Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)/Associate Professor in French and Francophone Communication

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of assistant professor (tenure track) or associate professor in French and Francophone communication, based in the Department of German and Romance Languages.

The tenure-track assistant professorship is a full-time, fixed-term appointment of five years, with a view to permanent employment as a tenured associate professor , typically within three to five years. Further information on attaining tenure is provided in the section 'Tenure review and the tenure-track assistant professorship' below.

The associate professorship is full-time and tenured.

Applicants must state which category of position they are applying for (tenure-track assistant professor or tenured associate professor). Applications in which this is not specified will not be considered.

The position begins on 1 January 2027 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 Department of German and Romance Languages has a strong international research and teaching profile in the study of language, culture and cross-border communication. We are looking for an applicant who can contribute to and strengthen the development of the department's research and teaching profiles in Francophone and international communication in French. The successful applicant will be expected to teach on the department's bachelor's and master's degree programmes in Francophone and international communication in French, or in a closely related area.

In sum, we are looking for an innovative and dedicated applicant who will strengthen the research and teaching profiles of the department nationally and internationally, and who will contribute to Aarhus University's core activities in the areas of research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.

Research

The Department of German and Romance Languages at Aarhus University has a strong and well-established international profile and a dynamic research network.

The successful applicant will pursue research that explores the interaction between language, culture and communication in French-speaking contexts, including the ways in which meaning, identity and values are negotiated across cultural, institutional or linguistic boundaries. Possible areas of specialisation include communication in professional and societal contexts - such as sustainability and ESG communication, crisis and reputation management, or branding and identity - as well as intercultural encounters in Francophone societies, cultural transfer, narratives and representation, language and identity, translation and mediation, and the teaching and learning of French as a foreign language. Research that integrates theoretical, empirical and didactic approaches with humanistic and/or societal perspectives will be particularly welcome.

Given the increasing role of language technologies - including AI, corpus linguistics and digital communication tools - in professional and societal communication and in language education, it will be an advantage if the applicant is able to integrate these technologies and methods into research and teaching.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop research projects that result in peer-reviewed publications. The successful applicant will also be expected to engage actively in the department's research community, collaborating with internal and external partners and contributing to applications for external research funding.

Teaching and supervision

The successful applicant will be expected to contribute actively to the department's teaching and supervision activities, including courses in international and professional communication (e.g. change, sustainability and ESG communication, crisis and reputation management, and branding and identity), intercultural communication, French language and culture, and language didactics, at both bachelor's and master's levels. The appointee will also be expected to employ innovative, student-centred teaching methods and to participate in the development of interdisciplinary degree programmes in language, culture and communication.

We are looking for a colleague who combines a high level of linguistic and cultural competence in French with a strong interest in intercultural understanding, cultural diversity and the communicative challenges faced by organisations, and who can contribute to the department's vibrant, interdisciplinary environment connecting language, culture and society.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop supervision competences at both bachelor's and master's levels.

Given the international focus of the degree programmes, the successful applicant will be expected to teach in French as well as in English. The successful applicant may also be asked to teach academically relevant courses at other departments within the school.

Tenure-track assistant professor

The person appointed as assistant professor must complete Aarhus University's teacher-training programme for assistant professors , which is designed for university teaching.

Tenured associate professor

We are looking for applicants with teaching and supervision experience in the field of Francophone and intercultural communication in French at university level. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to the ongoing development of curricula and degree programmes within the field. In this context, experience of degree programme and curriculum development at universities or similar institutions will be considered an advantage.

At the associate professor level, the successful applicant will be expected to supervise and support the career development of early-career researchers, to recruit and supervise PhD students, and to participate in the development and implementation of PhD courses within the field.

Knowledge exchange

The successful applicant will be expected to engage in knowledge exchange, for instance through research collaboration with private and public companies and organisations, 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 both inside and outside Aarhus University.

Qualifications

Tenure-track assistant professor

Applicants for the position of assistant professor must hold a PhD degree or be able to document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to Francophone and intercultural communication in French,as well as teaching and research experience equivalent to that attained through a PhD degree. Applicants must also be able to document, as relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile in Francophone and intercultural communication in French or in a relevant communication field, as documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications

• relevant teaching experience at university level, including the use of innovative teaching methods, documented through a teaching portfolio
• native or near-native command of French.

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

• a track record of research publications of a high international standard, commensurate with the length of the applicant's academic career
• experience of knowledge exchange and collaboration with external stakeholders
• an outstanding and innovative doctoral dissertation in an area related to and relevant for the field
• experience of participation in national and international research networks
• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.

