The posting
Do you want to create something new? Do you want to fundamentally change how we organize teaching and learning at the SCIENCE departments? Do you want to be part of a unique opportunity in the largest university in Denmark? Then you might be our new SCIENCE Makerspace Operation Director.
We invite applications for a 5-year position as Operation Director for the SCIENCE Makerspace at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. The Faculty of Science is committed to sustainably continuing the Makerspace activities at the end of the 5-year period, providing the possibility for extending the position long-term.
About the SCIENCE Makerspace
We are establishing a top-tier Makerspace at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, spearheaded by the Department of Computer Science (DIKU), Niels Bohr Institute (NBI), and the Department of Science Education (IND). The SCIENCE Makerspace vision is built upon a foundation of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and aims to create an inclusive learning environment that bridges disciplines, supports different ways of learning, and attracts students with diverse backgrounds and interests. Everyone is welcome, and no prior knowledge of makerspaces, machines, or materials is required.
The SCIENCE Makerspace will be established as a 600 sqm facility centrally located at Nørre Campus, with a budget of 42 million DKK over 5 years supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The Makerspace is expected to host 1-3 university courses per academic quarter, independent projects for BSc/MSc/PhD students, and be a venue for extracurricular workshops and 'blue sky' ideas from faculty and students. The Makerspace will also facilitate the integration between traditional and non-traditional forms of knowledge production within an Expert-in-residence program.
The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen is one of Scandinavia's largest science faculties, with over 4,000 staff, ~9,000 students, and an annual turnover exceeding DKK 3 billion, located in the heart of Copenhagen. SCIENCE hosts 12 departments spanning a breadth of disciplines from molecular biology and chemistry to mathematics, computer science, and geoscience, united by a commitment to curiosity-driven, high-impact research.
Description of the position
We offer a unique opportunity for you to become the Operation Director of the ‘yet-to-be-build' 600 sqm SCIENCE Makerspace centrally placed at the Northen Campus in Copenhagen. The SCIENCE Makerspace vision is to design, build and run an inclusive and innovative learning space that bridges disciplines, allows for multi-modal learning activities, and attracts a diversified and balanced cohort of students from different educational programs (BSc, MSc, PhD) across the 12 Departments.
The Operations Director will direct the SCIENCE Makerspace and be the manager for the Makerspace team. The Operation Director is responsible for ensuring that principles for DEIB are mainstreamed in all decisions in the Makerspace.
You will be part of the core decision-making on how to organize, establish, and run the ‘one-of-a-kind' Makerspace. You will collaborate with committed faculty from DIKU, NBI, and IND in the establishing phases, and with the Deanery for Education for long-term engagement across the departments in making the Makerspace vision a reality.
You will be part of hiring the team who will run the makerspace together with you including Technical Lab Manager, Lab Technician, and a group of student mentors.
This is a unique opportunity to be part of creating something new, in the largest university in Denmark, which fundamentally will change how we organize teaching and learning at the SCIENCE departments.
You will need four core competences to succeed in the position:
- You will need skills and expertise which allow you to strategize and develop ideas which will foster success for the SCIENCE Makerspace vision. This includes the work of identifying and understanding upcoming challenges for e.g. DEIB [DK3] (organizationally, socially, technically, and spatially) and finding solutions, while pro-actively execute required actions. Further, the Operation director must be able to function within an ‘entrepreneurial atmosphere’ where everything is not settled yet.
- You will need leadership and management competences which will allow you to lead a mixed Makerspace team of both highly skilled lab manager and lab technicians whose work requires levels of trust and autonomy, as well as student mentors who need clear instructions and guidance.
- You will need to navigate and understand the organizational and social structures of academia and university life, this includes considering the intrinsic motivation of researchers/teachers and PhD students, and how they might differ for MSc/BSc students. Such competence can arrive from your own experience during your education and does not require that you have worked in a university setting previously.
- You need interest in ‘making’ and Makerspaces. Furthermore, it is important that you consider consulting relevant experts about their views and perspectives, which will allow you to take qualitatively and well-founded decisions about our joint Makerspace.
