Deputy Director with Responsibility for Government Services

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS OF DENMARK AND GREENLAND (GEUS).

The deputy director must have experience with political systems and decision-making processes and have a particular focus on positioning GEUS so that the institution's knowledge is utilized in central societal issues.

The position is desired to be filled from November 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

If you are interested in helping to develop an exciting and broadly based research institution, we would like to hear from you. We offer a demanding and developmental job at one of Denmark's best public workplaces, where you will collaborate with the other members of the management team, the executive group, and all staff, our department, several other state ministries, the Government of Greenland, as well as many external partners.

GEUS' knowledge and competencies are applied in areas of great societal importance - in public administration, in business, in educational institutions, and in other research environments in the country.

Job content

Our new deputy director will, together with the managing director and the deputy director with special responsibility for developing GEUS's collaboration with the business community, form the overall management team responsible for implementing the strategy and the organization's daily operations.

The board of GEUS establishes the institution's strategic foundation in collaboration with the management and guarantees its professional integrity.

GEUS has significant professional strengths in areas such as geological mapping on land and at sea, monitoring and understanding of the hydrological system, both in terms of groundwater resources and groundwater quality, climate development, the green transition, sustainable energy and raw materials, as well as earthquakes.

Your area of responsibility is to develop and strengthen GEUS' service, collaboration with, and advice to our ministry, agencies, and other public authorities, so that GEUS' knowledge is utilized as effectively as possible in the development of society in Denmark, Greenland, and the EU.

You will therefore need to proactively follow political processes, developments in our department in the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities (KEFM), other ministries, and other relevant public entities, and in dialogue with the management and leadership group, assert GEUS's knowledge and advisory competencies where relevant.

You will also be responsible for ensuring the strategic development of our finance function, press and communication as well as HR, IT, and logistics areas. At the same time, you will monitor and contribute to the group-wide developments in these areas at KEFM.

Learn more about GEUS' strategy, tasks, and organization at www.geus.dk

The position requires solid high-level management experience and experience in leading through others.

Your focus, along with the rest of the management team, is to develop the organization strategically. GEUS's state geologists (department heads) report directly to the CEO. You will participate in personnel management through ongoing one-on-one conversations with parts of the management group, and personnel responsibility for some managers may be delegated to you.

We are looking for a visionary deputy director who can help ensure that GEUS's competencies are continuously developed and utilized in societal decision-making processes.

The deputy director, together with the managing director, the deputy director for business collaboration, and the institution's other leaders, must safeguard GEUS's status and integrity, thereby ensuring high-level professional advice to authorities, ministries, and the public. The final distribution of responsibilities will take place within the entire management team.

About GEUS

GEUS provides research-based geological advice on a number of issues of great societal importance both in Denmark and in Greenland. GEUS is an independent and internationally oriented research institution under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities (KEFM). GEUS has the status of a state enterprise with approximately 300 employees. GEUS's annual revenue is around 350 million kroner, which is evenly distributed between a budget appropriation and income from research and advisory tasks. We carry out about 600 projects each year, which are organized in a project-oriented matrix structure across 8 professional departments. Seven of these departments are located in our headquarters at Øster Voldgade 10 in Copenhagen, one department is situated on the campus of Aarhus University, and we have an office in Nuuk. We have extensive storage facilities and equipment for, among other things, fieldwork located in Taastrup. GEUS actively participates in the corporate community within KEFM with a focus on core tasks in collaboration with the ministry's other institutions.

GEUS carries out a number of authority tasks for KEFM and for several other ministries, including the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Business, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Prime Minister's Office, as well as the Government of Greenland.

GEUS is part of a binding collaboration in Geocenter Denmark with the Department of Geoscience at Aarhus University as well as the Department of Geoscience and Natural Management, the Natural History Museum of Denmark, and the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen. GEUS plays a significant role in the education of both master's and PhD students in the geosciences.

GEUS participates in international projects both in the EU (e.g., as part of EuroGeoSurveys) and outside Europe, particularly focusing on capacity building and research in parts of Africa and Asia.

Qualifications

The applicant must have experience in management and high-level political processes. The applicant must demonstrate interest in and have a general knowledge of geosciences and related fields, as well as insight into the significance of these fields for societal development.

The ability to maintain, utilize, and create a good network is important for the position. An open and outgoing nature and the ability to listen are also relevant qualities.

Documented experience in strategic management and knowledge of the operation and development of public/state institutions is important.

The applicant must have the necessary qualifications and experience to participate in decision-making processes within a politically governed administrative system.

The position demands strong skills in establishing contacts and agility in dealing with both the governmental administration and the research community.

The applicant must also possess significant managerial competencies and have insight into financing and economics.

The applicant must be decisive, outgoing, a good communicator, and have strong collaboration skills.

It is expected that the applicant focuses on preserving and developing GEUS as an institution with a strong sense of community and an open culture.

Salary and employment conditions

Employment is in accordance with the framework agreement on contract employment of managers in the state in salary group 2, with the possibility of negotiating qualification supplements. The employment is for a term of five years with the possibility of extension for three years.

You must be able to obtain security clearance and maintain the security clearance throughout the entire employment process.

The area of employment is KEFM with associated institutions. KEFM regards diversity as an asset and encourages all interested parties regardless of gender, age, religion, or ethnic background to apply for the position.

Additional information

Further information can be obtained by contacting CEO Lars Nielsen, phone: 91 33 38 70, email: larni@geus.dk. Inquiries will be treated confidentially.

The application

The application must be accompanied by a CV, relevant examination papers, and possibly contact information for reference persons (max. 2).

You can submit your application by clicking the "Apply for the position" button. The application must be received by GEUS no later than Friday, August 14, 2026.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

The application will be processed by a hiring committee. First round interviews are expected to be held in the second half of August.

In the recruitment process, tests will be used to assess the applicants' managerial competencies.