Vacant job

Swedish Armed Forces Dog Service Unit seeks Foster Care Consultant for Region East/Uppsala

The Swedish Armed Forces Dog Service Unit (FHTE) is part of the Air Combat School (LSS) and is responsible for providing service dogs to the Armed Forces' continuously operating combat units and to the Police. Dog services are conducted throughout the Swedish Armed Forces. We are now looking for you who want to contribute your dog expertise in the role of Foster Care Consultant on a full-time basis.

About the Unit
At FHTE's Breeding Department, breeding is planned, bitches/puppies are cared for, foster carers are recruited, puppies are placed with foster carers, and support is provided to foster carers. The Armed Forces' dogs are placed with their foster carers when they are 8–10 weeks old and stay there until they are approximately 1–1.5 years old. During this period, the Swedish Armed Forces provide support from an experienced consultant, as well as covering feed and veterinary costs. Sweden's foster care program is divided into 6 regions, where the work is led and distributed by a Regional Dog Section Chief. As support for the foster carers, the Swedish Armed Forces employs several Foster Care Consultants. The Foster Care Consultants are responsible for, together with the foster carers, creating the conditions for the puppies to develop in the right direction for a future life as a service dog.

About the Position
As a Foster Care Consultant, you will act as the Swedish Armed Forces' representative among our stakeholders and foster carers across the country. Our consultants are a vital part of our foster care system and a prerequisite for finding and retaining our fantastic foster carers. In addition, a driver's license and access to a personal car capable of transporting a dog are requirements, which also entails mileage allowance with state-approved vehicle usage during official travel. The work may also involve transporting and facilitating mating related to breeding work.

The work, which can be physically demanding with both practical and administrative tasks, is based from your home, but you are supervised from FHTE's Breeding Department in Sollefteå.

Main Responsibilities

• Close collaboration with your Dog Section Chief regarding the work and follow-up of the dogs
• Plan and conduct frequent training meetings with foster carers regarding general obedience/upbringing, environmental training, and starting nose work, according to guidelines in the consultant manual
• Conduct puppy and young dog meetings both in groups and individually. These must be conductable both practically and digitally
• Follow up on and manage the dogs, as well as support foster carers during the foster period
• Be problem-solving regarding dogs with high drives in combination with foster carers who do not yet have extensive dog experience
• Plan and conduct home visits and information meetings throughout the area
• Evaluate and assess interested persons/families to determine if they are suitable as foster carers for a Swedish Armed Forces dog
• Practically facilitate relocations in the respective region in collaboration with your Dog Section Chief
• Support with dog transport and facilitate matings related to our breeding work

Qualifications

• Upper secondary education
• Experience working with service dogs
• Experience as a foster care consultant
• Practical experience in dog training
• Experience with resource-rich dogs of the working dog type
• Experience in dog breeding and facilitating matings/breeding of dogs
• Good computer skills
• Category B driver's license

Personal Attributes

We are looking for you who are responsible, have good judgment, and the ability to independently plan and structure your work. You are open-minded and unpretentious. You master social interaction, have a strong willingness to collaborate, and easily build trust-inspiring relationships. You have very good experience in dog training and good pedagogical skills, enabling you to convey your knowledge adapted to the foster carers' level. You are a problem solver who can think both innovatively and outside the box.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

Merits

• Experience with foster care activities within the Swedish Armed Forces
• Good computer skills and knowledge of the Office package
• Previous work within the Swedish Armed Forces or another government agency

Information about the position:

Division Manager, Sonja Edin can be reached via switchboard 08-788 75 00

North Dog Section Chief, Fia Ekbäck can be reached via switchboard 08-788 75 00

For information about the recruitment process contact: HR Generalist, Olivia Liw can be reached via switchboard 08-788 75 00

Trade Union Representatives

OFR/O Ärna Tim Björklund, tel 070-649 65 59

OFR/S & Defence Federation Helena Lemnell tel 070-836 10 28

SEKO Åsa Karlsson can be reached via switchboard 08-788 75 00

SACO can be reached via switchboard 08-788 75 00

Other

• Employment type: Permanent employment starting with a six-month probationary period for those not already employed by the agency
• Employment level: 100%
• Work location: Region East, with placement in or around Uppsala and surrounding areas
• The work involves travel as well as evening and weekend work
• Position: Civilian
• Start date: As soon as possible, according to agreement

Last date for application: We welcome your application by 2026-07-27. Your application must include a CV and a cover letter. In the cover letter, we would like you to explain why you are suitable for this position.

Applications for this position will only be accepted via the Swedish Armed Forces website.

Information about the Swedish Armed Forces and the recruiting unit:
The Air Combat School is the Air Force's joint competence center for development and education. The Air Combat School has four joint Air Force schools and trains, among others, future pilots within the Swedish Armed Forces. The Air Combat School has operations in seven locations spread across the country and is headquartered in Uppsala.

The Air Combat School constantly strives to develop how we solve assigned tasks, and we are always ready to meet new challenges.

In the Swedish Armed Forces, there is a strong value base built on openness, results, and responsibility. Professional development and personal health are valued and encouraged. There are good conditions for internal career mobility, wellness programs, and a good balance between work and private life.

An employment with us involves placement in a security class. Swedish citizenship is usually required.

A security investigation with register check will be conducted prior to employment according to Chapter 3 of the Security Protection Act. Employment entails an obligation to be war-placed. The employment also includes an obligation to serve abroad. The meaning of this varies depending on the type of position.

A CV and personal letter must be attached to the application for employment. If you proceed in the employment process, certified copies of grades and certificates must always be presented.

Phone calls from external recruitment agencies and salespeople are declined.