Engineers Without Borders (EWB) works at the intersection of voluntary engagement, technical expertise, and geopolitical reality. We translate Danish engineering competence into concrete, robust solutions in vulnerable contexts – from acute crises to multi-year development initiatives in the Global South and Ukraine.

We are looking for a new colleague who can build bridges between emergency action and long-term anchoring, and who thrives on responsibility, complexity, and working in a dynamic professional field.

Who are we?

Engineers Without Borders is a technical–humanitarian organization with:

• 24 corporate partners
• approx. 1,600 individual members
• 250 active volunteer professionals
• a professional, development-oriented secretariat

We are 25 years old, and our model is based on volunteer professional expertise, strong partnerships, and private co-financing (60–70%). This places high demands on project quality, relational intelligence, and the ability to translate between different worlds: civil society, the private sector, local partners, and donors.

In recent years, we have expanded both our country portfolio, types of interventions, and modalities – including the interaction between response, early recovery, and development. This requires advisors who can maintain direction, pace, and quality at the same time.

About the position

You will be employed as an International Response and Project Advisor, with a focus on building bridges between acute response interventions and the development of a sustainable project portfolio.

Specifically, this means that you:

• Act as a development advisor and coordinate technical volunteers in complex contexts – sometimes under time pressure and with limited information.
• Ensure coherence between short-term response activities and long-term development projects (exit strategies, scaling, handover, and local ownership).
• Develop projects in close collaboration with local partners, volunteer professionals, donors, and companies.
• Communicate Danish engineering expertise and international projects through compelling, targeted, and engaging corporate presentations and grant applications.
• Are responsible for quality assurance, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), and learning as deliberate management tools.
• Handle project administration and maintain ongoing financial oversight.

As we continue to grow, you will become part of a small secretariat where role flexibility, responsibility, and sound judgment are more important than narrow job descriptions. We work as a team and cover each other’s areas of expertise when needed.

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a relevant Master’s degree (political science, international studies, regional studies, international business, or similar).
• Has at least 4 years of experience in international development and/or humanitarian work.
• Has worked abroad and has experience as an expatriate or seconded staff member, preferably under challenging conditions.
• Can lead without formal authority and advise technical experts who know more than you within their own field.
• Knows how to positively motivate Danish volunteers and communicate development concepts in accessible, everyday language.
• Has documented experience with project development, partnerships in the Global South, and fundraising (preferably also from the private sector).
• Possesses strong project management skills and can manage processes, relationships, and finances simultaneously.
• Enjoys creating new relationships and identifying promising collaboration opportunities.
• Is willing to step in when colleagues need an extra hand – even outside your core area.
• Communicates clearly, precisely, and persuasively in Danish and English (CEFR: C2).

On a personal level, we expect that you:

• Thrive in an advisory and facilitative role.
• Have strong situational awareness, integrity, and the courage to say yes and no.
• See opportunities at the intersection of technology, people, and politics.
• Take action when needed – even without a manual.

It is not a requirement, but a major advantage if:

• You have experience outside the development sector.
• You speak French, Ukrainian, and/or Arabic.
• You have previously worked in a structured way with volunteers.

EWB as a workplace

You will work closely with the two other project advisors, Pi and Sarah, across the full project cycle, with room for sparring and a balanced distribution of tasks within the team. You will also collaborate with the rest of the secretariat: finance officer Matthias, communications manager Jeppe, mission coordinator Lasse, and Secretary General Peter, as well as student assistants and interns on an ongoing basis.

EWB is a flexible workplace with a fixed remote workday on Mondays and the possibility to plan your own working hours within normal office hours (9:00–17:00). The position requires participation in evening meetings 4–8 times per month with our volunteers and participation in 1–3 trips per year of approximately 10 days each.

We are extremely privileged to have our permanent workplace in the beautiful facilities of the IDA Engineers’ Association House at Kalvebod Brygge 33. The excellent facilities are topped by a stunning view over Copenhagen Harbour, inviting both winter swimming and walk-and-talks along the waterfront when the dust of the world has settled and good stories are ready to be shared.

Employment terms

• Start date: Preferably early February 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter
• Working hours: 30–37 hours per week by agreement
• Salary: Based on qualifications and experience. We offer good conditions but are not market-leading on salary.

How to apply

Have we caught your interest? Instead of a traditional motivation letter, we ask you to answer the following specific questions (maximum 1 page in total):

1. As an advisor, how do you ensure that EWB, as an organization driven by technical volunteers, delivers solid and long-lasting solutions, and how do you advise volunteers who are experts in areas outside your own professional field?
2. We have received funding for a new project… yay! Describe your action plan from one month before the project start date until one month after. How do you get it up and running?
3. Imagine you are standing in an elevator with a CSR manager from a Danish company. In 8–10 sentences, present how our interventions create positive change in the world, while also explaining when a partnership with EWB makes sense – and when it does not.
4. Provide an example of a successful collaboration with a colleague or partner. Why did it go well, and what role did you play?

It is completely fine if you are not familiar with our usual internal processes when answering. We are interested in your thinking and priorities.

Please send your answers and your CV as one combined PDF to job@iug.dk.
Application deadline: 20 January 2026
Interviews: Weeks 4 and 5, 2026

Questions?

You can read more about Engineers Without Borders on our website: www.iug.dk
If you have further questions about the position, please contact Secretary General Peter Horne Zartsdahl at phz@iug.dk or +45 81 11 00 20 (please note holiday closure from 18/12/2025 to 9/1/2026).

We look forward to reading your application 💚

Engineers Without Borders recruits based on professional competence, judgment, and responsibility. We believe equality and diversity are strengths and therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply – regardless of gender, age, ethnic background, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.