head of legal.

who EIT Water are

EIT Water is Europe's innovation community for water, marine and maritime (WMM) sectors and ecosystems. We connect industry, innovators, researchers, educators and policymakers to tackle the most urgent WMM challenges from scarcity, drought and flooding to pollution and ecosystem decline. By bringing together the right ideas, ingenuity and investment, we build real-world solutions that strengthen Europe’s water resilience, support the blue economy and protect ecosystems from source to sea.

EIT Water is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. Together with the EIT Community, Europe’s largest innovation network, we strengthen resilience, sustainability and competitiveness.

about the role

Reporting directly to the Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO), you will step into a senior lead capacity acting as the central legal advisor across the organisation.

You will work closely with the CEO, the C-suite, Directors, and the Supervisory Board to ensure sound corporate governance, regulatory alignment, and proactive risk mitigation. In this pivotal position, you ensure that the operational foundation of EIT Water complies fully with European Union grant regulations (Horizon Europe) as well as applicable Danish statutory law.

key responsibilities

• Deliver strategic legal counsel to the CEO, C-suite executives, Directors, and the Supervisory Board regarding statutory compliance, corporate governance, and operational decisions.
• Lead the drafting, negotiation, and finalisation of agreements with members, consortium partners, and suppliers in strict accordance with EU grant conditions.
• Apply in-depth knowledge of EU grant frameworks to ensure operational setup and activities adhere to Horizon Europe regulations.
• Supervise high-value procurement workflows, enforce internal compliance policies, and oversee overarching legal risk management.
• Provide specialist expertise on Danish law, ensuring leadership navigates both national legislation and European regulatory requirements effectively.

qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years of legal experience gained within complex, international, or heavily regulated sectors.
• A recognized law degree and a valid European legal qualification.
• Substantial expertise in EU regulatory frameworks and public funding structures, with particular focus on Horizon Europe and EIT mechanisms.
• In-depth knowledge of Danish legal standards and compliance.
• Professional fluency in spoken and written English, which serves as the daily operational language.

competencies

You are structured, hands-on, and proactive, with the executive credibility needed to communicate intricate legal matters with clarity and build trust across senior leadership. You approach complex challenges with a pragmatic, solution-driven mindset, demonstrating high integrity, absolute discretion, and composed judgment under pressure.

what EIT Water offers

• A central legal leadership position working directly with executive management in an EU-backed, mission-driven organization.
• An international, purpose-led environment driving innovation across sustainable water ecosystems.
• A balanced part-time structure enabling high-level strategic contributions.

practical details

This is a temporary part-time position based in Aarhus, requiring approximately 18.5 hours per week. The assignment starts as soon as possible and runs until June 30, 2027, with English as the daily corporate language.

recruitment process

Randstad is managing the recruitment process on behalf of the client. We review applications and invite candidates for interviews on an ongoing basis, so please submit your application and CV as soon as possible.If you have any questions regarding the position, please feel free to reach out to Manager Lone Clark at lone.clark@randstad.dk or Specialist Marie Schwartz at marie.schwartz@randstad.dk. All applications are treated confidentially.

about randstad

Randstad is the world’s largest talent company and a partner of choice to clients. As a Partner for Talent, we are committed to providing equitable opportunities to people from all backgrounds and helping them remain relevant in the rapidly changing world of work.

We have a deep understanding of the labour market and help our clients to create the high-quality, diverse and agile workforces they need to succeed. We support people to realise their true potential throughout their entire working life. This is what we do and what motivates us every day.

Randstad DK is part of the international Randstad Group. Every day, we help more than 600,000 people around the world find jobs. We specialise in finding, attracting, and retaining skilled talent to power businesses at speed and at scale. Randstad DK is a leader in this field, with offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, and Kolding.