Data manager for Center for Landscape Research in Sustainable Agricultural Futures, Land-CRAFT, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University

Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, is looking for a full-time Data manager to work at the Center for Landscape Research in Sustainable Agricultural Futures (Land-CRAFT).

Land-CRAFT addresses three of our major societal challenges - food security, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. With Center partners from University of Copenhagen, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany), and Colorado State University (USA), we bring together expertise in climate impact research, landscape analyses, biogeochemistry, agronomy, biology, and geography to develop solution – oriented research that extends across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Established in June 2022, Land-CRAFT has built a dynamic team to undertake both fundamental and applied research aimed to reduce the environmental impact of agricultural systems, specifically regarding greenhouse gas emissions. To reach our goals, we are using a combination of empirical, field-based approaches, digital technologies, including modelling and remote sensing, while closely interacting with stakeholders.
The position we advertise here is aimed to support these activities with respect to data management. The new employee will become part of a support team with complementary skills and work collaboratively in an active and international research environment with diverse projects and people across Department of Agroecology.

The position will be available from August 1st, 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The duration of the position is 3 years.
 

Responsibilities and tasks

Your main role as part of the support team at Land-CRAFT will be to support research activities of the staff and research students (at BSc, MSc, and PhD levels) in data management, analysis and statistics. This will include maintaining and supplementing relational databases used for process-based modelling and geospatial data analyses.
Main responsibilities and tasks include:

• Organize, archive, and document data collected by the Land-CRAFT team, including with appropriate metadata protocols
• Manage data transfer/sharing among Center partners and external collaborators following FAIR data principles, AU rules and regulations, and GDPR rules
• Manage user access and permissions within the AU File system and user data on a computational server
• Create and manage a database on research outputs from the Center, including e.g., publications, citations and other reports, to facilitate website updates, annual reports, and other communication platforms, as well as managing the Zenodo community
• Support staff and students with statistical and geospatial analyses (e.g. in R and Python)
• Support/manage data collection pipeline from instruments in the lab & field (including visualisation of data in e.g. Origin)
• Establish, maintain, and refine documentation regarding all data-related protocols (e.g. data policy, data management plans, etc)
• Coordinating data management across the Department of Agroecology (about 20 % of time) in collaboration with the department’s data steward

Your profile

As a member of the Land-Craft support team, we expect you to plan and perform your tasks independently and initiate frequent feedback and communication with Land-CRAFT researchers and students. The position requires that you can communicate with and support students and scientists from BSc to Professor levels, including attention to detail and quality (QA/QC) and an affinity for knowledge – sharing, e.g., in working with students as they learn to manage their own data. You have a high proficiency in English, are culturally sensitive, and can work in a large group of diverse colleagues and students. At Land-CRAFT we emphasize good relationships among colleagues and students. It is therefore important that you have a positive and open personality, stay engaged with emerging challenges and opportunities, and are ready to support colleagues when needed
 

Qualifications:

• MSc in data science, agroecology, geoscience, biology, ecology, environmental science, mathematics, geography (or related fields)
• Knowledge and understanding of data management plans, metadata systems, archiving practices
• Experience in statistical analysis; knowledge of R or Python is a plus, as well as visualisation platforms
• Good collaboration and communications skills across different groups of employees,
• High level of English proficiency and cultural sensitivity
• Interest in and willingness to acquire general knowledge about Land-CRAFT’s research areas
• Familiarity with the Danish administrative structures and/or Danish language.

Who we are

At the Department of Agroecology, our main goal is to contribute to sustainable solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems within the areas of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the environment. We want to make a difference by contributing to both fundamental knowledge generation and the attainment of sustainable production systems via innovative research, contracted policy advice, and education. We offer professional laboratories, greenhouses, semi-field, and field-scale research facilities, advanced computing capacities as well as an extensive national and international researcher network. The department consists of nine research sections with around 350 highly skilled employees, of which approximately 50% are scientific staff. More information can be found here.
We believe in encouraging inclusion, acceptance, and understanding by employing staff who bring unique perspectives to our department.

What we offer

• A collaborative, international research environment that combines high academic standards with an informal and supportive atmosphere. We value accountability, curiosity, flexibility, and teamwork in everything we do.
• An inclusive and respectful workplace culture, where mutual trust, kindness, and professional dialogue are part of daily life. We encourage open communication and develop a cohesive sense of community across teams and disciplines.
• A flexible working environment that supports work-life balance and individual needs.
• An active institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – in recruitment, career development, and everyday interactions.
• An innovative and meaningful workplace where your work contributes to solving real-world challenges. No two days are alike, and we welcome creative thinking and new ideas.
• Support for international researchers and their families, including  Relocation Service and an Expat Partner Programme

Living and working in Denmark

• Subsidised childcare and free education from primary school through university.
• Universal healthcare for you and your family as residents.
• Five weeks of paid holiday per year.
• Generous parental leave – up to 52 weeks shared between parents, with full or partial salary.

Place of Work

The place of work is Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle 3, DK-8000 Aarhus C. The affiliation will be with the Department of Agroecology.

More information can be obtained from Klaus Butterbach-Bahl (klaus.butterbach-bahl@agro.au.dk).
 

Formalities and salary range

Salary and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Unions.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
 

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8.700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/