Project Manager - Development of Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Technologies - DTU Sustain

DTU Sustain is seeking a Project Manager to support the development of advanced wastewater treatment technologies, resource recovery, and residual-stream valorization from industrial and bio-based wastewater streams.

The position is anchored in the Water Technology and Processes section at DTU Sustain, the Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark. Based at DTU Lyngby Campus, the section develops sustainable solutions for the treatment and reuse of water and residual streams from urban, industrial, and agricultural systems. Our research covers wastewater treatment, water reuse, resource recovery, membrane technologies, and circular approaches to residual-stream valorization.

You will work closely with DTU colleagues from different scientific disciplines as well as industrial partners, utilities, municipalities, technology providers, and other relevant stakeholders.

The role

As Project Manager, you will lead and contribute to research-oriented and application-driven projects within wastewater treatment, water reuse, resource recovery, and circular water and resource management.

The position combines technical project work with project coordination, stakeholder communication, experimental planning, and technology development.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating projects within wastewater treatment, water reuse, and resource recovery

• Planning projects, tracking progress, and coordinating technical activities

• Communicating project status, risks, and outcomes clearly

• Contributing to the treatment of complex wastewater and residual streams, including industrial wastewater, agricultural wastewater, biogas wastewater, and nutrient-rich liquid waste streams

• Working with membrane-based treatment, adsorption, coagulation-flocculation, and biological or electrochemical processes

• Planning and coordinating laboratory and pilot-scale experiments

• Evaluating treatment performance and analyzing water quality data

• Assessing the potential for water reuse and the recovery of nitrogen, phosphorus, water, and other valuable resources

• Contributing to process optimization, pilot-scale planning, performance evaluation, and techno-economic assessmen

• Collaborating with DTU colleagues, industrial partners, utilities, municipalities, technology providers, and relevant public stakeholders

You will help ensure that project activities are well coordinated, technically sound, and aligned with broader goals in sustainable water management, circular resource use, and residual-stream valorization.

Your profile

We are looking for a candidate with experience or a strong interest in wastewater treatment, environmental technology, process engineering, or resource recovery. You do not need to have experience in all the areas listed below, but we are looking for someone motivated to grow into a role that combines technical development, project coordination, and stakeholder collaboration.

A PhD degree in environmental engineering or chemical engineering is required. A relevant technical background is expected, for example, in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, process engineering, biotechnology, water treatment, membrane technology, or related fields.

Core competencies:

• Experience with structured project coordination, planning, and reporting

• Ability to maintain an overview of complex technical projects

• Strong communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

• A proactive, solution-oriented, and responsible working style

• Ability to work independently while contributing actively to a team

• Interest in sustainability, circular economy, and applied environmental innovation

Experience with one or more of the following areas is considered relevant:

• Wastewater treatment, water reuse, and resource recovery

• Membrane processes, adsorption, coagulation-flocculation, and electrochemical or biological treatment

• Laboratory or pilot-scale experimental work

• Water quality analysis and interpretation of treatment performance data

Knowledge of industrial wastewater, biogas wastewater, agricultural wastewater, nutrient recovery, or circular bioeconomy systems is considered an advantage.

Additional qualifications:

• Experience working with industrial partners, utilities, public authorities, or regulatory processes is considered an advantage

• Familiarity with pilot-scale testing, scale-up challenges, process integration, or real wastewater applications will also be beneficial

• Experience in multidisciplinary environments across engineering, chemistry, environmental science, biotechnology, and applied water research is highly relevant

What we offer in return

We offer a challenging and meaningful position in an interdisciplinary environment focused on sustainability, innovation, and applied technology development.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to the green transition by developing solutions that reduce wastewater pollution, recover valuable resources, and create new value from waste and residual streams.

The position offers:

• A dynamic and collaborative working environment

• Close collaboration with researchers, engineers, industry partners, utilities, and external stakeholders

• Opportunities to work on both laboratory-scale and application-oriented projects

• Professional development within wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and circular water and resource management

• The opportunity to help shape future technologies for sustainable water and resource management

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for academic staff employed in technical-administrative positions at DTU (AC TAP):

The position is a full-time position. Starting date is 1 January 2027 or according to mutual agreement.

The workplace is DTU Lyngby Campus. Occasional travel to project sites, industrial partners, pilot facilities, or field locations should be expected.

We offer a flexible working environment with a strong emphasis on collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development.

Application and contact

Please submit your online application no later than 20 October 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Open the “Apply now” link, fill out the form and attach your motivated application, CV and exam certificates.

If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Professor Wenjing (Angela) Zhang on email: wenz@dtu.dk

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Sustain - Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering - is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. The department conducts research, development & scientific advice and provides educational programs and service to society. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The Department has approximately 300 staff from more than 50 nationalities.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829

DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.