Professor in Leadership and Command & Control

The Department of Leadership and Command & Control is growing and is now seeking a Professor of Leadership and Command & Control. The position is located at the division of Leadership and Command & Control (ILL) in Stockholm or in Karlstad. The department employs around fifty teachers and researchers, both civilian and military, at the departments in Stockholm and Karlstad. Education is conducted in Stockholm at undergraduate and graduate level. The subject of leadership and command & control has recently been established as a doctoral subject, and the department will accept its first doctoral student in autumn 2024. There are already doctoral students at the department who are enrolled at other universities. 

Description of the subject of leadership and  Command & Control 

The subject of Leadership and Command & Control is the scientific study of leading, that is, the actions taken to direct, coordinate resources and influence an individual or a group to achieve a common goal. It focuses on the individual, organisational and inter-organisational factors that contribute to the processes that lead to the achievement of common goals. 

Leadership and Command & Control has its empirical basis in the needs and challenges that are typical, and to some extent common, to actors and activities in defence, crisis management and security. The subject is a social science that draws and develops knowledge from behavioural science and design science. The subject studies issues relating to the significance of stressful conditions, leadership and command & control theory, leadership development, collaboration, crisis management, design of command & control systems, team issues and selection. The subject also has a strong interest in gender, methodological and ethical issues.

Work tasks

The tasks include leading and conducting research in the subject and teaching in Swedish and English at undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level, as well as supervision of doctoral students and students in the department's various programmes. The work includes course design and course responsibility.

The work also includes seeking and obtaining external research funding. 
The aim of the position is to lead the development of the subject of leadership and  Command & Control through own research and teaching at all levels together with other subject professors, researchers and teachers. As a professor, you will contribute to the funding of research by applying for and obtaining external research funding. 

More specifically, the duties include leading, planning and conducting research within the subject, having course responsibility and teaching in Swedish and English at all levels, including postgraduate education, and supervising doctoral students and students in the department's various programmes. 

The work includes following and driving development nationally and internationally in the subject area and being updated in other social developments that are relevant to the work. You will inform nationally and internationally about your own research, and support the Swedish Defence University's professional development, collegial working methods and social community. 
The position as professor also means that you have administrative management and manage the development of contacts and collaboration with the surrounding society.

General requirements

A teacher at the Swedish Defence University, civilian or military, must have completed higher education pedagogical training (according to guidelines from the Swedish Association of Universities and Colleges, SUHF, or equivalent international guidelines) or other pedagogical training of equivalent scope and content, with approved results before employment or no later than two years after commencement of employment.

For all positions at the university, the applicant is required to have the personal qualities needed to fulfil the position. All employees are expected to co-operate and treat colleagues and students with respect, take responsibility for their activities and tasks, and contribute to a good working environment. We are looking for you who want to be involved in developing the subject of leadership and command & control at the department, run research projects, build networks and develop the subject's pedagogy. As a person, you have high social skills and thrive in meeting new people and can also work independently to, for example, conduct research and courses.

The applicant should be able to teach in English and understand, write and speak Swedish at B1 level (European scale), which means sufficient listening and reading comprehension to participate in and contribute to meetings and other activities. If the candidate does not have a command of Swedish at the time of recruitment, he/she is expected to acquire the necessary language skills during the first three years of employment.

Eligibility

Eligibility for employment as a professor at the Swedish Defence University requires a doctoral degree, or equivalent scientific competence. In addition, an eligibility requirement for employment as a professor is that the applicant has demonstrated both scientific and pedagogical expertise that significantly exceeds what is required for docent competence, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The applicant must also have demonstrated management skills, collaboration skills and administrative skills. 
For a more detailed description of the eligibility requirements, see the Swedish Defence University's Appointment Procedure for Teaching Staff.

Assessment criteria 

Assessment of pedagogical expertise is given the same attention as assessment of scientific expertise, after which other expertise is assessed. 

