Institute Leader for the Institute of Learning at Ilisimatusarfik

Ilisimatusarfik is seeking an experienced, committed, and academically strong head of department for the Institute of Learning, who can lead the development of the institute's programs, strengthen research capacity, and further develop an attractive research and educational environment based on the needs of Greenlandic society.

We are looking for a visionary and unifying leader with a solid research background, leadership experience, and insight into education and learning. As head of department, you will play a central role in the development of teacher education, continuing education, and the institute's research activities, including the research center Iluliaq.

The position is available for appointment December 1, 2026 or as soon as possible by agreement.

About the Institute of Learning

The Institute of Learning is part of Ilisimatusarfik and plays a central role in education, research, and competence development in learning, didactics, and pedagogy in Greenland.

The institute is responsible for teacher education and continuing education for teachers as well as other educational activities within the institute's subject areas.

The institute's activities include, among others:

• Bachelor's degree in learning (teacher education).
• Continuing education and competence development for teachers.
• Master's degree in didactics, cultural encounters, and change processes.
• University pedagogy.
• Research and development activities in learning, teaching, pedagogy, and education.

The institute works to strengthen the connection between research, education, and practice based on Greenlandic conditions, language, culture, and societal needs.

An important task is to ensure the quality and relevance of the programs while also contributing to the development of the Greenlandic education system through research, knowledge dissemination, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The institute collaborates with primary schools, municipalities, educational authorities, research institutions, and other national and international partners.

At the Institute of Learning, there are approximately 25 permanent employees consisting of lecturers, course study lecturers, study assistants, professional subject teachers, as well as a number of guest lecturers, adjunct lecturers, and professors.

The institute has 140 bachelor's students, and in addition, the institute provides continuing education and competence development for teachers and other professionals.

Iluliaq – Greenland's Research Center for Learning and Education

The research center Iluliaq is affiliated with the Institute of Learning and constitutes an important part of the institute's research environment.

Iluliaq works to strengthen research in learning and education in Greenland and to develop knowledge relevant to the Greenlandic education system and society.

The research center contributes to creating coherence between research, education, and practice and to developing national and international research collaborations.

As head of department, you are expected to support the strategic development of Iluliaq and contribute to good frameworks for research activities, researcher education, research funding, and capacity building.

Your tasks as head of department

The head of department reports to the rector and is responsible for the management and strategic development of the Institute of Learning.

According to Inatsisartut Act No. 12 of June 12, 2019, regarding Ilisimatusarfik, the head of department and the department head constitute the department management, which handles the daily management of the institute according to guidelines approved by the rector, including planning and distribution of tasks.

The department management is responsible for the institute's research, teaching, development, budget, and personnel.

The head of department has the authority to hire and dismiss the institute's employees in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The head of department must ensure a coherent and development-oriented management of the institute with respect for the employees' research freedom and in close collaboration with the institute council, employees, and the university's other management.

It is expected that the head of department:

• Can function as a unifying, visible, and dialogue-oriented leader who makes decisions based on a professional and well-considered foundation.
• Is visionary and action-oriented and can develop the institute into an attractive research and educational environment in accordance with Ilisimatusarfik's strategy.
• Can lead the department management and ensure constructive collaboration with the department head and employees.
• Can motivate, support, and develop employees and contribute to building research and educational capacity.
• Has insight into the institute's subject areas and can create coherence between education, research, and societal needs.
• Has an understanding of Greenlandic society and the education system while also possessing an international perspective.
• Can collaborate with the university's other management, HR, Study Service, and the joint administration.
• Prioritizes and contributes to a good, inclusive, and development-oriented work and study environment.

The head of department's tasks include, among others

• To lead and coordinate the institute's overall activities in education, research, and development.
• To ensure quality assurance and ongoing development of teacher education and the institute's other educational offerings.
• To strengthen the connection between teacher education, research, and practice in the Greenlandic primary school.
• To support the development of continuing education and relevant competence development offerings.
• To support the institute's research environment, including the research center Iluliaq, PhD programs, and research collaborations.
• To contribute to the development of research capacity and opportunities for external research funding.
• To ensure planning, prioritization, and appropriate use of the institute's resources.
• To work on student well-being, recruitment, completion, and prevention of dropouts.
• To collaborate with the institute council on the institute's operations and strategic development.
• To participate in the university's overall management group as well as relevant councils and committees.
• To ensure contact and collaboration with educational authorities, municipalities, schools, employers, and other stakeholders.
• To contribute to national and international research and education collaborations.
• To handle personnel management, including hiring and dismissing in accordance with applicable rules.

Qualification requirements

The upcoming head of department must be able to document:

• PhD degree in one of the institute's subject areas as well as teaching experience in their subject area, cf. Inatsisartut Act No. 12 of June 12, 2019, regarding Ilisimatusarfik.
• Documented research qualifications as well as experience with research and education development and research-based teaching.
• Relevant management experience in research, education, and interaction with the surrounding society.
• Ability to support and further develop the institute's research environment and research capacity, including the research center Iluliaq.
• Experience with and insight into personnel management as well as interest in financial management and budgeting.
• Ability to work strategically and create results through collaboration and employee involvement.
• Good collaboration and communication skills.

Emphasis is placed on the applicant having insight into Greenlandic society and the education system as well as an international perspective.

The applicant must have good language skills in Greenlandic, Danish, and English.

Employment procedure

The rector appoints an employment committee, which is informed about the incoming applications and advises on which candidates should be called for an interview.

Application and contact

The application must include the following attachments:

1. Curriculum Vitae including relevant references.
2. Documentation for exams and education, including PhD degree.
3. Publication list.
4. Any other relevant documentation for research, teaching, and management qualifications.

Contact: If you have questions about the position, please feel free to contact rector Mari Kleist at phone +299 282021.

About Ilisimatusarfik

Ilisimatusarfik has its roots back to 1984 and received formal university status in 1989. Ilisimatusarfik is an Arctic university that creates knowledge and innovation through research, education, and collaboration based on Greenlandic society and with an international perspective.

The university has four institutes:

• Institute of Culture, Language, and History.
• Institute of Society, Economy, and Journalism.
• Institute of Learning.
• Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences.

The board is the university's highest authority. The daily management is handled by the rector, assisted by the pro-rector. The rector and pro-rector constitute the university's rectorship. The university director performs their tasks by delegation from the rector. Each of the four institutes is led by a head of department, who is advised by an institute council.

Ilisimatusarfik engages in research and teaching collaborations with national and international partners, including institutions in the Nordic countries, Europe, and North America.

Employment conditions

The position is a fixed-term appointment for 3 years – with the possibility of extension.

The position is currently salary-fixed corresponding to 38. The salary with fixed salary components, own contribution to pension, and fixed-term supplement in LR 38 amounts to DKK 78,496 monthly and DKK 941,952 annually as of April 1, 2026.

In principle, employment will take place on collective agreement terms, where an applicant who may already be a civil servant under the civil servant laws for the public Greenland can be employed on civil servant terms.

For the position, it applies that no maximum service time has been set and that the provisions on compensation for overtime and the provisions on compensation for lost days off do not apply; the working time is in principle 40 hours weekly.

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

Housing

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