Special Consultant – Arctic Environment

We are seeking a special consultant to join us at the Department of Ecoscience, Section of Arctic Environment. We are a multidisciplinary group doing research and advisory work related to the environmental impact of mining and other industrial activities in Greenland as well as other human made activities that can affect the environment and biodiversity within the Arctic. If you are interested in working with the Arctic environment and have a background in applied environmental or ecological work then you must apply for this position.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a permanent position from May 1st or as soon as possible. 

Job description

The position will focus on advisory activities related to the environmental effects of pollution from mining and other human made activities in the Arctic but can also include other aspects such as monitoring of environmental factors as well as biodiversity in a changing Arctic.

In this regard the focus will be on advisory work related to mining pollutants including effluents/waste products, wastewater treatment and assessment, and impacts on biodiversity.

You will be part of an interdisciplinary team with close collaboration within the department.

The advisory tasks include environmental advisory to the Government of Greenland on issues in connection to mineral exploration and exploitation in Greenland. These tasks are done in interdisciplinary teams that include close collaboration with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland. Depending on your profile the tasks may also include advice to Ministries in Denmark and Greenland on topics related to nature and biodiversity, as well as topics related to monitoring activities in Greenland.  

The advisory goes through DCE - Danish Centre for Environment and Energy. DCE is Aarhus University's central unit for knowledge exchange within the areas of nature, environment, climate and energy.

Your profile

The applicant is expected to have a degree within environmental engineering or biology, or similar and in addition previous experience with advisory work. Experience with the Arctic is an advantage.

Previous involvement with advisory work to authorities is preferred. Good communication skills in speak and writing is important, and it is a great advantage if you speak and write Danish as the advisory tasks to the Greenland and Danish Authorities involve participation in meetings, writing of notes and reports in Danish language. It will also be an advantage if you speak Greenlandic. Experience with international collaboration is an advantage. Good collaboration skills are required since the advisory tasks include a high degree of teamwork in the multidisciplinary team of researchers and advisors.

Who we are

The Department of Ecoscience is project-based and engaged in research, teaching curricula and consultancy covering all major biological sub-disciplines, and we conduct world-class research in the areas of ecosystem ecology including aquatic biology and ecology, Arctic environment and ecosystems, and biodiversity and conservation biology. The Department currently employs approximately 275 academic and technical staff.

The Department holds a strong position in international biodiversity, nature and environmental research and is a national leader in research-based consultancy and knowledge exchange on evidence-based and cost-effective management of nature, environment and biodiversity, and related regulation measures in relation to anthropogenic stressors, including industrial activities in Denmark and Greenland. Our research focuses on how ecological framework conditions, historical conditions, natural processes and anthropogenic changes of nature and the environment affect our surrounding nature. We explore the underlying ecological and geographical mechanisms and work on understanding human impact on biodiversity and ecosystems. Particular focus is on how current climate change and other global anthropogenic environmental changes affect nature and biodiversity.

The Department of Ecoscience plays a leading role in providing advice to the Danish and Greenlandic authorities on environmental issues, and we are deeply involved in the Danish national monitoring programme (NOVANA), responsible for developing and revising technical guidelines and for the sampling and analysis of biological parameters, hazardous substances etc. The Department also leads the Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) programme focusing on effects of climate change on the Arctic ecosystems. Finally, we are responsible for data reporting to national and international databases. We have easy access to all large environmental databases.

The Section for Arctic Environment helps the authorities to handle and minimize the environmental consequences based on research and solid background knowledge about nature and the environment in the Arctic/Greenland. Further we have a strong focus and role in the Arctic collaboration related to nature, biodiversity, and pollution, mainly within Arctic Council. Our research and consultancy are based on more than 50 years of work in Greenland. The Section plays a leading role in research and research-based consultancy on the effects of pollution and human disturbances of Arctic nature.

What we offer

The Department offers a vibrant and informal research environment with longstanding traditions for collaboration with international university partners in the absolute elite and with the Danish Ministry of Environment. The working environment at the Department of Ecoscience is based on teamwork and close working relations with developed professional and social network activities among young scientists. The working languages are Danish and English, and we welcome applicants from abroad. Read about the Danish work-life balance and the services available when relocating to Aarhus University at

www.au.dk/work

.

Place of work and area of employment

The Department of Ecoscience have two work locations; one in Roskilde and one in Aarhus. The place of employment will be in Roskilde (Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde).

Contact information

Further information can be obtained from Head of Section Tom Christensen (phone: +45 20 49 95 10, e-mail:

[email protected]

) or Head of Research and Advisory Anders Mosbech (phone: +45 29 44 02 03, e-mail: [email protected]).