Tenured associate professor

Applicants for the position of tenured associate professor must hold a PhD or be able to document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to Francophone and intercultural communication in French, as well as teaching and research experience commensurate with that attained through an assistant professorship. Applicants must also be able to document, as relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile, as documented by a strong international peer-reviewed research publication record within Francophone and intercultural communication or a relevant communication field
• experience of participation in international research projects, as well as in national and international research networks
• participation in international research conferences
• teaching and supervision competences and experience at bachelor's and master's levels, including curriculum development, documented through a teaching portfolio
• completion of a teacher-training programme designed for university teaching or an equivalent qualification
• experience of knowledge exchange
• native or near-native command of French.

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

• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions
• experience of applying for external research funding.

Finally, applicants are asked to provide a research plan for the next three years and to outline their contribution to future developments within the field, including plans for publications, funding applications and collaborations with external partners.

Please note that although the application process can be completed in the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (a maximum of two for the tenure-track assistant professorship and a maximum of five for the associate professorship) as well as a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) will not be considered.

Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, applicants are asked not to include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.
Tenure review and the tenure-track assistant professorship

To be awarded tenure, the tenure-track assistant professor must be assessed as qualified for appointment as associate professor during the last six months of the final year of employment at the latest or, if the tenure-track assistant professor requests it, at an earlier time within the first four years of employment. The assessment is based on the tenure-track assistant professor's fulfilment of the qualification requirements for associate professorships and the criteria stated in the original advertisement. If the assessment is positive, the tenure-track assistant professor will be offered a tenured associate professor position at Aarhus University.

At the time of tenure review for the associate professor position, the tenure-track assistant professor is expected to have developed a strong, internationally recognised research profile and to have published the equivalent of at least two peer-reviewed scholarly articles per year. The tenure-track assistant professor is also expected to have actively contributed to collaborative research and research initiatives with other local, national, and/or international researchers in the field. This includes participation in securing research funding from external bodies and a period of research at one or more recognised research institutions.

At the time of tenure review for the associate professor position, the tenure-track assistant professor must demonstrate the ability to independently undertake teaching tasks at all levels within their core subject area and to demonstrate the breadth of their teaching competencies across all levels, including supervision. They must have taught three to four courses a year, depending on the nature of the specific courses; engaged in supervision activities, such as thesis supervision at bachelor's and/or master's level; and conducted exams. The tenure-track assistant professor is also expected to have participated in curriculum development and to have contributed actively to the department's academic and research environment. Lastly, the tenure-track assistant professor must have completed the university's teacher training programme for assistant professors prior to tenure review.

Work environment

Active participation in the department's daily life is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of strong working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. To maintain and develop the department's excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to maintain a consistent, engaged presence within the department.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and other 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 an AU Expat Partner Programme . You can also find information about the taxation aspects of international researchers' employment by AU .

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire Danish-language proficiency sufficient to manage 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. These include, but are not limited to, reading work-related texts, participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish, and teaching and examining students.

The department

The place of employment is the Department of German and Romance Languages, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

The Department of German and Romance Languages currently employs more than thirty full-time academic staff, PhD students and several part-time lecturers from various countries. Research at the department covers international business communication, corporate communication, specialised and literary translation, lexicography, literature, linguistics, social/historical/cultural studies and intercultural studies. The department offers three main types of degree programmes in French, German and Spanish: international business communication; language, literature and culture; and intercultural studies.

Prospective applicants are invited to view the department's website

School of Communication and Culture

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

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Henrik Høeg Müller, head of the Department of German and Romance Languages, by tel.: +45 25 39 70 49 or by email: [email protected] .

If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: [email protected] .

Deadline

1 November 2026

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 your motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, copies of relevant degree certificates, research plan, and (if relevant for the position) a teaching portfolio.
• If you submit your application for the assistant professorship, please upload a maximum of two samples of your scholarly output (mandatory).
• If you submit your application for the associate professorship, please upload a maximum of five samples of your scholarly output (mandatory).

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.

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.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

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

About Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe's most significant faculties for research and higher education in the humanities, theology and education. Within this broad academic scope, the faculty comprises approximately 700 researchers, 200 PhD students, 9,000 Bachelor's and Master's degree students, and 1,500 further and continuing education students. We believe that the best ideas arise when different perspectives meet - and that research, teaching and innovation are best developed in dialogue with the surrounding society.

You can find more information here: Faculty of Arts | Aarhus University

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