Head of the International Secretariat

At the Swedish Migration Agency, we are working with one of the major societal issues of our time – migration. We are about 6,000 people here, and we have an unusually important job!

The Swedish Migration Agency is on a journey of development.

We are now looking for a confident leader who wants to lead the International Secretariat with clear direction, engagement, and a strong interest in developing operations in collaboration with others.

The Assignment

The International Secretariat consists of about 14 people. As the head of the secretariat, you will lead qualified employees and ensure that operations are conducted efficiently and in line with the agency's mission. You are responsible for setting clear frameworks and creating a stable and clear work culture with well-functioning work processes, structure, and boundaries.

In this role, you will lead, develop, and follow up on the unit's operations in a governmental environment characterized by change and high demands for legal certainty and quality. The assignment is complex with international touchpoints, and you will lead your employees in an environment where national and international perspectives meet.

The role includes representing the unit internally and externally, including in certain international contexts. It also involves being responsible for internal and external collaboration, including contacts with international actors.

As the head of the unit, you will be responsible for budget and operational planning. You report to the head of staff. The role is centrally placed in the agency's organization.

Who Are We Looking For?

You have an academic background in areas such as law, economics, political science, social sciences, or equivalent, combined with a good understanding of Swedish public administration, its regulations, processes, and responsibilities. You have prior knowledge of the state decision-making and budget processes, the state value base, and the role of civil servants.

Additionally, you have documented experience in managerial or leadership roles with responsibility for qualified employees.

To succeed in your assignment, you have a trust-based perspective while also being present and following up in your leadership, actively involved in the daily tasks of the operation, ensuring that you lead and steer towards set goals, and providing the conditions necessary to fulfill the assignment. Your leadership contributes to a positive and professional culture within the agency.

We place great importance on your personal qualities. To thrive and succeed in the role, you need to be a leader who:

• Can set boundaries, create structure, and take responsibility for decisions while clarifying direction and expectations.
• Has strategic ability but appreciates working closely with operations.
• Is confident and unpretentious in the leadership role.
• Is stable and can show endurance in change processes.
• Is independent, proactive, and drives issues forward while being collaborative, both internally and externally.
• Is communicative and promotes dialogue while building trust within the organization.

In addition, you have:

• Experience with budget and operational responsibility within the public sector or other governmental organizations.
• Experience in leading, including during change, in a complex organization.
• Experience in international work or work for an international organization.
• Knowledge of migration issues.
• Excellent ability to express yourself verbally and in writing in both Swedish and English.

Information

• Employment type: Permanent position (probationary period applies)
• Working hours: Trust-based working hours
• Salary: We apply individual salary setting
• Location: Norrköping or Stockholm
• Start date for the position: by agreement

The place of work is Norrköping or Stockholm, but most employees are located in Stockholm, so presence at the Stockholm office is required based on the demands of the job. Travel in the service, including abroad, may occur.

Application

The deadline for applications is March 20, 2026. We are collaborating with the recruitment company Human Capital. For questions regarding the position, please call or email Caroline Kock at [email protected] +46(0)70 511 03 90.

Security clearance with a background check according to the Security Protection Act (2018:585) will be conducted before a decision on employment – which means a requirement for Swedish citizenship. Employment is contingent upon a successful security clearance.

We warmly welcome your application!

About the Recruitment Process

For us, it is important that all competencies in the labor market are utilized. We therefore welcome all applicants and strive for a balanced gender distribution and diversity. As a government agency, we recruit based on merit and skill. You can read more about what this entails at https://www.arbetsgivarverket.se/jobba-statligt/fragor-och-svar/Hur-ser-rekryteringsprocessen-ut-for-statliga-jobb/ (https://www.arbetsgivarverket.se/jobba-statligt/fragor-och-svar/Hur-ser-rekryteringsprocessen-ut-for-statliga-jobb/).

We use selection questions during the application process. Please answer them as thoroughly as you can, as your responses are important for whether you qualify to proceed in the recruitment process. In some recruitments, we also use tests to assess how well your skills match the position you are applying for. During a possible interview, you may also be asked questions related to security.

If you wish to contact union representatives, contact information for Saco-S, Seko, and ST can be found at the bottom of the page “Job Openings and Expressions of Interest” on migrationsverket.se: https://www.migrationsverket.se/om-migrationsverket/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/fragor-och-svar-om-att-soka-jobb-hos-oss.html#svid12_5560a3b619996eafa4b2b0 (https://www.migrationsverket.se/om-migrationsverket/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/fragor-och-svar-om-att-soka-jobb-hos-oss.html#svid12_5560a3b619996eafa4b2b0)

To work at the Swedish Migration Agency, you need to have the right to reside and work in Sweden based on one of the following grounds: Swedish citizenship (requirement for certain positions), Nordic citizenship, EU citizenship, or permanent residence permit.

If you have protected personal information or other information that you consider to be sensitive, please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) before you submit your application, and we will tell you more about our security procedures.

https://www.migrationsverket.se/om-migrationsverket/det-har-gor-migrationsverket/personuppgifter.html (https://www.migrationsverket.se/om-migrationsverket/det-har-gor-migrationsverket/personuppgifter.html)

Recruitments at the Swedish Migration Agency are conducted entirely by ourselves or by contracted suppliers. Therefore, we ask not to receive phone calls and emails from recruitment companies and ad sellers.