Vacant job

Do you want to lead research and innovation that shapes the future of sustainable materials and packaging?

We are now looking for an engaged and results-oriented department head who wants to further develop our research and innovation activities in bio-based materials, pulp, paper, and packaging. With us, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with skilled colleagues, customers, and partners to contribute to sustainable transformation, enhanced innovation capacity, and long-term societal value.

About us The Department of Sustainable Materials and Packaging conducts research, development, and urgent problem-solving within today’s and tomorrow’s industrial processes based on renewable fiber raw materials, with operations within the value cycles for pulp, paper, and packaging. The department develops and designs materials such as bio-based, polymeric inorganic, and metallic materials as well as hybrid materials. It also has operations in battery research.

The department is part of the Bioeconomy division, which works with the value chains of biorefineries as well as products and processes for agriculture, food, packaging, battery development, and bio-based materials.

About the role As the department head, you will have overall responsibility for strengthening the department's innovation capacity, research development, and long-term growth in line with RISE's mission. In close collaboration with colleagues across the entire organization, as well as with customers and partners, you will contribute to further developing RISE's offerings from a business and strategic perspective.

You will lead a department of approximately 200 employees, organized into several units, and have full responsibility for staff, budget, and development. Together with the department's management team, you will define the strategic direction and create conditions for daily operations. You will coach and support unit managers in their mission to translate the overall mission into operations and ensure employee delivery and development.

As department head, you report to the division head and are part of the management team for Bioeconomy. You will also lead the department management group and work closely with colleagues in the division to drive common strategic issues. You will operate in a forward-looking and innovative environment where collaboration and courageous leadership are crucial success factors.

The position is based in Stockholm. Travel is required for the role.

The position may be classified in a security class, which means that a security review may be conducted in accordance with the Security Protection Act.

Who are you? To be successful in this role, you are an experienced, confident, and courageous leader. You are a role model who creates engagement, builds trust, and coaches managers and employees towards common goals with a clear focus on results, development, and collaboration.

You have excellent communication skills, are attentive and inclusive in your leadership, and actively work to create a safe and trusting work environment. As a team player, you collaborate well both internally and externally and are motivated to develop together with others. You lead with confidence even in complex contexts and take initiative in both strategic and operational matters.

You have a strong interest in innovation, research, and development, as well as in how different domains can collaborate to create benefits, strengthen research, and generate commercial value. You involve and coach unit managers in their mission to translate the overall mission into operations and ensure innovation capacity and business acumen in projects and deliveries.

Furthermore, you are strategic, business-minded, and instill great confidence in both customers, partners, and employees. You lead and act in accordance with RISE's culture and values and are a clear ambassador for the organization.

Requirements:

• Extensive leadership experience, including participation in management teams and responsibility for strategic development

• Experience in developing business and customer relationships

• Documented experience in financial management as well as personnel, budget, and result responsibility

• Experience in leading research and/or development activities, preferably at the intersection of industry, public sector, and academia

• Relevant university education or equivalent

• Strong domain knowledge in technical areas relevant to industrial research and development in bio-based materials, pulp, paper, and packaging.

• An established network within industry, public sector, and/or academia.

• Excellent ability to express yourself verbally and in writing in both Swedish and English

We look forward to your application! At RISE, we embrace diversity and are convinced that diversity contributes to an innovative environment where we together challenge boundaries and develop new knowledge and skills for the future. We can promise an exciting journey where we, together with engaged and competent colleagues, contribute to a sustainable future and secure a competitive edge in the global market. Do you want to be part of the journey?

If this sounds exciting and you want to know more, please contact Magnus Hallberg, Division Head Bioeconomy, [email protected]. The application deadline is February 4, 2026. Selection and interviews may take place continuously during the application period.

Our union representatives are Ingemar Petermann, SACO, 010-2284122, and Linda Ikatti, Unionen, +46 10 516 51 61.

Calls and emails from external recruitment companies and sellers are kindly declined as we comply with the Public Procurement Act.