Aarhus University

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of assistant professor of digital strategic communication based at the Department of Media and Journalism Studies.

The assistant professorship is a full-time, fixed-term, three-year position; and subject to appropriate funding, there will be an opportunity to apply for a subsequent associate professorship. The position begins on 1 October 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.

The position

The field of media and journalism studies is currently undergoing significant changes not least due to the increasing digitalisation of culture and society that has radically transformed the basic conditions under which mediated content is produced, distributed, used and experienced. These new conditions call for critical and innovative ways to prepare qualified media and journalism studies students for a rapidly changing job market, and to produce high-quality research that helps society, organisations, corporations and people make sense of and navigate contemporary media landscapes. The Department of Media and Journalism Studies at Aarhus University is taking an international lead in developing research and study programmes based on the premise that the ability to understand fully the implications of digitalisation in communication, media production and distribution necessitates the adaptation and integration of new modes of enquiry into both research and teaching.

Against this background, we are looking for a colleague who can strengthen and develop the department’s profile in strategic communication in an online context, develop teaching and research in this area, and contribute to the department’s continued focus on digital, methodological competences.

Our ideal applicant can document research results at an international level in analysing contemporary strategic communication within either a political, a commercial, a public or a civil societal context. Strong skills in digital methods and analysis of digital communication are also relevant, and we ask the applicant to present a convincing three-year research plan for the development and/or implementation of these skills and competences within a strategic communicative research context. Experience of teaching or practice in strategic communication is considered a strength, but not a requirement.

In sum, we are looking for a dedicated applicant who will strengthen the research and teaching profiles of the department nationally and internationally, as well as contributing to Aarhus University’s core activities in the areas of research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.

Research

The Department of Media and Journalism Studies at Aarhus University has a pronounced and significant international profile and a robust research network.

We are looking for an applicant who can document research competences in one or more of the following areas:

• strategic online communication or media planning (with regard to their function as designed/aesthetic products in a societal, organisational, political context, their media and algorithmic conditions, and/or their audience/user perspectives)
• digital transformations in strategic communications in corporate or non-corporate contexts, e.g. in the field of political communication, NGOs, social movements or start-up enterprises
• the development of theory and theoretical approaches to strategic communication in a digitalised world, possibly including but not limited to the role of organisations, communicative content, platforms, automation, stakeholder management and outreach strategies for business, political or civic purposes, strategic planning and evaluation methods, persuasion and audience reception
• proven skills (through publications or project reports) in applying and/or developing digital methods applicable for the analysis of strategic communication in an online universe

We are looking for applicants who are enthusiastic about developing digital strategic communication as a new field of research and teaching at the department, drawing on the department’s existing resources and competences as well as developing their own research portfolio and expertise in an internationally competitive and highly relevant field of research.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop research projects that result in academic publications. The successful applicant will also be expected to participate in the research community at the department in terms of collaborative research projects with internal and external partners, as well as participating in applications for external research funding.

Teaching and supervision

The successful applicant will be expected to take part in the department’s teaching and supervision activities and to teach and supervise on the department’s Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes, particularly a course in strategic communication on the Master’s degree programme in media studies which is expected to start in 2022. Please indicate in your application which courses you could teach. The successful applicant will also be expected to apply and develop innovative teaching methods in synergy with existing degree programmes and research centres.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop supervision capabilities at both BA and MA levels.

Given the international focus of the degree programmes, the successful applicant will be expected to teach in English as well as Danish.

The person appointed to the post of assistant professor must complete Aarhus University’s teacher-training programme for assistant professors, which is designed for university teaching.

Knowledge exchange

It is expected that the successful applicant will engage in knowledge exchange, for instance in terms of research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, collaboration with civil society, and the public dissemination of knowledge.

The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to engage in collaborative initiatives with partners inside and outside Aarhus University.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to organisational and strategic communication. Applicants must be able to document:

• an internationally-oriented research profile within digital strategic communication, organisational communication, public relations or media studies and affiliated fields of communication research
• experience of conducting research commensurate with that attained through a completed PhD
• relevant teaching experience at university level, including teaching methods, commensurate with that attained through a completed PhD

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document

• experience of participation in relevant national and international research networks
• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions

Finally, applicants are asked to provide a research plan for the next three years as well as their strategy/vision for their contribution to future developments within the field of digital strategic communication.

Please note that applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum five) will not be considered.

Work environment

Active participation in the daily life of the department is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. In order to maintain and develop the department’s excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to be present at the department on a daily basis.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. See Family and work-life balance for further information.

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to see Attractive working conditions for further information about the benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and career counselling for expat partners. For information about taxation, see Taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in Danish equivalent to level B2 (CEFR) in order to handle tasks including administrative and managerial responsibilities and to participate fully in the activities of the School of Communication and Culture within approximately three years of commencing the appointment.

The department/section

The place of employment is the Department of Media and Journalism Studies, Helsingforsgade 14, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Prospective applicants are invited to view the department’s website.

School of Communication and Culture

The school is a part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its research programmes, departments and diverse activities on its website.

For further information about the position, please contact Anne Marit Waade, Head of the Department of Media and Journalism Studies, by tel.: +45 8716 2009 or by email: amwaade@cc.au.dk.

If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: hsi@au.dk.

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners: http://ias.au.dk/au-relocation-service/. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/.

Formalities

Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .

Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.

The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than five examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of four main academic areas at Aarhus University.

The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.

With its 500 academic staff members, 260 PhD students, 10,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society, the Danish School of Education, and the Centre for Teaching Development and Digital Media. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.

The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en

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