Documented scientific expertise must have been demonstrated through

• independent research contributions in the subject area that are of very high quality in a national and international perspective and that significantly exceed what is required for docent competence. The applicant's contribution shall be assessed on the basis of both quality and quantity.
• recognised competence in the field, as demonstrated by speaking engagements at conferences, peer reviewing and reviewing in relevant journals
• ability to plan, initiate, lead and develop research, and to lead major research projects both within and outside their own institution
• ability to obtain external research grants in competition. 
• supervision of doctoral students up to the doctoral degree.

Documented teaching expertise must have been demonstrated through

• high quality teaching and training programmes that significantly exceed the requirements for employment as a senior lecturer. Scope, both breadth and depth, shall be recognised.
• experience of supervision at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level
• the ability to plan, initiate, lead and develop education 
• in-depth knowledge of pedagogical development, pedagogical methods and relevant forms of examination and evaluation. 
• ability to link teaching to research 
• ability to interact with the surrounding society

Management skills must have been demonstrated through the ability to manage activities and staff, make decisions and take responsibility. Management skills must also have been demonstrated through the ability to

• provide others with the necessary conditions to effectively develop the discipline and produce high quality research and education, and take responsibility for adhering to given financial frameworks 
• ability to lead academic assignments 
• ability to coordinate groups as well as to contribute to creating commitment, participation and ability to manage conflicts.

In this context, collaboration skills refer to the skills that a person demonstrates in their work at the intersection of research, education and the surrounding society. In the assessment, merits from collaboration with the society of which the university is a part, as well as the utilisation of research and education, shall be valued.

Collaboration skills must also have been demonstrated by 

• leading/participating in activities aimed at exchanging knowledge or collaborating on a common issue with actors outside academia 
• the ability to build good relations and understanding of other parties' conditions and driving forces.

Administrative skills shall have been demonstrated by the ability to

• follow processes and regulations, and to manage administrative systems for the implementation of the work 
• plan, organise and prioritise work in an efficient and appropriate manner 
• set and meet deadlines.

About the position

The position is a full-time, permanent position.

This position is regulated by the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) and the Swedish Defence University's employment regulations.

HERE you can read about qualifications, assessment criteria, application procedure and other important information about teaching positions at the Swedish Defence University.

The position is placed in a security class, which requires an approved security clearance with a register check. Swedish and international applicants are welcome. 

The position may include a wartime posting. If you are already in a wartime posting in your current employment at an authority and your skills are needed in the Swedish Defence University's wartime organisation, negotiations will take place between the authority concerned and the Swedish Defence University regarding where you will be posted.

In cases where there is not an even gender balance, the Swedish Defence University may, in the event of equal or largely equal qualifications among the applicants, employ the underrepresented applicant.

Starting date 

According to agreement. 

Salary and benefits

The Swedish Defence University applies individual salary setting. Read about benefits for employees at the Swedish Defence University via this link. 

How to apply 

Applications must be submitted in English, as English-speaking experts may be appointed. Prepare your application according to the Swedish Defence University's CV template for employment of teachers. 

Attach a list of publications and a selection of no more than ten publications that are cited in support of your application. If possible, upload all documents digitally to make it easier for the experts. Cited monographs/books (which are not digital) should be clearly indicated in the attached publication list. Send these to the address below and mark with the reference number HF/HR 130/2024:

The Swedish Defence University
Attn: Registrator
Drottning Kristinas väg 37
Box 278 05 | 115 93 Stockholm

Applications are submitted via the Swedish Defence University's recruitment system by clicking on the link "Log in and apply for the job" on the advertisement page. Mark your application with the reference number HF/HR 130/2024. Your application must be received no later than the date.

Complete applications must be received by the Swedish Defence University no later than midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time) on the closing date.

Further information about the position:

• Erik Berntson, Head of Department, erik.berntson@fhs.se
• Sofia Nilsson, Deputy Head of Department, sofia.nilsson@fhs.se 

We welcome your application no later than 27 September 2024!