Vacant job

The main tasks of the Polar Research Secretariat (PFS), according to its instructions, are to promote the conditions for and coordinate Swedish research and development in polar regions. The core tasks are therefore to plan, organize, and carry out or support research expeditions to polar regions and to be responsible for research infrastructure. PFS also has the task of examining and issuing permits for stays in Antarctica and participates in or assists in international forums regarding the Arctic and Antarctica. Furthermore, PFS participates in international negotiations and cooperation. In 2023, PFS established a geostrategic council with the aim of gaining more knowledge about the foreign policy and security aspects of international research cooperation. PFS is responsible for research stations in Abisko, in Kristineberg, and in Antarctica. The agency rents the icebreaker Oden during the Swedish summer for expeditions to the Arctic, through an agreement with the Swedish Maritime Administration.

The agency is located in Luleå, co-located with Luleå University of Technology, and has approximately 40 employees. The Director is the head of the agency. There is a supervisory board at the agency.

Qualifications

We are looking for you who are a documented good manager and leader with

• A relevant academic degree.
• Experience in leading and developing complex and knowledge-intensive organizations within the framework of goals and economic conditions.
• Good knowledge of the Swedish public sector and its decision-making processes, and an understanding of the political structure within which the agency operates.
• Good proficiency in Swedish and English.

You must also have the ability to

• Prioritize, lead, and organize so that the agency's goals are achieved.
• Lead strategic change and development work in the operations in an effective and legally secure manner in accordance with the intentions of the Riksdag and the Government.
• Establish and develop good forms of cooperation both within the agency and with other actors in the field, e.g., researchers and research leaders.
• Engage and motivate employees.
• Communicate well and express yourself well in speech and writing in Swedish and English.
• Represent the agency in a professional and trustworthy manner, also internationally.
• Work strategically with competence supply.
• Lead and develop operations within the framework of a good administrative culture.
• Represent employer interests and, together with other agency heads, develop state employer policy.

It is meritorious if you have

• Experience in representing state interests nationally and internationally in a leading position
• Knowledge and insight into Swedish research and innovation
• Understanding of foreign policy and security perspectives on the Arctic/Antarctica

Other

Only a Swedish citizen can be appointed as Director and Head of the Polar Research Secretariat. The position is classified for security reasons. Security clearance with register check will therefore be conducted before a decision on employment as Director is made. Confidentiality applies to information about an individual candidate's identity.

More information

More information about the position is provided by David Edvardsson, Unit Manager, and Maria Nilsson, State Secretary. Questions about employment terms and the recruitment process are answered by Michael Östervall, Office for Leadership Supply to Agencies. You can reach them via the Government Offices' switchboard at 08-405 10 00.

Expression of Interest

You are welcome to register your expression of interest, including your CV, in our recruitment tool by August 18, 2026.

The Swedish public sector consists of approximately 200 agencies that report directly to the Government. The Government employs the agency heads and decides on their terms of employment. The salary is individual and determined based on the requirements of the position and the manager's qualifications and experience. Most agency heads are employed for a fixed term – normally, the first employment period is six years.