Project Manager for Engage Sustainably – Villages in Collaboration

The Umeå region is a growth area where seven municipalities collaborate to promote business, living conditions, and community services.

The collaboration consists of the municipalities of Bjurholm, Nordmaling, Vindeln, Vännäs, Robertsfors, and Umeå in Västerbotten County, as well as Örnsköldsvik in Västernorrland County.

For several years, the Umeå region has been conducting a collaboration in rural development. The work is based on a common rural development strategy. As a way to realize the strategy and move from words to action, a development project will be initiated in 2026 aimed at the association life in rural areas. The project owner is Umeå Municipality, but the project encompasses the entire Umeå region.

We are now looking for someone to project manage this!

About the Project

The project Engage Sustainably – Villages in Collaboration aims to support and strengthen the association life in the rural areas of the Umeå region. The project is based on seven pilot villages (one in each municipality) where a local association in each village serves as a partner.

The project is based on needs that the associations themselves have highlighted. In general, it is about getting more people involved, especially young people. Today, the voluntary work is often carried by a few individuals, known as enthusiasts, and the voluntary engagement is therefore perceived as vulnerable.

The project's activities are carried out in two work packages:

Work Package 1

Focuses on developing collaboration between associations across village and municipal borders. Here, a collaboration forum will be developed where associations can exchange knowledge, experiences, and inspiration. Various types of training initiatives aimed at the association life will also be implemented, based on the needs identified in the seven pilot villages. This may involve issues such as young people's power and influence, generational change, and board techniques.

Work Package 2

Focuses on making the activities and events of the pilot villages visible in innovative and creative ways, together with young residents in the villages. This will include a marketing campaign to highlight the importance of the association life for the rural areas of the Umeå region.

The project's goals are to:

• Strengthen the seven pilot villages in their work with sustainable engagement
• Enhance young people's inclusion and agency in the association life
• Strengthen collaboration between the pilot villages, municipalities, and other project partners
• Contribute to increased pride, engagement, and future optimism among residents and those active in the pilot villages

Your Responsibilities

As a project manager, you will have overall responsibility for initiating, driving, coordinating, and completing the project in accordance with the project plan. You will work closely with the municipalities, the seven pilot villages, and other project partners, which include interest organizations in rural development. You are also responsible for ensuring project reporting to the funder and reporting to the steering group.

You will have a support group consisting of officials from the municipalities and representatives from the seven pilot villages. There is also a reference group within the project consisting of project partners with expertise in rural development, civil society issues, and inclusion of young people.

Examples of Responsibilities:

• Conduct surveys regarding experiences of engagement, local development work, collaborations, and networks in the seven pilot villages
• Develop a long-term collaboration forum where associations can collaborate, exchange knowledge, and inspiration across village and municipal borders
• Plan, procure, and implement training initiatives for the association life and communication efforts
• Explore local development opportunities with young people in the villages
• Explore innovative forms of association work and engagement
• Ongoing work regarding project reporting, administration, etc.
• Coordination of the steering group, project group, and reference group
• Collaboration with various stakeholders within the Umeå region

About You

We are looking for someone who is engaged, social, outgoing, and has an easy time collaborating with multiple partners. You are communicative, creative, and attentive, as well as curious to get to know new people and places in the rural areas of the Umeå region. You are structured, self-driven, and proactive, and are used to working independently and according to project plans. We place great emphasis on personal suitability.

Requirements

• Relevant post-secondary education in media and communication, rural development, urban planning, cultural geography, or other education deemed relevant by the employer
• Experience in project management and project reporting, preferably with funding from the EU or national authorities
• Experience in communication work and social media
• Experience working in the public sector or other activities focusing on collaboration and development
• Driver's license (B)

Meritorious

• Work with rural development, both in the public and non-profit sectors
• Personal experience of voluntary engagement
• Work with and for young people, democratic issues, and gender equality

Welcome with your application!

Employment Conditions

The position is a project employment for 18 months, full-time 100% with a planned start in January 2026 until June 2027. (This is subject to positive funding confirmation from the Swedish Board of Agriculture). The work involves flexible working hours with daytime as a starting point (08:00 – 17:00), but evening and weekend work may occur.

Read more about the collaboration within the Umeå region and take part in the common rural strategy here: www.umea.se/landsbygdssamverkan (www.umea.se/landsbygdssamverkan)

About Umeå Municipality

Umeå Municipality is the region's largest employer with over 13,000 employees. The municipality has approximately 440 managers, and the operations are divided into eight administrations. Our jobs and our values are based on citizen focus, openness, trust, and continuous improvement. Umeå is a cultural city in constant development. To achieve the goal of 200,000 inhabitants by 2050, we need more people working for growth and welfare. We know that differences enrich and welcome everyone to apply for jobs with us. In the next ten years, we will hire about a thousand employees each year. Do you want to be one of us?

Here you can learn about living and residing in Umeå: https://www.umea.se/flytta (https://www.umea.se/flytta)

Umeå Municipality is part of three administrative areas for Finnish, Meänkieli, and Sámi www.umea.se/minoriteter (www.umea.se/minoriteter).

As an employee with us in Umeå Municipality, you can take advantage of a number of benefits. Learn about our benefits https://umea.se/jobbochforetagande/jobbochpraktik/kommunensomarbetsgivare/varaformaner.4.1b4d24fb1752122eb843bf.html (https://umea.se/jobbochforetagande/jobbochpraktik/kommunensomarbetsgivare/varaformaner.4.1b4d24fb1752122eb843bf.html).

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