Vacant job

Do you want to help shape the future of waterborne public transport?

Here, you will have overall responsibility for how ships and infrastructure are developed – in a long-term, sustainable, and business-oriented manner. We are now looking for a Ship Strategist for the Boat Business unit at Västtrafik.

The Boat Business Unit

The Boat Business unit currently consists of four employees and will be expanded with one additional Ship Strategist. We are a dedicated department with extensive responsibilities, where good collaboration and a strong shared commitment to the work are central.

Västtrafik procures all waterborne public transport in Västra Götaland, with ships owned either by Västtrafik or by the transport partners performing the services. The Boat Business unit has overarching responsibility for eight transport agreements and several usage rights agreements for facilities within public passenger transport at sea, in collaboration with both private actors and municipalities.

We coordinate, ensure quality, and develop operations to create an attractive and reliable customer journey together with our partners.

Our boat operations face several exciting development issues, including those related to ownership and investment in ships, the development of jetty and port infrastructure, and strategic choices regarding electrification and biofuels in line with set environmental and climate goals.

About the Role

As a Ship Strategist, you have a key role in ensuring the long-term sustainable, cost-effective, and robust development of Västtrafik's own fleet and associated infrastructure. You work closely with our existing transport partners and have regular check-ins regarding the status, development, and follow-up of the ships.

The role combines strategic responsibility with operational management and project management, spanning both short- and long-term time horizons. Together with our other Ship Strategist, you function as the organization's guide in ship matters and serve as a strategic link between technology, economics, and infrastructure.

The assignment includes, among other things, developing and managing lifecycle strategies for ships, creating and further developing requirement specifications in transport procurements, and ensuring compliance through inspection and survey. You are also responsible for ensuring that investments and technical choices align with the organization's long-term needs and sustainability goals.

You drive projects within the ship sector through the entire process – from early feasibility studies and analyses to procurement and establishment of transport agreements. The role also covers investment processes related to, for example, ship conversion, as well as the development and new construction of charging infrastructure.

As a Ship Strategist, you take clear leadership in projects and development initiatives, where you identify needs, manage risks, and ensure progress. You stay continuously updated on external developments and translate new technology and solutions into concrete business and operational benefits.

The work involves close and dynamic collaboration with transport partners, municipalities, ports, and other external actors. You are a key driver in the development of future sustainable ship traffic.

Who Are You?

You have strong analytical skills, work in a structured manner, and have the ability to produce clear and well-founded decision support and recommendations. You thrive in a role with many contact surfaces and find it easy to create and develop trusting relationships, both internally and externally.

You have good ability to drive, lead, and execute projects where you efficiently plan, prioritize, and follow up on work to achieve set goals. You combine business acumen with a strong social commitment and have a good understanding of sustainability issues. Experience from working in the public sector as well as within public transport, procurement, infrastructure, or port issues is advantageous. We place great emphasis on personal suitability.

Qualifications

We are looking for you who have a relevant post-secondary education within the maritime segment with a technical focus, such as marine technology, marine engineering, or equivalent. You have a good technical understanding of ship systems, especially in areas such as engines, drivetrains, and electricity, and can translate this knowledge into strategic decisions regarding the development, management, and optimization of the ship fleet.

You have several years of experience working with management, contract follow-up, and coordination, preferably in a technically complex operation. Experience working with suppliers, contractors, and technical partners is valuable. If you also have experience from public transport, infrastructure, port facilities, or procurement, we view this as advantageous.

To succeed in the role, you need to be self-reliant and proactive, with the ability to drive issues forward in a structured and methodical way. You work carefully and have good analytical skills, while also having very good collaboration skills and enjoying working with different functions and stakeholders, both internally and externally.

You have very good communication skills in both speech and writing in Swedish and English, and can translate technical complexity into clear decision support.

Västtrafik as an Employer

At Västtrafik, you influence people's daily lives and contribute to a more sustainable society. There is always a lot happening here. We who work here are driven by a great commitment to what we do. We are convinced of how important it is that public transport continues to develop and be given space.

As an employer, it is important for us to create a sustainable and flexible working life where our employees develop and thrive. As an employee, you have favorable conditions, security, many benefits, and the opportunity to work remotely when the needs of the business allow.

Terms and Application

The position is a permanent employment with placement at Västtrafik's office in Gothenburg. Appointment before summer.

The position may involve travel to our various offices in the Västra Götaland Region. Depending on the assignment, the position may also be placed in a security class.

If you have questions about the position, you are welcome to contact Sofia Glader Stenius, Business Manager Boats, via email [email protected] or phone +46 10 434 52 70.

We welcome your application by June 8, 2026!