Are you driven to shape global health policy and lead impactful international development programs?
Do you have a passion for advancing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) solutions and a talent for managing complex, multi-country initiatives? If you thrive at the intersection of science, policy, and global collaboration—and are ready to help shape the future of public health through strategic partnerships and evidence-based policymaking—then this opportunity at the DTU National Food Institute could be your next big step.
The job
The DTU National Food Institute is seeking a dynamic and experienced Policy and Program Manager to lead and support international development initiatives with a strong focus on global health, genomics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our new colleague will manage multi-country projects, coordinate with global stakeholders, and contribute to the development and implementation of policy frameworks. Responsibilities include overseeing grant-funded programs, facilitating strategic partnerships, and delivering technical assistance to strengthen genomic surveillance and bioinformatics capacity across LMICs.
This role involves high-level stakeholder engagement, donor reporting, and the design of training and knowledge-sharing platforms. You will also participate in the Global Capacity Building Group’s management team, supporting the group leader in strategic planning and day-to-day operations. The incumbent will also support grant writing for the group.
You are driven by a desire to bring expertise in policy analysis, grant writing, program design, and cross-sectoral collaboration, with a proven ability to translate complex data into actionable policy recommendations. Experience working with international organizations, managing multi-partner initiatives, organizing trainings, team management, overseeing communications campaigns, and navigating diverse cultural and institutional contexts is essential.
You can look forward to travelling to partner countries to organize, moderate, and facilitate meetings, workshops, and other activities. It is therefore key that you are able and willing to travel and work and interact well with other cultures, as well as with individuals with various professional backgrounds.
Your Primary Areas of Responsibility in this role will be to oversee all aspects of project start up for projects, including stakeholder mapping and analysis, due diligence, contract negotiation, and project registration. You will manage ongoing project activities including reporting and monitoring of financial consumption and support the development of evaluation frameworks for projects. Moreover, you will:
- Plan and implement workshops and training courses
- Contribute to the design and maintenance of training materials and MOOCs
- Develop policy briefs, business plans, communication plans and materials tailored to different stakeholder groups (e.g., ministries of health, public health institutes, private sector).
- Ensure programs achieve policy alignment with global policy agendas (e.g. WHO, ECDC, FAO)
- Lead or support applied research studies on topics relevant to projects, such as the policy implications of AI-driven genomic surveillance.
- Support the use of program outputs to inform evidence-based policymaking in infectious disease control and AMR
Our expectations of you
We are looking for a visionary senior profile that thrives on turning exciting challenges into solutions based on curiosity and an open mind for entering new paths when necessary.
We expect you to hold at least a master’s degree, preferably within public policy, public health, or a similar area, and have 10+ years of experience successfully managing large-scale international health/development projects, including PMP or PRINCE certification. You are passionate about driving change and assisting local progress. You hold the necessary team player mentality and skills to create a structure that will steer the international team towards the short- and long-term goals of projects. You are comfortable representing the projects in different political and cultural environments. Previous experience working with grant application, sustainability, and exit planning is preferred.
Essential expertise would include:
- Ability to convey ideas and strategies into actions, solve problems, and work with flexible project plans and goals.
- Experience in matrix management and supporting the administrative and management functions of a department or group
- Ability to tailor communication materials to varied audiences (e.g., ministries, public health institutes, private sector)
- Good communication skills in English, oral and written. Knowledge of other languages is a bonus.
What we offer in return
We are a dynamic and caring team working in the European Union, Asia, and Africa on projects that provide capacity strengthening to laboratories. We are service minded and collaborative in our approach to working with both our external partners and one another and seek a colleague who is motivated to make a difference in the world.
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, thus, 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 preferably 1 September 2025 (or according to mutual agreement).
Application and contact
Please submit your online application no later than Sunday, 24 August 2025. Open the “Apply now” link, fill out the form and attach your motivated application, CV and exam certificates.
If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Birgitte Helwigh at [email protected].
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 350 staff members.
Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.