Director, University of Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies

Summary of the job advertisement:

The University of Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies is seeking a Director for a fixed-term five-year position starting on 1.1.2027 or by agreement, responsible for the leadership and development of the collegium.

The position requires a doctoral degree in a field suitable for the collegium's activities, good English language skills, and experience in international top-tier research as well as interdisciplinary work.

The applicant is required to provide evidence of demanding leadership roles, leading a unit with financial responsibility, leading research and securing funding, as well as strong people management skills.

Applications must be submitted no later than 28.9.2026 and must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of publications, as well as views on the development of the collegium and a description of leadership experience.

This summary was created with the help of AI.

The Collegium for Advanced Studies is a separate institute of the University of Helsinki focused on high-level research in the humanities and social sciences, providing researchers with a high-quality international research environment. The Collegium for Advanced Studies promotes innovative interdisciplinary cooperation both within the collegium and more broadly within the University of Helsinki.

The Collegium aims to act as a flagship for humanities and social science research at the University of Helsinki and to promote the development of bold new approaches to collaboration-based, interdisciplinary research. Every year, the Collegium selects approximately twenty people through a highly demanding application process to conduct research in the collegium. The selected researchers participate actively in the University of Helsinki's doctoral training, and they are encouraged to interact with the entire university community. More information about the Collegium for Advanced Studies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRN7LoQ-eKs

The University of Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies is now seeking

a director

for a fixed-term position for five years starting 1.1.2027 or by agreement. The Director's task is the leadership and development of the Collegium for Advanced Studies.

The Director is required to have a strategic vision for the development of the collegium and its role in advancing the University of Helsinki's research strategy and internationalization. The person appointed to the position must have experience in international top-tier research in a field related to the collegium's activities as well as strong leadership experience in a multi- and cross-disciplinary environment. The Director is required to have a long-term plan for developing the collegium's activities from the perspective of its diverse disciplines and for fostering active and diverse cooperation with the university's faculties, the university community and management, as well as stakeholders.

The person selected for the position is required to have:

experience in interdisciplinary work, leading research, and securing research funding

evidence of successfully managing diverse and demanding leadership roles, leading a unit with financial responsibility, and organizational development

strong competence related to people management

an interactive and networked leadership style as well as good cooperation and negotiation skills.

The person selected for the position is required to have a doctoral degree in a field suitable for the collegium's activities. Successful performance of the task requires good English language skills. Proficiency in Finnish or Swedish is useful but not essential.

The long-term and actively operating University of Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies offers an inspiring work task in a multidisciplinary top-tier research environment. The Collegium is seamlessly integrated into the academic communities of the Faculties of Arts, Educational Sciences, Law, Theology, and Social Sciences. The new Director is expected to strengthen current cooperation relationships. The researchers of the Collegium represent all career stages, and they are selected from several different fields based on scientific and academic merits. The Director, together with the Collegium's Board, is responsible for the appointment of researchers and for ensuring the diversity characteristic of the collegium. The Director is a member of the University of Helsinki's extended management team.

More information and applying

Submit your application via the Apply now link no later than 28.9.2026. Internal candidates of the University of Helsinki can apply for the position via SAP Fiori.

The application is requested to include:

a cover letter

a curriculum vitae

a list of publications

a view on the development of the Collegium for Advanced Studies' activities in the future (max. 2 pages)

a description of leadership experience and leadership principles (max. 2 pages)

We ask applicants to note that as a public law institution, the university's recruitments are public.

For more information, contact Vice Rector Hanna Snellman (contact via management assistant Sari Sarka, sari.sarka@helsinki.fi or +358 2941 22035) and Human Resources Manager Hanna Lotti (hanna.lotti@helsinki.fi or +358 2941 23264).

A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to us. Therefore, we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all competent and diverse applicants to apply for our positions. From this link, you can read about our university's accessibility and availability. COME WORK WITH US TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER – TOGETHER! #helsinkiunicareers