Part-time fixed-term Communications and Content Role for the Danish System of Scientific Collections (DaSSCo)

Updated: about 1 year ago
Deadline: 30 Jan 2023

The Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen is leading a multi-institutional project to digitize all Danish natural history collections and is looking for a part-time fixed-term Communications and Content Officer to work with us to help get our website online. The position is part-time for 6 months starting in early 2023.

About us
The Natural History Museum of Denmark is the national museum for nature and contains more than 14 million objects of preserved animals, plants, fossils, and minerals. Natural history museums have never been more important for monitoring the impact of climate change and the direct human threat to plant and animal life.

DaSSCo (Danish System of Scientific Collections) is a five-year project financed by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science. The Natural History Museum of Denmark is leading the project that also involves a series of other Danish institutions; the Herbarium (the Science Museums, Aarhus University), the Natural History Museum in Aarhus and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The aim of DaSSCo is to digitise the approximately 19 million natural history objects stored at the combined collections. Through digitisation of our collections, we will make information, presently only accessible on site in natural history collections, available to everyone around the world: for researchers, educators, conservation programmes, nature management, businesses, the general public, and many others. Given the size of the collections, the task cannot be finished in five years and the project is expected to run for longer. The data produced by DaSSCo will be integrated in the Pan-European DiSSCo initiative (https://www.dissco.eu/ ) of which the Natural History Museum of Denmark is a founding member. DiSSCo involves 120 institutions in 21 countries, ultimately giving the public access to 1,500,000,000 records.

The Natural History Museum of Denmark offers a friendly and thriving international research and work environment. Copenhagen is one of the top-ten livable cities in the world, famous for its cultural life, green spaces, food, and sustainable ambitions (https://www.visitcopenhagen.com ).

Main tasks and responsibilities
The Communications and Content Officer will work with the Project Leader to develop a DaSSCo website and communications. They will:

  • Research options for designing and implementing the DaSSCo website
  • Develop a detailed design brief for the DaSSCo website
  • Manage the design process, implementation, and delivery of the DaSSCo website
  • Research, write and edit content
  • Source images
  • Design templates for DaSSCO communications using our logo.

The Communications and Content Officer will be part of a new digitisation section, which is in turn part of the Collections division (https://snm.ku.dk/english/organization/ ). The Collections division consists of two collection management sections, a conservation unit, a Botanical Garden, and the new Digital Collections section. You will interact with colleagues across the museum, including curators, collection managers, public engagement, and administrative staff.

Qualifications, skills, and experience
We are looking for an individual who is a skilled communicator, able to make even complex information accessible to a diverse audience. They should also be capable of organizing and managing a small project, including liaising with external designers and web developers.

We expect the following skills and experience as a minimum which you should clearly demonstrate via examples in your cover letter.

Essential skills are:

  • Proficient in written and spoken Danish and English
  • Excellent communications skills
  • Highly organized
  • Experience of writing scientific content for a diverse audience
  • Very good IT skills and experience in editing images.

In addition, any of the following skills are considered a bonus

  • Editing experience
  • Web design
  • Scientific knowledge, particularly with natural science collections
  • An understanding of Museum collections.

Terms of salary and employment
The employment and salary are made in accordance with the Circular on the Collective Agreement concerning academics in the state sector concluded between the Ministry of Taxation and Akademikerne (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).

This post is being advertised as part-time (15 to 20 hours per week) for 6 months, although the actual hours and duration is negotiable.

Your application
This is a short term, temporary position and as such can be made as a direct appointment following review of relevant CV, evidence of previous written work (ideally published) and an informal discussion.

If you find the job interesting, please send an electronic application with attachment via Jobportalen (click on the link "Apply Now" at the bottom of the post) no later than 30 January 2023.

Interviews will take place week commencing 13 February 2023.

The University of Copenhagen seeks to reflect society and encourages applications irrespective of personal background.

Further questions
Any questions about the position may be directed Pip Brewer ([email protected] ) and Kim Steenstrup Pedersen ([email protected] ).

The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen – or SCIENCE – is Denmark's largest science research and education institution with 4,000 employees and 9,700 Bachelor and Master's students in 11 departments and one museum. The faculty has an annual budget of DKK 3 billion.

Learn more about The Faculty of Science at www.science.ku.dk


Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.



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