Coordinator, “SAFIRE: Safeguarding Biodiversity through Interdisciplinary Research on Habitat Restoration” Programme

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 3,600 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 17,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations.  

We are now looking for a

Research Programme Coordinator

for a full-time fixed term position ending 31st December 2029. The coordinator will work in the research programme “SAFIRE: Safeguarding Biodiversity through Interdisciplinary Research on Habitat Restoration”, which is part of a national profiling actions likely to be funded by the Research Council of Finland. SAFIRE is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research programme led by the Faculties of Science, Technology, and Humanities at the University of Oulu. The wider profiling action programme involves other faculties.

SAFIRE will hire and support a team of new researchers (3 at Associate, Assistant, or Full Professor levels, plus at least 5 post-doctoral researchers or PhD students). The programme will engage research and impact activities in relation to ecosystem restoration, especially in the Arctic, through natural science, social science and humanities, and engineering research. It will also engage and co-produce knowledge and solutions with societal actors. SAFIRE will carry out different actions to strengthen collaboration between existing employees of Oulu University. It will also support Oulu University employees associated with SAFIRE to build meaningful relationships with societal actors linked to research and impact.

About the job

Primary responsibilities of the coordinator include:

• Planning and implementing the programme activities (promoting inter- and multidisciplinary research and other activities) in close collaboration with the SAFIRE leaders, steering committee, research groups, the recruited researchers, and the wider university community. Taking care of the annual reporting and the indicator follow-ups.
  
  
• Assisting and organizing the recruitment processes together with the human resources office.
  
  
• Liaising with the profiling programmes administration, coordinators, faculties (research coordinators and managers), participating research units, Centers for multidisciplinary research and the University of Oulu Graduate School (UniOGS).
  
  
• Supporting the integration of SAFIRE within the strategy of the faculties and the University of Oulu.
  
  
• Supporting integration with national and international universities.
  
  
• Supporting integration and liaison with societal actors (organisations, groups, etc).
  
  
• Assisting and planning the programme’s financial and budgetary aspects together with the programme leader, steering committee, and the controllers.
  
  
• Communications planning and implementation (website updates, PR, meeting minutes). Advertising and representing the programme in Finland and beyond.
  
  
• Organizing and participating in national and international meetings and science policy events related to the programme.
  
  
• Organizing the programme management board and steering committee meetings and taking care of the meeting minutes.
  
  
• Other duties associated with managing interdisciplinary research initiatives.

What we offer

  Regular salary is paid 12 months per year, including paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. 

• We offer you a place in an excellent research programme, working to solve globally significant research problems and the support of an experienced and enthusiastic team where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• The university’s wide variety of support services, allowing you to focus on your work. In addition to modern facilities, we offer you personnel benefits such as free occupational healthcare, support for sports services. The employed person will be insured by the university.  
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being and flexible multi-location and remote work opportunities. Read more about other staff benefits.
• Work-life balance: we don't count Saturdays as holiday periods!
• Career options and opportunities to develop your skills and competencies. Work that matters! Read more about working with us.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. The Finnish government provides benefits to residents and their families, for example, the possibility of the national healthcare system and high-quality affordable childcare and school services .Read more about living in Oulu!

Who are you?

• You must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree where you have engaged with environmental matters; this could be from natural sciences, social sciences, or the humanities. A PhD will be considered an advantage.
  
  
• You should have significant experience in project management and administrative tasks with a good understanding of the challenges related to multidisciplinary research communities and international environments. Previous experience of projects in the field of environmental management and restoration is an advantage.
  
  
• Other important qualifications include excellent communication skills in English, the ability to work well in a team, and strong organizational skills. Finnish language skills are considered an advantage.

Salary

The position begins on January 1st, 2025, or as agreed, and runs until 31 December 2029. A trial period of 6 months is applied to the position. This is a full‐time position based in Oulu, Finland. This is not a remote work position.

The University of Oulu offers an attractive compensation package based on the General Collective Agreement for Finnish Universities (levels 9–11 of the demand level chart, plus performance pay of up to 50% of the salary). In practice, this equates to a monthly gross salary of between €3500-5000 before tax, depending on experience. The University offers flexible working hours, a family‐friendly working environment and assistance with work permits and visas, if necessary.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your application attached with all related appendices online by 29.11.2024 (23:59 Finnish local time).

Required application attachments include:

• Curriculum vitae (max 4 pages, additional pages will not be considered)
• A motivation letter (max 1 page; additional pages will not be considered), where you outline your academic career and other work experience relevant to the open coordinator position
• A short description (max 1 page, additional pages will not be considered) where you describe the actions and tasks that you would initiate and promote as a coordinator of SAFIRE in the first year of your appointment
• The contact details of two references
• Any other attachments you deem significant for the coordinator position

For further information please contact SAFIRE leader Stefan Prost Stefan.prost@oulu.fi and SAFIRE vice-leader Anna Krzywoszynska anna.krzywoszynska@oulu.fi

1. Stefan Prost, +358505766384