Programme Officer for Oak Foundation Denmark

Oak Foundation Denmark is seeking a programme officer with solid experience in programme and grant management to support the foundation’s initiatives in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. Working closely with the executive director, you will help develop these initiatives and manage day-to-day operations.

Oak Foundation Denmark supports organisations that work with the people and communities who have the fewest opportunities to create the lives they want. We believe that lasting social change is created through strong organisations, communities, and partnerships, and that a diverse civil society is essential for greater equality, democracy, citizenship, and justice.

Your work will make a difference

We are a small secretariat consisting of just two people, so your contributions will have a significant impact on the office and on the initiatives we support. This is a role that requires broad societal knowledge, strong judgment, and a willingness to actively participate in day-to-day operations and management. The job offers excellent opportunities for outreach activities and for networking with relevant organisations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• developing and refining the foundation’s programmes, initiatives, and partnerships in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands
• monitoring developments within the foundation’s focus areas and identifying relevant new opportunities for initiatives
• assessing applications, project proposals, organisations, and potential grantees
• evaluating applicant organisations’ management, governance, finances, capacity, risks, and expected results
• prepare grant recommendations, analyses, risk assessments, and decision briefs
• to monitor grants, including progress, finances, results, changes, and lessons learned
• build and maintain relationships with NGOs, civil society organisations, foundations, government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders
• representing the foundation in networks, at meetings, at conferences, and in collaborative forums
• collaborating with international colleagues in programme work, finance, and operations
• prepare analyses, decision briefs, presentations, and reports for decision-makers at the board and executive management levels
• in collaboration with the director, handle administrative, practical, and coordinating tasks, including calendar management, day-to-day office operations, and follow-up and planning of travel, meetings, workshops, etc.

A role with both professional and practical responsibilities

You are the analyst, administrator, and relationship builder all rolled into one, and you can switch seamlessly between strategic discussions, grant evaluations, and specific administrative and practical tasks.

You have at least 15 years of direct experience with grant administration and project management, and you have extensive experience independently managing complex cases from initial assessment through decision-making, follow-up, and closure. We are therefore seeking a highly experienced candidate who is motivated to take on this responsibility for a number of years. Professional experience in communications, general project management, secretarial services, or broad-based consulting is not sufficient on its own.

You also have significant experience presenting recommendations to decision-making bodies such as boards of directors, executive boards, and similar bodies. You have a solid understanding of and interest in civil society organisations, their working methods, and operating conditions. You also possess a high level of professionalism in both written and oral communication in Danish and English.

In terms of education, you hold a master’s degree, for example in political science, sociology, economics, law, or public administration, or a professional degree as a social worker or similar with relevant advanced studies.

Experience from an NGO, a civil society organisation, a foundation, or a public authority responsible for funding pools and grants will be particularly relevant. Experience from or with Greenland and the Faroe Islands will be an advantage.

Your Personal Qualities

As a person, you possess strong professional and interpersonal judgment and are skilled at assessing quality, organisational capacity, feasibility, and risks. You have strong interpersonal skills and can build trust, but you are also able to ask precise and critical questions. You also work independently, in a structured and persistent manner, and see your tasks through to completion. You thrive on a high degree of autonomy and short decision-making chains, and you are flexible and understand that we work in a dynamic environment and must step in where needed.

What can we offer?

You’ll have an exciting job at a Danish foundation with an international reach and the opportunity to influence initiatives that make a difference. You’ll report to an attentive executive director who is looking for an active partner, with a working relationship characterized by open dialogue, mutual respect, and meaningful contributions. There’s the opportunity for a flexible workday, and your salary will be determined based on your experience and the scope of the position.

This is a full-time position based in Copenhagen. You should expect a certain amount of travel, including in connection with the foundation’s work in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

How do you apply?

Please send us your resume and a cover letter explaining why you are the right person for this position via the link in the ad. The deadline for applications is Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 12:00 PM

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Partner Britta Borch Egevang at Holmgaard Management by email at bbe@holmgaardmanagement.dk or by phone at +45 70 26 61 44 starting Monday, August 17. For qualified candidates, there will be two interviews, including a personality assessment. We will handle your inquiry and application with respect and confidentiality. We look forward to hearing from you.

Part of an international foundation

Oak Foundation Denmark is based in Denmark and is part of a larger international group of philanthropic organisations headquartered in Geneva. The foundation enjoys a high degree of autonomy and has short decision-making processes, drawing on the knowledge, guidance, and cross-functional support of the international foundation. Oak Foundation Denmark views diversity as a strength and encourages all qualified individuals to apply—regardless of ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or age.

The Oak Foundation is committed to protecting and promoting the well-being of children, as outlined in the organisation’s Child Protection Policy, which can be found here: https://oakfnd.org/about/child-safeguarding/. The selected candidate will be required to comply with this policy, provide a clean criminal background check before starting employment, and will be asked additional questions regarding this matter. Read more at www.oakfnd.dk.