Science Department Officer (parental leave cover)

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is an intergovernmental organization which aims to advance the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems and provide information and advice on the sustainable use of the seas.

ICES is currently in search of a Science Department Officer to join our Secretariat located in Copenhagen, Denmark. This is a fixed-term parental leave cover position for 12 months from June 2026.  

This is a diverse role and requires working with highly skilled professionals both from the Secretariat and wider ICES community to advance and promote scientific research on marine ecosystems and sustainable use of the oceans. We offer a job where you get to collaborate closely with leading scientists and get insight into the operations of an intergovernmental organization.

You will join the Secretariat which is made up of approximately 80 staff who represent over 30 different nationalities.  As a science department team member, you will encounter working days with lots of variation and requiring plenty of quick thinking and problem solving.  Your team is made up of skilled and committed colleagues who have a wide range of backgrounds (e.g. administration, marine science, data and software, event management, and publishing) and there is plenty of opportunity for discussion, debate, involvement and competency development.

Responsibilities

We seek a service-minded colleague to:

• Assist the ICES network of marine scientists predominantly in the Aquaculture Steering Group and its expert groups with tasks such as:
  • supporting Professional Officers and Chairs in Science and Advice activities,
  • scheduling and hosting meetings,
  • formatting reports,
  • maintaining online schedules, timelines, and
• Administrative support for internal meetings and initiatives, particularly the Science Committee.
• Support the ICES Resolution Database:
  • Maintain the database
  • Quality control the data in the database and Power BI reports
  • Liaise with publications colleagues on links to the library
  • Support colleagues in the use of the database
• Assist the Head of Science Department, as otherwise required

Qualifications and experience

To be successful in this role, you should have:

• A university degree from an accredited educational institution; natural science or administration related is preferred
• Fluent in spoken and written English
• Technical ability in Microsoft Suite, particularly Power Automate and Power BI
• Experience related to information and data entry management
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• The ability to prioritize and be flexible with changes in scope while still ensuring that deadlines are met
• The ability to work independently, to take initiative, and to interact with diverse personalities, cultures, and scientific backgrounds with demanding schedules in a diplomatic and effective manner and generally keep the train on the tracks and moving forward.

Terms of Appointment

The appointment will be full-time (38 hours per week), for a 12-month contract period starting in June 2026.

ICES Secretariat staff enjoy privileges and immunities pursuant to the Host Agreement between the Government of Denmark and ICES. The salaries of ICES staff are exempt from Danish income tax and are based on, but not identical to, the United Nations common salary system. 

This role is graded as C3, step 1 which equates to a gross monthly salary of DKK 30,814.90 (net monthly salary 21,235.10) in year 2026.  A tax-free pension scheme is also available, to which both the employee and ICES contribute (7.9% and 15.8% of salary, respectively).

ICES Staff Rules set out the conditions and principles of employment and the responsibilities of the Secretariat staff. 

Applications

If you feel you have the professional and personal qualities we are looking for, please submit your application (CV and cover letter) by clicking APPLY NOW.

Deadline for application submission is 23:59 (CET) Monday 06 April 2026. Interviews are expected to take place in the week beginning 13 April 2026.

ICES encourage a positive workplace culture by striving for inclusivity and diversity appointment of its staff. This includes family-friendly policies, flexible working arrangements, and standards of conduct. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.

This is a locally recruited position and is open only to candidates who already have the right to reside and work in Denmark.

For more information about ICES, please visit our home page: www.ices.dk