Help drive DANSDA, one of Denmark’s most important national studies for advancing knowledge on the nation’s diet, physical activity and health.
Do you enjoy creating structure across complex projects with many stakeholders? Are you good at keeping track of deliverables, timelines, and collaboration across research, advisory, and operational environments? Then you may be the new Project Manager we are looking for to support The National Danish survey of diet and physical activity (DANSDA) at DTU National Food Institute.
DANSDA has been conducted 6 times since 1985. The most recent data collected in 2021-2024 includes detailed dietary intake, pedometer-determined activity, socio-economic status, health-related lifestyle and attitudes, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and biochemical risk markers. These data have supported the identification of diet- and physical activity–related health challenges, the integration of dietary sustainability considerations, the development of evidence-based public health policymaking (such as culturally-adapted dietary guidelines), evaluation of existing health interventions, and support of chemical risk assessments.
At DTU National Food Institute, we are looking for an experienced and organized project manager to help coordinate DANSDA-related activities across planning, recruitment, data collection, data management, reporting, collaboration, and future development. In this role, you will work closely with researchers, technical staff, external partners, and authorities to help ensure that DANSDA activities progress efficiently and deliver high-quality outputs with societal impact.
The job
You will work closely with the chair of the DANSDA Steering Committee to help define, manage and coordinate project activities related to DANSDA and associated survey, data, and advisory work. You will support planning, follow-up, communication, and execution across multiple parallel workstreams and stakeholders. The role combines classic project management with coordination in a research and public-sector advisory setting.
Primary areas of responsibility
- Coordinate day-to-day project activities across DANSDA-related workstreams, partners, and stakeholders
- Keep track of deliverables, milestones, timelines, risks, and dependencies
- Support planning and follow-up for survey implementation, data processing, reporting, and dissemination activities
- Coordinate meetings, workshops, and ongoing communication across internal and external collaborators
- Support project monitoring and evaluation, including status reporting and documentation
- Help organize capacity-building and onboarding activities related to study recruitment and data collection
- Assess the implications of operational delays for timelines, budgets, and deliverables, communicate these to the Steering Committee, and evaluate how Steering Committee decisions affect operational workflows and implementation
Our expectations of you
We are looking for someone who is structured, proactive, and comfortable working across many parallel activities. You are good at turning complex needs into actionable plans, and you thrive in an environment where you work with people from different professional backgrounds.
You likely have experience from research, public health, data, food, nutrition, government, or another related field where coordination, documentation, and stakeholder management are central. You should be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, and you should be able to create momentum while keeping attention to detail.
Essential experience would include
- Documented experience with project management and coordination (PMP, PRINCE2, or similar qualifications strongly preferred)
- Experience supporting complex projects with multiple stakeholders and deliverables
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to collaborate constructively across disciplines
- Experience with reporting, follow-up, and project documentation
- Ability to create structure, maintain overview, and execute on complex tasks
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English. Danish strongly preferred.
- A relevant Master’s degree, for example within public health, nutrition, epidemiology, data science, social science, project management, or a related field
- Experience with national surveys, cohort studies, or other large-scale data collection activities
It would be an advantage if you also have experience with
- Danish GDPR regulations and ethics board approvals
- Food, nutrition, public health, or health data environments
- Research support, scientific administration, or public-sector advisory work
- Data infrastructure, digital workflows, or collaboration between technical and scientific teams
- Grant management or externally funded projects
- Working in an international and interdisciplinary environment
What we offer in return
We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international atmosphere with the focus on research, teaching, innovation and scientific advice for the benefit of the surrounding community. We place emphasis on a high level of professionalism among our staff, so skills development is an integral part of our organization. We offer a great flexibility in the position. In the area of technical and natural sciences, DTU is one of the leading research and education institutions in Europe.
Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).
The position is a full-time position. Starting date is 1 August 2026 (or according to mutual agreement).
The workplace is DTU Lyngby Campus.
Application and contact
Please submit your online application no later than 12 June 2026.
Open the “Apply now” link, fill out the form and attach your motivated application/cover letter, CV and exam certificates.
If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Associate Professor and Head of Research Group, contact Scott McClure on scomc@food.dtu.dk.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.
DTU National Food Institute
DTU National Food Institute conducts research into and disseminates - through advice, innovation and teaching - sustainable and value-creating solutions in the area of food and health for the benefit of society. The vision is to make a difference by generating future prosperity through research into food and health. The institute works to prevent disease and promote health, develop new and better food products for a growing population and create sustainable technological solutions, including biosolutions. The institute’s tasks are carried out in interdisciplinary collaboration within e.g. nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology, modelling, and technology. This is achieved through a strong academic environment of international top class with correspondingly skilled researchers and employees. The Institute employs approximately 380 staff members.
DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.