Legal Advisor at the Swedish ESF Council

The Swedish ESF Council is a government agency under the Ministry of Employment. The agency manages funds from the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) which is an important tool for creating opportunities to develop regions, individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout Sweden. The fund contributes to more people being able to find work or gain the skills needed in the labor market. Our mission is to support and finance projects that strengthen people's position in the labor market, promote social integration, combat exclusion, and contribute to positive societal development. With us, you have the opportunity to work in a smaller organization and actively contribute to creating a more inclusive and sustainable society. We have about 140 dedicated employees in eight offices across the country, with our headquarters in Gävle.

We are currently working with the funds for the program period 2021 - 2027 and have begun preparations for the period 2028 - 2034.

We are now looking for a legal advisor for our Program Unit.

What do we offer you?

• Meaningful work: With us, you will be part of making a difference in an important government assignment – contributing to an inclusive and sustainable labor market for all.
• Development and learning: We offer good opportunities for you to grow and develop within your area of expertise and take the next step in your career.
• Health and balance: We value good health and balance in life and offer, among other things, wellness during working hours and wellness grants of up to 5,000 SEK per year.
• Benefits: Good vacation and pension conditions as well as extended parental leave benefits.
• Culture: We have a work environment characterized by openness, collaboration, and respect, where we all help each other grow and contribute to our common goals.

Program Unit & Responsibilities

The legal advisors are part of the program unit at the Swedish ESF Council, which is responsible for developing working methods and providing support and guidance to operational activities regarding how funds should be implemented based on programs and regulations. The unit's mission includes developing internal and external manuals for fund management. The unit is also responsible for monitoring how regional units and the national funding unit comply with external and internal regulations and contributes to developing the quality of the internal regulations that govern program activities.

The unit currently consists of a manager and about fourteen employees within various functions such as operational development, controlling, legal affairs, and investigations.

As a legal advisor at the Swedish ESF Council, you will provide legal support and are expected to handle and respond to legal questions within a variety of legal areas such as EU law, administrative law, GDPR, and LOU. You will participate in the development of regulations and internal governing documents and prepare and conduct internal training within various legal areas for the agency's operations. Your tasks will also include responding to consultations, writing opinions, providing legal expertise in legal matters for the entire agency, and potential litigation. The legal advisors are also the agency's data protection coordinators.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who has:

• A law degree or equivalent.
• At least 5 years of experience in qualified legal work within public administration.
• Good knowledge of administrative law and experience in other relevant legal areas for the agency such as EU law and LOU.

It is an advantage if you have:

• Experience in providing legal services within operations where case management is a significant part.
• Knowledge of EU funds and state aid regulations.
• Completed judicial clerkship.
• Knowledge of GDPR/personal data management.

The work requires good analytical skills, a structured approach, and the ability to quickly understand and solve varying tasks in complex contexts. It is also important that you have good pedagogical skills, the ability to collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders, and can create understanding of the significance of legal issues. You should also be able to express yourself well both orally and in writing in Swedish and English.

An inclusive workplace

The Swedish ESF Council strives to be a workplace characterized by diversity, equality, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of background, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, or other personal identification. We offer a work environment that contributes to personal development and to our common vision of a more inclusive labor market.

Application and more information

The position is a permanent full-time position based at the headquarters in Gävle. There is also the possibility of placement at one of our regional offices in Gothenburg, Jönköping, Luleå, Malmö, Örebro, Stockholm, or Östersund. We apply a probationary period of 6 months and the start date will be agreed upon.

If you would like to know more about the positions, please contact Maria Rönnbäck, unit manager, tel. 026-54 27 01. Union contacts are Samuel Löfgren, ST-ESF, tel. 040-174219, email: [email protected], and Maria Norgren, Saco ESF, tel. 026-542672, email: [email protected].

Welcome to apply by March 1, 2026, via the link "Apply" below. We look forward to reading your application!

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