Unit Manager at the Swedish Maritime and Transport Historical Museums

The Swedish Maritime and Transport Historical Museums (SMTM) won the award for "Sweden's Most Modern Authority 2023" for its work in renewal and innovation, leadership and employee engagement, sustainable development, as well as legal security and efficiency.

We work with cultural heritage with the vision of broadening people's worldview through knowledge, experiences, and engagement. The authority has a well-integrated sustainability effort and also aims to inspire others to act for a sustainable future.

We have exciting development work ahead as the authority grows in 2026.

We will continue to develop a culture and working methods where people and ideas have room to grow while building a common culture with shared working methods in a new organizational structure within a larger authority. We are developing an effective collaboration culture characterized by trust, curiosity, and accountability. A culture where we get better together!

About the position

In this role, you will have overall responsibility for the public work at one of southern Sweden's largest tourist attractions. You will be responsible for developing and coordinating daily visitor reception and hospitality together with our museum hosts. The unit also includes educators and a program manager who, together with business developers, drive the development of content production and method development. As a unit manager, you will lead and develop the team both operationally and strategically. You will be present in the daily public work and create conditions for attractive and accessible visitor experiences for various target groups together with your colleagues. The role involves many internal contacts within the authority and close collaboration with the tourism industry.

You will be responsible for the unit's daily operations and routines, as well as for continuing to drive ongoing change work to implement new working methods. The role includes responsibility for work environment and budget, as well as recruitment and competence development. As a leader, you create engagement, team spirit, and shared goals. You will follow up on employee development and contribute to a culture characterized by collaboration and professionalism. The unit conducts a broad operation where employees work with many different aspects of our hospitality and public offerings. Furthermore, the authority systematically works on leadership development to create good conditions for our managers. With us, you will be part of a resourceful organization with high competence and many managerial colleagues to collaborate and exchange experiences with.

Your qualifications and experience

You should have post-secondary education in tourism or business development or what we assess as equivalent. You should have previous experience leading teams and employees with budget responsibility within the tourism industry, museums, or other visitor-oriented operations. You also have experience working in project form, and it is advantageous if you have training in this. You should have a good ability to express yourself in Swedish and English, both orally and in writing. We consider it an advantage if you have experience working closely with your team in operational work and if you have previous experience driving development work in your leadership role. Previous managerial experience is also advantageous.

Your qualities

We will place great emphasis on personal qualities and your leadership skills in particular. You are confident and present, and your leadership is characterized by a genuine interest in leading others and creating conditions for your employees to take responsibility and develop. You encourage and provide continuous feedback and are clear about expectations and goals. You are solution-oriented and ensure that routines work and improve together with the team. You have a present leadership style and enjoy being involved in operational work to gain a better understanding of your employees' everyday lives. You work from a trust-based leadership approach, which means you are clear, listening, and supportive. With your personality, you have a good ability to create engagement and a good collaborative culture.

More about us

The Maritime Museum is one of southeastern Sweden's largest tourist attractions, with over 200,000 visitors each year. The overall area of responsibility for the Maritime Museum is the history of the Swedish Navy and military maritime heritage work. The public and education unit consists of 16 employees who work together to provide our visitors with a memorable and knowledge-enhancing museum experience, whether on-site at the museum or digitally.

About the authority

SMTM currently operates and develops the Maritime Museum, the Maritime Historical Museum, the Vasa Museum, the Wreck Museum, and the Railway Museum. From January 1, 2026, the defense historical museums, the Army Museum and the Air Force Museum, will also become part of the authority, which will then change its name to the National Museums of Maritime, Transport, and Defense History. The authority will employ approximately 390 people on January 1.

Employment

Permanent employment, with a 6-month probationary period may apply. Start date by agreement.

Salary

Monthly salary, we apply individual and differentiated salary setting. Please state your salary expectations in your application.

Contact persons

Johan Löfgren, Museum Director: 0455-35 93 74

Union contact persons

Jens Haumann, ST: 08-519 549 93

Anna Silwerulv, Saco-s: 08-519 549 62

Application

Welcome with your application by December 7 by registering via the link to our website. Attach your CV and cover letter. First interviews will be held on December 15-16. For the final candidate, we will conduct psychological tests.

Other

The Swedish Maritime and Transport Historical Museums is a government authority, which means that the information you provide to us may be disclosed under the principle of public access to information. Normally, there is no confidentiality for the information processed in your application. If you have protected personal information, please contact the contact person indicated in the advertisement. SMTM aims to reflect the diversity present in society in its personnel composition. If you have the right competence, you are interesting to us, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or ethnic background.

SMTM has taken a position on recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore firmly request no contact with media sellers, recruitment companies, or similar.