IOOS' new secretariat manager wants to inspire and motivate
On August 1st, Jan Ulrik Rasmussen (age 37) assumed the position of secretariat manager at the Department of Dentistry and Oral Health IOOS and says that he already feels at home. Read more about the new secretariat manager, who believes that humor is an essential element in everyday life.
1. What do you see as your most important task as head of the IOOS Secretariat?
My goal is to set a direction for the secretariat's task handling and focus on professional development as well as implementation of strategies and new initiatives. In particular, I consider it to be a very important management task to be able to acknowledge, motivate and excite employees and encourage new ways of optimizing workflows and task performance. It is my experience that good teams and trusting cooperation are best built with respect for the individual professional fields and areas of expertise, with a high degree of openness and preferably with a sense of humor and an informal tone among us.
2. What would you like to accomplish in the coming year?
I have a clear ambition that the secretariat will be a well-functioning and strong entity with a good working environment, a high level of competence and a culture with a confidence and expectation that everyone takes an independent responsibility. The secretariat's task handling must be characterized by dialogue, proactivity, effectiveness and high quality.
3. What should IOOS employees know about you?
I live in Ry with my wife, Louise, and our two daughters, Julia (age 5) and Isabella (age 3). I completed my MSc in Political Science at Aarhus University in 2010 and have since then been employed in various positions in the region of Central Jutland, where I have worked with regional and hospital operations. In my previous employment, I have had extensive professional responsibility for operational and development tasks, I have advised and supported top management in connection with strategic priorities and initiatives, which has given me a sharp analytical approach and strategic understanding of operational issues, development potentials and the best use of resources in the healthcare system. In my most recent employment at the research and education center NIDO | Denmark at the Hospital Unit West I was responsible for advising and supporting researchers, research management and hospital management as well as ensuring progress in the hospital's strategic development and change processes. This has given me a broad insight into the research and education field.
4. What are you most looking forward to in your new job?
IOOS and Aarhus University provide a very inspiring and motivating environment to enter in as a leader, and I am very much looking forward to developing my leadership ideas. I see many exciting challenges in the position. In particular, I look forward to getting to know my staff in the secretariat and the colleagues in the department and to building good working relationships in the organization. Although I have only been at the department for a short time, I already have the impression of a very open and helpful environment where I feel very much at home.