Job Advertisement: Section Head for International Operations

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is the leading, directing, and coordinating authority in civil defense. We ensure that society is prepared for crises, heightened readiness, and war.

Do you want to prepare others?

Do you want to contribute to strengthening Ukraine's resilience in a complex security political environment? Do you want to facilitate learning from international cooperation to civil defense in Sweden? Do you have leadership experience in international contexts and want to work strategically with international efforts together with others? Then you might be our next head.

We are now looking for a section head who wants to contribute to strengthening Ukraine's resilience and developing the agency's international operations. As section head, you will lead a newly established section with about 20 employees in Karlstad, Stockholm, and personnel stationed abroad in Ukraine.

The agency actively works to integrate cross-cutting perspectives in all our activities, including gender equality, equal treatment, accessibility, sustainable development, and conflict-sensitive approaches. We are looking for someone who has the will and ability to implement these perspectives in practice and contribute to our work being characterized by inclusion, transparency, and a holistic perspective.

Our leadership is based on trust, compassion, and the desire to work together. We assume that we do our best and wish each other well. Acting in line with this means contributing to increased security and a sustainable working life.

Your responsibilities and tasks

As a manager with us, you will be responsible for operations, personnel, and budget. You will be part of the unit's management team and contribute to the development of operations for both the unit and the entire department. Together with other section heads, you will be active in the ongoing change work and are expected to contribute to the department's common goals of further strengthening our ability for operational leadership and execution across the entire threat spectrum.

As a manager, you are responsible for driving the section's issues at a strategic and operational level together with your employees. You should lead and steer based on the unit's, department's, and agency's goals and approaches. Your role includes collaboration both internally within the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and externally with other authorities and organizations.

Your responsibilities include planning and prioritizing for an efficient operation with high quality and creating conditions for a good work environment where employees thrive and develop. In your role as a manager, it is crucial to establish, develop, and maintain partnerships, as well as promote cooperation both internally within the agency and externally with a variety of national and international actors. The role also includes working strategically with external funding.

The timelines for operational work can sometimes be short, and you are expected to make decisions under time pressure, based on limited information. On-call duty is included in the employment.

Your knowledge and competencies

We are looking for someone who has:

• Relevant academic education.
• Experience in a managerial role where you have applied trust-based leadership and have documented good leadership skills.
• Experience in a leading role in an international context.
• Experience in international development cooperation and international authority collaboration.
• Experience in strategic work with external funding.
• Very good knowledge of Swedish and English in both speech and writing.
• Experience in leading change.
• Experience in leading operations in challenging security contexts.
• Experience in decision-making under time pressure with limited data.

It is meritorious if you have:

• Experience in government work and regular collaboration with the Government Offices.
• Experience in leading operations that receive special government assignments.
• Previous experience and competence within the mandate and tasks of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency.
• Experience in working in operationally oriented activities.
• Documented knowledge and experience of working with Ukraine.

In all our work, both internally and externally, we must act based on the state value framework. Like all employees and leaders with us, you are expected to act according to the agency's approach.

The approaches apply in everyday life, crisis, and war. They should be seen as a whole and build on each other; collaborative – proactive - action-oriented.

Read more about our approaches

To succeed in the role, you have the ability to be a confident and stable leader with good self-awareness. You can distinguish between the personal and professional, adapt your approach according to the situation, and create engagement and participation. You motivate and empower to achieve common goals, coordinate groups, and serve as a natural point of reference. Furthermore, you work in a structured manner by planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks effectively, setting clear goals, and ensuring that deadlines are met.

About the employment

We offer you a permanent full-time position that begins with a probationary period and a fixed-term managerial appointment for four years.

Your place of employment will be Karlstad or Stockholm, and travel in the position is expected, not least to Ukraine.

The majority of our positions involve placement in a security class. Usually, Swedish citizenship is required. When placed in a security class, a security screening with a background check will be conducted before employment according to Chapter 3 of the Security Protection Act. Most employees at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency are designated for wartime service.

Want to know more?

If you have questions, you are welcome to contact unit manager Caroline Källner. Union representatives are Carin Hammarbo (Saco-S), Peter Nytting (ST), and Ann-Britt Paradis (SEKO). All can be reached via the switchboard number 0771-240 240.

Welcome with your application by March 10, 2026.