Vacant job

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) is the leading, guiding, and coordinating authority in civil defence. We ensure that society is prepared for crisis, high alert, and war.

Do you want to lead civil defence? Then you could be our next colleague.

The Rescue Services Division works to strengthen municipal rescue services and prevent risks related to hazardous substances. The division consists of approximately 500 employees distributed across four units with subordinate sections. We operate in Karlstad, Stockholm, Sandö, Revinge, and Rosersberg.

Our leadership is based on trust, humanity, 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 Head of Unit for the General Staff Unit, you are also responsible for planning, organizing, and leading the work at the General Staff Unit. In the role of Head of Unit, you have operational, personnel, and budgetary responsibility. The main task of the General Staff Unit is to support the division management with the overall steering of the division. The unit's main responsibility lies in coordinating cross-authority processes such as direction-setting, planning, and follow-up work.

The Head of Unit also serves as the Chief of Staff for the division. The Chief of Staff plays a central role in coordinating operations between the agency's divisions. This provides unique insight into much of the agency's operations.

The role requires strategic ability, a holistic view, and the ability to prioritize the best interests of the operations in actions and decision-making. Your leadership is characterized by trust and dialogue. You create conditions for motivation, participation, and engagement among your employees. It is crucial that you remain calm and stable even in pressured situations and have the ability to manage multiple time perspectives simultaneously. To thrive in this role, you should have high flexibility and adaptability to changing conditions. The assignment involves many contact points, so it is important that you are a good communicator and can coordinate different interests and needs.

Your knowledge and competencies

We are looking for someone who has:

• Relevant academic education or equivalent experience assessed by the employer as equivalent.
• Current and several years of experience in a managerial and leadership role with responsibility for working environment, personnel, and economy.
• Good knowledge of the Swedish civil service and its decision-making processes, and an understanding of the political structure within which the authority operates.
• Good proficiency in Swedish and English, both spoken and written.

The following are meritorious:

• Experience of working in the public sector.
• Experience of exercising indirect leadership and/or a habit of close collaboration with other managers.
• Experience of leading remotely.

In all our work, both internally and externally, we must act based on the government's values. As all employees and leaders here, you are expected to act according to the authority's code of conduct.

The code of conduct applies in everyday life, crisis, and war. They should be seen as a whole and build on each other; cooperation-oriented – proactive – action-oriented.

Read more about our code of conduct (#)

About the position

We offer you a permanent full-time position starting with a probationary period and a time-limited managerial appointment of four years.

Your place of work will be Karlstad, and travel during employment will occur.

Most of our positions involve security clearance. Swedish citizenship is usually required. In the case of security clearance, a security investigation with register check will be conducted prior to employment according to Chapter 3 of the Security Protection Act. Most employees at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency are war-placed.

About us

Currently, eight employees work at the General Staff Unit, and we are located in both Karlstad and Stockholm. Our task is to support the division management in preparing, coordinating, planning, and following up on the division's operations. The task includes being a contact point for the division and coordinating issues internally as well as with other parts of the authority.

We work in an activity-based office where you can choose your workplace based on your own needs. You also have the opportunity to work remotely when the tasks allow. We also offer you the opportunity to take wellness hours and you will receive a wellness allowance. For you as a state employee, there are also favorable holiday conditions.

All of us working at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency are expected and should contribute to increased gender equality and equal treatment for a working environment and society free from discrimination.

Read more about our organization, benefits, and what it is like to work with us (#)

Want to know more?

If you have questions, you are welcome to contact Acting Division Chief Patrik Perbeck. Union representatives are Ellinor Fransson (Saco-S), Stefan Haggö (ST), and Josefin Berglund (SEKO). All can be reached via the switchboard number 0771-240 240.

Apply by June 14, 2026.