Department Head for the Business and Trade Department

Department Head for the Business and Trade Department Ministry of Business and Minerals The Ministry of Business and Minerals is seeking an experienced and strategically strong department head for the Business and Trade Department. The position is central to the development of the framework conditions for businesses in Greenland and involves close collaboration with the Naalakkersuisut, other ministries, municipalities, the business community, as well as national and international partners.

About the department

The Business and Trade Department handles the operational and departmental tasks related to the preparation and management of business legislation. The department is also responsible for the analytical work concerning the framework conditions for industries, including tourism, ice and water, as well as trade.

The department works with business promotion and the development of Greenlandic businesses. Furthermore, the department is responsible for coordinating industrial projects and large-scale projects in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.

As the department works closely with political decision-makers, ministerial servicing and follow-up on the Government of Greenland's political objectives as well as the decisions of the Inatsisartut constitute a significant part of the task execution.

The Business and Trade Department is organizationally divided into two offices, each with its own office manager. The department also has a total of 10 caseworkers. As the department head, you have the overall responsibility for management, coordination, and prioritization across the offices. Emphasis is placed on a delegating and inclusive leadership style that can motivate employees and optimize processes.

Department's areas of work

• Office for Business Development and Entrepreneurship Tourism: Development of a new tourism strategy and tourism law, as well as administration of tourism concessions.
• Business promotion: Development and strengthening of framework conditions and concrete initiatives that support the growth of the business community – including in rural areas.
• Export permits: Issuance of export permits for the commercial export of Greenlandic goods.
• Service agreements: Case processing and follow-up on service agreements, including agreements with Great Greenland, Nalik Ventures, Visit Greenland, and agreements on decentralized business promotion.
• Ice and water: Case processing of applications and licenses as well as development of a new ice and water strategy with a focus on export.
• Genetic resources: Case processing and follow-up on applications regarding research and export of genetic resources with a focus on sustainability and fair benefit-sharing.
• Office for International Cooperation and Law Trade Policy: Development of Greenland's trade policy framework
• Trade agreements: Responsibility for negotiating and drafting trade agreements
• Joint Committee: Greenlandic participation in joint committee cooperation with the USA focusing on trade, investments, and tourism.
• Marketing and business promotion: Participation in national and international marketing and export initiatives.
• Nordic and EU-oriented cooperation: Participation in Nordic officials' committees as well as the EU's Interreg NPA program.
• Investment screening: Development and implementation of frameworks for investment screening as well as case processing of specific screening cases.

The position

As department head, you have the overall professional, personnel, and financial responsibility for the department. You must ensure high quality in political proposals, strategies, and decision-making bases, as well as actively contribute to the Government of Greenland's business and trade policy priorities. The position involves extensive collaboration and representation both nationally and internationally.

As the department head, you are also responsible for ensuring high quality in the department's legislative preparatory work and legal assessments. You do not need to be a lawyer yourself, but you must be able to set direction, prioritize, and ensure legally sound solutions in close collaboration with professional specialists and relevant partners.

Professional and managerial requirements

• It is required that the department head is an experienced leader with strong management skills as well as a deep understanding of and experience with public administration, politically governed organizations, and financial management. Emphasis is placed on: Relevant higher education
• Solid management experience and understanding of politically governed organizations
• Strong analytical and strategic skills
• Ability to translate political objectives into concrete action and management
• Good collaboration skills and impact.

Danish in writing and speech is a requirement. Knowledge of Greenlandic and English is an advantage.

• We offer An exciting and influential leadership position in the Government of Greenland
• Opportunity to influence the development of business and trade in Greenland
• A high professional environment with dedicated and competent employees.
• Salary and employment conditions according to the applicable agreement for managers in the Government of Greenland.

Employment conditions

The position is currently salary-fixed corresponding to 38. The salary with fixed salary components and personal contribution to pension in LR 38 amounts to DKK 64,048 monthly and DKK 768,576 annually as of April 1, 2026.

Employment will primarily be based on collective agreement terms; however, if the applicant is already a civil servant under the civil service laws for public Greenland, employment may occur under civil servant terms.

For the position, there is no maximum length of service established, and the provisions regarding compensation for overtime and the provisions regarding compensation for lost days off do not apply; the working hours are initially 40 hours per week.

Salary and employment conditions, including the right to relocation travel and moving expenses, in accordance with the collective agreement applicable at the time of commencement between the Government of Greenland and the relevant negotiating organization.

Housing

No housing is provided for the position. If an applicant already has housing through employment with the Self-Government, the right to the assigned housing is retained. The housing is linked to the employment relationship and must be vacated upon termination of the employment relationship.

Submit your application, CV, education and course certificates, as well as other relevant documents by clicking "Send application."

We do not accept applications via email.