidance on the programme's processes and coordinates activities across the OIS platforms.

Your tasks include:

• Stakeholder recruitment and engagement
• Information meetings about the programme.
• Developing guidelines and application materials.
• Setting up the programme's digital platform and marketplace.
• Designing and implementing the administrative processes in the programme.
• Facilitating ideation and matchmaking events.
• Carrying out a competitive project call and supporting the review process, so that international reviewers can rate and fund the best research projects.
• Collecting and assessing progress reports from the funded projects.
• Coordinating with the Poul Due Jensen / Grundfos Foundation and the EIT Water team.
• Budget management.
• Monitoring overall programme progress and reporting to the Poul Due Jensen / Grundfos Foundation.

What we offer

An interesting and challenging job in an international environment focusing on research, innovation and public‑private collaboration for the benefit of industry and society – with the opportunity to shape a new platform from its early phase.

You will be part of a team that values collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional growth, and you will have flexible working hours.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is at Ny Munkegade 118, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with affiliated institutions.

Contact information

For further information, please contact: Vice Head of Open Innovation in Science, Stine Skyum Kristensen, 93508648 or [e-mail].

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 19 November 2026.

Formalities and salary range

Salary and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Unions, with remuneration in accordance with Appendix 4 of the collective agreement.

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.