Vacant job

Scope of Operations

From March 1, 2026, the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) will have two operational areas that meet with job seekers and employers: VO Initial Support and VO Coordinated Support. VO Coordinated Support has overall responsibility for providing coordinated support to job seekers with significant support needs and employers who are open to broadened recruitment. In addition to responsibility for the operational delivery of employment service, the operational area is also responsible for close cooperation with other actors, both locally and regionally. The operational area has approximately 6,000 employees throughout Sweden.

Deputy Head of Operational Area: Role and Responsibilities

As Deputy Head of Operational Area, you will be part of the operational area's management group and share responsibility for results and development together with the Head of Operational Area and other department heads. You will actively contribute to shaping and implementing the operational area's strategy and lead initiatives that support the organization's change and development work. You create conditions for effective collaborations both internally and externally, in close dialogue with other actors, other operational areas, and union representatives. In this role, you ensure leadership in line with the Swedish Public Employment Service's leadership criteria, focusing on accountability, decisiveness, and result-orientation. You also contribute to developing a culture characterized by trust, openness, and security.

As Deputy Head of Operational Area, you serve as a role model by leading in accordance with the Swedish Public Employment Service's target image and the public sector's values.

Key Responsibilities

You support the Head of Operational Area in both strategic and operational matters related to governance, monitoring, and development of the operations. You establish and secure systematic and sustainable working methods for planning, monitoring, and control. The role also involves initiating and leading cross-operational development and change initiatives at both strategic and tactical levels. You are expected to have a strong holistic perspective and a clear understanding of the operation's key success factors. As needed, you act as a substitute for the Head of Operational Area and represent the operational area in various internal and external contexts where you build long-term relationships in broad partnerships.

In the role of Deputy Head of Operational Area, you also work in the emergency preparedness assignment. The work with general conscription means that the Swedish Public Employment Service is responsible for ensuring staffing for the total defense. The assignment includes both planning and cooperation during basic preparedness, and at heightened readiness, assigning workforce and making decisions regarding general conscription. The function is national and is fully activated when there is a need for heightened readiness.

Qualifications

At least two years of current experience in:

• Leadership with strategic operational responsibility where you have led managers in at least two tiers

And

• Relevant higher education, or equivalent experience/competence acquired in other ways
• Experience working in a strategic management group where you have prepared and driven issues in dialogue with other managers
• Established structures and working methods for administration and development
• Experience leading and implementing cross-operational change and development work in partnerships at a strategic and national level
• At least 5 years of experience driving strategic issues at an overarching level within a politically governed organization
• Worked with collaboration with internal and external actors such as municipalities, business, authorities, and regions
• Very good ability to handle, analyze, and structure extensive written information, as well as interpret and formulate materials

Other Merits for the Position

• Multi-year experience from public sector operations
• Experience working with labor market issues
• Experience working within emergency preparedness assignments

To succeed in the role, you need to have

• A ease for collaboration and good diplomatic skills, as the work largely involves acting through others
• Ability to effectively communicate vision, goals, and values
• Good analytical skills and ability to handle large amounts of information

In addition, you have personal aptitude and suitability to work in accordance with the Swedish Public Employment Service's leadership criteria.

As a leader at the Swedish Public Employment Service, you are expected to be:

Accountable – take responsibility for the whole, create clear direction and good conditions.

Decisive – turn decisions into action, be a clear and courageous role model.

Result-oriented – follow up, develop, and drive the operations towards common goals.

Great importance will be attached to personal suitability for the role.

Our Offer

The position is a permanent full-time employment that may begin with a six-month probationary period. Start date by agreement. Location: by agreement.

Travel in the role occurs as employees will be located in several places in the country. Additionally, the Head of Operational Area is based in Stockholm, so presence at the headquarters in Solna will be necessary.

Through our work, we contribute to an inclusive and sustainable society; here you have the opportunity to make a real difference for individuals and for society as a whole. More about working with us.

Application

We welcome your application by 2026-06-28.

Attach your CV where you specify the period and tasks for each employment. It is important that you answer the selection questions in detail and truthfully, so that we get a clear picture of your experience. If requested information is not provided, you risk being excluded from the selection.

The position is security-classified, and a security investigation including register check will be conducted on the final candidate before a decision on employment is made.