You will not be a one-person army, instead you will have three main groups with different types of competences and experiences you can draw on in the position, including the Makerspace team, an experienced team of administrative management colleagues, and the Faculty of SCIENCE teaching committee.
To read more about the vision, plans, and background for the SCIENCE Makerspace, please visit ucphmakerspace.dk
Qualifications
You are pro-active, find solutions where others see barriers, and are excited about being a core part of establishing, building, and running the brand-new SCIENCE Makerspace at University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
You have a relevant higher education or experience from similar positions.
You care for students and want to make it possible for all students at SCIENCE to experience learning activities where ‘making’ plays a role, e.g. as part of courses, project work, tech workshops, and extracurricular activities.
You are committed to the agenda of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), know about Universal Design, and strongly believe that all activities and decisions in the pioneer SCIENCE Makerspace must take into account the multiple, intersecting dimensions of groups including, but not limited to genders, internationality, neurodiversity, socioeconomic backgrounds, and physical feasibility.
Our ideal candidate can be described as:
- Have management experience - potentially from a university or a politically governed organization.
- Demonstrates a high degree of trust under responsibility towards our employees, who are self-driven and accountable. As a manager, you help set the overall direction, contribute to daily well-being and cohesion, and support the development of individual employees and the team, while maintaining an overview of strategic initiatives in collaboration with your staff.
- Has an understanding of others’ work situations, you are able to develop strong collaborative relationships across employees with different educational and professional backgrounds.
- You have personal or professional making experience, pedagogical expertise and DEIB expertise
- You are structured, service-minded, approachable, and able to build commitment to strategic decisions.
- You thrive in a diverse environment with a wide variety of tasks.
- You have collaboration skills and the ability to build networks across professional groups, including across the organization
- You have strong communication skills in English (oral and written) and is ready to learn Danish.
Living in Copenhagen
The university is situated in Copenhagen, which is consistently rated among the world's top 10 most livable cities. Located in Denmark, ranked in the top three happiest countries globally, Copenhagen boasts a vibrant culture, rich in music, theater, and community organizations. Life for families is made easier via a publicly supported daycare and healthcare system, dual-career opportunities, maternity/parental leave, and six weeks of annual vacation. International candidates may find information on living and working in Denmark. Useful information is also available at the university’s International Staff Mobility (ISM) office, which offers a variety of services to international researchers coming to and working at the University of Copenhagen.
Terms of employment
The Operation Director reports to the Head of Administration, Department of Computer Science, Camilla Lillholm. You will be employed as a senior consultant with managerial responsibility in accordance with the collective agreement for academics in the state sector. There is an opportunity to negotiate additional allowances based on qualifications.
Note that Denmark protects the economic, social, and physical well-being of its workers, which includes robust health care, childcare, elder care, and other generous benefits. Thus, direct salary comparisons across nations are typically not meaningful.
Further information
For dedicated information on the new Makerspace, go here: ucphmakerspace.dk
You are welcome to contact Head of Administration, Department of Computer Science, Camilla Lillholm ([email protected]), or the Academic Director Professor Pernille Bjørn ([email protected]) if you have any inquiries about the position.
Filing of application
As part of the application for the position, please write and submit a 1-page appendix labeled "Core Competences - NAME” in English, where you answer the below questions (one paragraph for each question), considering the description of the position as well as the SCIENCE Makerspace vision, which you can read more about at ucphmakerspace.dk. You are not allowed to use AI when writing the appendix. The questions are:
- What is your approach for leadership and management of the SCIENCE Makerspace
- What makes you excited about the SCIENCE Makerspace?
- What do you expect will be the most challenging part of making the SCIENCE Makerspace vision a reality?
Please submit your application, including appendix, CV and relevant documentation, electronically via the Job Portal (click the link “APPLY FOR THE POSITION” at the bottom of the advertisement), so that it reaches us no later than 14 November 2026. We expect to hold interviews on 27 November 2026 and 4 December 2026.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Appointments will be based solely on qualifications.
