Section Lead for Deep Tech, Quantum, AI, Digital & SSH Innovation Full-time NEW

Section Lead for Deep Tech, Quantum, AI, Digital & SSH Innovation

Are you passionate about turning cutting-edge research into real-world impact? Do you have the leadership skills to guide a team working at the intersection of deep tech, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and the social sciences and humanities?

KU Lighthouse is seeking an ambitious and collaborative Section Lead for the newly established Section for Deep Tech, Quantum, AI, Digital & SSH Innovation within the Division for Researcher Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The section supports researchers across the full innovation journey, from early-stage opportunities to commercialization, spinout creation, and societal impact. The section covers the full innovation value chain within these domains and includes initiatives such as Spinouts Denmark and UCPH Fintech Futures.

About the Role

As Section Lead, you will be responsible for leading a multidisciplinary experienced team of innovation professionals working across deep tech, quantum technologies, AI and digital innovation, as well as innovation within the social sciences and humanities. You will play a key role in strengthening the University of Copenhagen's innovation pipeline and ensuring that researchers receive world-class support in bringing their knowledge and discoveries into society.

As the organisation is entering a new phase of development, the Section Lead will play a key role in translating strategic priorities into operational reality – in strong collaboration with the team. The successful candidate will help shape team structures, establish ways of working, and lead colleagues through change in a collaborative and empowering manner.

The position combines people leadership, change management, strategic development, stakeholder engagement, and operational management. You will report to the Head of Division for Researcher Innovation & Entrepreneurship and become part of the division's leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

As Section Lead, you will:

• Lead and develop a team of experienced innovation advisors and specialists, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and inclusive culture.
• Drive the University of Copenhagen's innovation pipeline across Deep Tech, Quantum, AI, Digital, and SSH Innovation, ensuring high-quality project assessment, maturation, and impact creation.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with researchers, faculties, industry, investors, public-sector stakeholders, and the wider innovation ecosystem.
• Lead organizational development and change management, translating strategic ambitions into effective structures, processes, and ways of working.
• Contribute to the strategic development of KU Lighthouse, including leading cross-organizational AI initiatives and promoting the use of AI to strengthen innovation support, organizational capabilities, and operational excellence.

Your Profile

We are looking for a leader who combines strategic vision, people leadership, and a passion for innovation.

You bring:

• Proven leadership experience, including people management and organizational development.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, with experience with research, innovation and commercialization.
• Strong knowledge of one or more of the section's focus areas: Deep Tech, Quantum, AI, Digital Technologies, or SSH Innovation.
• An understanding of AI and the ability to drive cross-organizational AI initiatives and collaboration.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across academia, industry, investors, and the public sector.
• If experience in IP, negotiations, and/or license agreements it is a plus.
• A master's degree or PhD in a relevant field.

A strong advantage

We particularly welcome candidates who have experienced the entrepreneurial journey firsthand, for example as a founder, co-founder, startup executive, or member of an early-stage venture. First-hand experience transforming ideas into impact will be a strong advantage in supporting researchers and innovation-driven entrepreneurs.

What We Offer

This is a unique opportunity to shape a newly established section at the heart of the University of Copenhagen's innovation ecosystem. You will join an ambitious organization that is growing rapidly and plays a central role in strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship across the university. The position offers:

• A strategic leadership role with significant influence. You will be part of KU Lighthouse management team, which consists of four Section Leads, and two Division Heads.
• The opportunity to build and shape a newly established section.
• A highly skilled and dedicated team of colleagues.
• Strong links to leading researchers, startups, investors, and innovation partners.
• The opportunity to contribute to solutions that address major societal challenges through research and innovation.

Terms of Employment

The position is full-time and you will be employed as Section lead (chefkonsulent med personaleledelse) in accordance with the Circular on the Collective Agreement concerning Academics in the state sector concluded between the Danish Ministry of Finance and Akademikerne (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). There will be an opportunity to negotiate supplements based on qualifications. You can read more about salary levels in the state sector www.loenoverblik.dk (in Danish).

The University of Copenhagen has established a new shared administrative structure, which is still being implemented. This entails ongoing changes and development of, among other things, work processes and areas of collaboration.

Further Information

For further information about the position, please contact KU Lighthouse Management Karin Beukel at kabe@adm.ku.dk.

The University of Copenhagen aims to reflect the diversity of the surrounding society and encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background.

About KU INNO and the University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is Denmark's largest university, with an annual turnover of approximately DKK 11 billion, more than 10,000 employees, and 36,000 students. UCPH is among Europe's leading research universities and plays an active role in developing solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges.

KU INNO works to strengthen the university's innovation capacity and societal impact. We support researchers in commercialising breakthrough discoveries, help students develop innovation and entrepreneurial skills, provide legal, strategic, and organisational expertise, and connect external partners with the university's research and knowledge base. KU Lighthouse is a division in KU INNO, KU INNO currently employs approximately 110 staff members.

The University of Copenhagen is committed to reflecting the diversity of the society it serves and encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their personal background.

Join us in shaping the future of research-based innovation and leading the development of one of Denmark's most exciting innovation portfolios across Deep Tech, Quantum, AI, Digital, and SSH Innovation.