Experiment Group Leader/Station manager

Unit for Field-based Forest Research

Would you like to take on a key leadership role, guiding a dedicated team and contributing to the future of field-based forest research? With us, you will have the opportunity to work outdoors in spectacular natural surroundings and help develop groundbreaking projects addressing forest ecosystem and climate-related issues.

We are looking for a hands-on professional with research experience and leadership skills to lead operations at the Siljansfors and Jädraås Experimental Forests, as well as serve as a member of the management team for the entire Unit for Field-Based Forest Research. This position offers excellent opportunities for someone who enjoys a varied range of responsibilities, thrives on challenges, and wants to contribute to research on boreal forest production and forest ecosystems.

In 2024, the Unit revised its strategic operational plan through to 2030, resulting in a partially new organisation structure that has recently been implemented. In line with the Faculty’s ambition to broaden its activities, the Unit’s remit is also being gradually expanded. This calls for a cohesive and functional organisation across the Unit, structured around its four main areas of activity: long-term experiments, major research infrastructure, commissioned projects, and environmental monitoring and analysis.

About the position

You will be a member of the Unit’s management team. As manager of the Siljansfors and Jädraås Experimental Forests, you will have overall responsibility for operations within your area of responsibility (Svealand and southern Norrland), including financial and personnel management, as well as occupational health and safety matters. Your role is to ensure that activities at the experimental forests develop in a way that best supports field research, environmental monitoring, and education, while remaining within the allocated budget. Cooperation within SLU and engagement with the surrounding community are also ongoing aspects of the station managers responsibilities.

As the station manager, you will work together with your colleagues to ensure that ongoing forest field experiments are maintained and revised according to plan, using modern technology, and that new experiments are established today to address future research questions. You will be responsible for the content of metadata databases and the databases associated with them. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the Siljansfors team actively participates in the steering groups for the Unit’s various main areas of activity, and that the tasks agreed upon by these groups are implemented within your area of responsibility. An important part of the role involves receiving requests and, whenever possible, carrying them out. These may concern the establishment or revision of forest field experiments, environmental monitoring assignments, as well as teaching or outreach activities.

During the snow-free season, you will also participate in practical fieldwork, which involves spending considerable time outdoors and undertaking shorter periods of work-related travel.

Your profile

Requirements:

Higher education in forestry, preferably supplemented by doctoral studies or other relevant experience in academic work, and a good understanding of the conditions and requirements of research

Extensive experience with practical fieldwork in forest environments

The ability to organise and structure work, and to act in an educational and diplomatic manner

A valid category B driver’s license

Good command of both Swedish and English

Desirable Qualifications:

Management experience, including personnel responsibility

Practical experience in forestry operations and forest inventory

Experience working with databases, GIS data, and related software

Familiar with methods and techniques for tree measurement and field data collection

Experience with meteorological instruments and data loggers

We place great importance on your personal qualities. Of particular importance is your ability to handle unexpected situations, for example when new tasks need to be undertaken at short notice. The position is based at the Siljansfors experimental forest office in central Mora, and at the field station in Siljansfors, 18 km southwest of Mora. SLU’s Faculty of Forest Sciences is located in Umeå.

Employment: Permanent, full-time position. SLU applies a probationary employment period.

About the employment: Your title will be Experiment Group Leader, with the additional responsibility of station manager. This responsibility will be transferred to you at a time agreed upon by you, the current station manager and the Unit Director.

About us

For more information about the department or division visit: https://www.slu.se/om-slu/organisation/institutioner/skoglig-faltforskning/

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Location:

Siljansfors experimental forest office

Form of employment:

Indefinite-term employment. SLU may use probationary employment.

Scope:

100%

Start date:

1 February 2027, or as agreed

Application:

Please submit your application before deadline 21 dec 2026. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Applications cannot be submitted through the recruitment system on 20–22 November due to a system update.

Union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/