Vacant job

Working for Save the Children means making a difference. As an employee of Save the Children, you know that your work contributes to making the world a better place for children and young people. You are surrounded by engaged colleagues who share common values. Here, you have the privilege of both developing and being challenged.

As a Children's Ombudsman, you work on behalf of children, in collaboration with guardians, to support children in individual cases when interacting with authorities and other public agencies. We are now looking for two Children's Ombudsmen to start in Borlänge, Dalarna. The pilot project with independent Children's Ombudsmen began in autumn 2025 and is funded by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).

Save the Children's pilot project is established in two geographical areas, Borlänge and Malmö, with two and one Children's Ombudsman in the teams respectively, as well as a national project manager. Organizationally, the activity belongs to the Centre for Support and Treatment, but the teams are located at the regional offices in their respective locations.

In this role, you work according to the method Steps to Protect, an established method within Save the Children aimed at strengthening children's safety and access to their rights. The work takes place in a structured step-by-step process where, together with the child, you identify needs, highlight rights, and work to ensure these are met over time.

The overall goal of the pilot project is to reduce the gap between children in need of support and society's authorities and interventions. The activity is monitored from several perspectives, including:

• The number of children receiving support to pursue their cases further

• Increased access to Children's Ombudsmen

• Children's understanding of available support

• Children's trust in society's support measures

As a Children's Ombudsman, you are responsible for:

• Providing operational psychosocial support to children, young people, and families in individual cases

• Supporting children in contact with authorities and other actors

• Documenting cases to identify gaps in the welfare system and highlight vulnerable groups

• Contributing to knowledge development, dissemination, and advocacy

• Participating in the development of working methods, routines, and guidelines

• Collaborating with external actors and partners

• Contributing to monitoring, impact measurement, and quality assurance

• Cooperating with Save the Children's membership movement

Qualifications:

• Degree in Social Work and/or Law with a focus on social law

• Several years of experience in social work with children and young people

• Very good knowledge of the Social Services Act and experience in public administration

• Experience working with children and families in vulnerable and complex situations

• Experience collaborating in cross-professional teams

• Good knowledge of children's rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and relevant societal systems

• Valid driver's license (Category B)

The role sits at the intersection of law and social work. You delve into legal issues to ensure children's rights are upheld and can assist in drafting complaints or appeals, but you do not act as a legal representative.

Desirable experience:

• Experience working in the non-profit sector or member-driven organizations

• Knowledge of associations and understanding of democratic processes

Personal qualities: You are secure, stable, and professional in your role, with a good ability to work independently and in a structured manner. You are solution-oriented and results-driven, with a strong ability to build trusting relationships with children, even in difficult life situations. You treat children and families with warmth, respect, and sensitivity, and actively contribute to good collaboration with colleagues and external actors.

At Save the Children, we are proud of our shared values that unite and guide us in our important work.

This is a fixed-term position from 2026-08-01 to 2028-12-31 at our pleasant office in Borlänge. HERE you can find information about our employment conditions. If you have questions about the role, please contact manager Pernilla Rempe Sjöstedt ([email protected]) or project manager Anna Båfält ([email protected]). We look forward to receiving your application by May 31, 2026.

As we have an anonymized recruitment process, we ask that you do not include personal details when answering any selection questions. We use only CVs and not cover letters in the application. Please also remember not to name attached files with personal data. As part of our recruitment process, we may use tests in the selection work to ensure a more objective and inclusive recruitment process.

Union contacts: Unionen: Edvin Arnby Machata, [email protected] Akademikerföreningen: Anna Vikgren, [email protected] Save the Children should reflect the equality we work for in society and strive for diversity and differences. Therefore, we welcome a breadth of competencies, perspectives, and experiences in this recruitment. Save the Children is careful to be a safe workplace for children and adults and requests an extract from the criminal record in connection with employment. Final candidates will also be screened against the EU sanctions list. All employees are expected to follow our important guidelines regarding safety and security for all, as well as our values and ethical guidelines. Read more about these important guidelines, HERE.