Assistant Senior Lecturer in Public Administration

Om jobbet

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The position of assistant senior lecturer is a merit-based position that aims to give the employee the opportunity to develop their pedagogical and scientific skills. At the end of the appointment, an assistant senior lecturer can apply for promotion to senior lecturer. If the assistant senior lecturer is deemed suitable and meets the requirements for promotion, they will be promoted and appointed as a senior lecturer on a permanent basis.

More information about the department is available on our website www.spa.gu.se

Subject area

Public administration

Subject area description

The School of Public Administration conducts education, research, and collaboration in the subject of public administration. The education comprises bachelor's and master's programs, doctoral education and contract education. The School of Public Administration is also responsible for courses in the preschool teacher program and the principal program. Education and research in the multidisciplinary subject of public administration focus on three areas: politics, democracy and administration; administrative economics; organization, management and society.

Current research topics include administration and bureaucracy, professions, localization, AI, cybersecurity, procurement, financial management, migration and labor integration, and legal perspectives. More information about our researchers and ongoing research can be found here find person

The School of Public Administration welcomes both applicants who wish to join one of our existing research areas and applicants who wish to develop other areas within the subject of public administration.

Duties

The duties of an assistant senior lecturer in public administration consist of half research and half teaching. The teaching part may also include administrative tasks. The languages of instruction are Swedish and English. The duties include:

• Research in the field of public administration. The assistant senior lecturer is free to choose research questions, develop theoretical ideas, collect data and choose research methods. The position involves actively seeking external funding for one's own research and actively participating in the department's research environments and seminar activities. The assistant senior lecturer is also expected to participate in the international dialogue by attending conferences and publishing internationally.
• Teaching, course responsibility, supervision and examination in basic and advanced level courses in public Teaching at the doctoral level may also be relevant. Teaching in most programs and courses at the department may be considered. The duties also include course and program development and participation in the department's educational development work.
• Collaboration with the surrounding community.
• Active participation in the development of the institution's activities in Gothenburg.

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg (GU 2024/1687).

To be eligible for employment as an assistant senior lecturer, you must have a doctoral degree in public administration or another subject area relevant to the position where the administrative perspective is central, such as sociology, social work, political science, business administration, or have equivalent scientific competence.

Preference should be given to those who have obtained a doctoral degree or attained equivalent competence no more than five years before the deadline for applying for the position as assistant senior lecturer. However, those who have completed a doctoral degree or have achieved equivalent competence earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, or other similar circumstances.

Applicants must have demonstrated teaching skills and have experience of research and teaching relevant to the field of public administration and the research project in question.

Assessment criteria

According to the Appointment Regulations for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg (GU 2024/1687), the applicant shall be selected who, after an overall assessment of skills and development potential, is deemed to have the best qualifications to perform the duties included in the position.

In the assessment equal weight will be given to scientific and pedagogical skills.

Scientific proficiency

For employment, scientific proficiency must be demonstrated through independent research relevant to the subject of public administration. Scientific proficiency is demonstrated through a high degree of problem-formulation ability, awareness of theory and methodology, and analytical skills.

Scientific merit is demonstrated through a doctoral thesis and other scientific publications in the form of articles or anthology chapters that have undergone peer review prior to publication, monographs, or other types of scientific reports. Applicants are required to have contributed to the international scientific community, as demonstrated by publication in international journals or by international publishers. In cases where the applicant is not the sole author, the division of responsibility for the works must be specified. Scientific proficiency and the relevance of the research to the subject of public administration and the current research environment at the School of Public Administration must be described and evident in the research plan and personal letter to be attached to the application. External research grants received are meritorious.

Teaching skills

Teaching skills are demonstrated through documented experience of planning and implementing various forms of teaching in subjects relevant to public administration (lectures, seminars, workshops, supervision, etc.) at the undergraduate and advanced levels. When assessing teaching skills, particular emphasis is placed on completed and documented efforts that have contributed to the development of education and teaching and improved quality. Experience and skills in academic teaching and supervision must be well documented and recognized.

Collaboration with the surrounding community

Within the university's collaboration with the surrounding community, participation in contract education and the implementation of qualified research-related review assignments within public activities are meritorious. Networking activities aimed at public administrations and documented ability to communicate research are also meritorious.

Overall assessment

An assistant senior lecturer position is a merit-based position aimed at relatively newly qualified researchers and teachers. The purely quantitative scope of the applicant's merits will therefore not be decisive; instead, the assessment of skills will take into account the length of time over which the applicant's merits have been accumulated. The position will be offered to the applicant who, after an overall assessment of skills and development potential, is deemed to have the best qualifications to perform the duties included in the position, interact and collaborate with other staff, and contribute to the positive development of the organization. Personal suitability (primarily independence, responsibility, communication skills, and ability to cooperate) will also be taken into account.

Great importance will be attached to the applicant's intention and ability to actively participate in the academic environment at the School of Public Administration in Gothenburg.

Applicants must also have completed higher education teaching training equivalent to courses PIL101, PIL102, and PIL103, or have completed it within one year of the date of employment.

Employment

One or more

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 4 years with the possibility of promotion to senior lecturer and permanent employment Scope: 100%

Location: School of Public Administration, Gothenburg Start date: September 1, 2026, or as agreed.

Requirements for promotion

An assistant senior lecturer is entitled, upon application no later than six months before the fixed-term employment expires, to be considered for promotion to a permanent position as senior lecturer in public administration if the person is qualified for such a position and is also deemed suitable in an assessment based on the assessment criteria for employment as a senior lecturer at the University of Gothenburg. The following requirements for promotion also apply to such an assessment:

During their employment as an assistant senior lecturer, the applicant must have demonstrated scientific proficiency in the subject of public administration by publishing their own research in international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, publication in books or book chapters published by publishers with a review process is meritorious for promotion.

The assistant senior lecturer must have participated in the international discourse through participation in conferences and through international publication.

The applicant must have sought external funding for their own research and actively participated in the department's research environments and seminar activities.

During their employment, the applicant must have demonstrated pedagogical skills in the subject of public administration and progression in pedagogical development. Progression refers to experience of teaching at different levels and in different subject areas and/or specialization in previous areas. Qualifying higher education teaching training (or equivalent) is a requirement for promotion.

Merits in research and teaching carry the most weight in promotion and are evaluated equally. Collaboration with the surrounding community, leadership skills, and administrative skills are expected and are considered merits.

With regard to the assessment criterion of suitability, good judgment in professional matters, the ability to perform the duties included in the position, and the ability to collaborate and contribute to the development of the organization are taken into account.

During the period as assistant professor, the applicant must have actively participated in the academic environment of the School of Public Administration in Gothenburg.

External experts will assess whether the requirements for promotion have been met.

If the person employed is recruited internationally and does not have knowledge of Swedish at least at level B2 according to CEFR, language courses in Swedish will be mandatory. To be promoted, you must be able to demonstrate language skills at least at level B2 according to CEFR. The department is responsible for planning and financing these courses.

Selection process

Applications received are first assessed by external experts. The selection process may include trial lectures, interviews, and reference checks. During the interviews, applicants will have the opportunity to describe and develop their own views on teaching, research, and collaboration in the field of public administration, as well as their future role at the department. Where applicable, these elements will also form the basis for the assessment.

Since the purpose of the position as assistant senior lecturer is to give the teacher the opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher and to gain both scientific and pedagogical merit in order to meet the requirements for eligibility for a position as senior lecturer, it is not relevant to employ persons who already hold a position as senior lecturer in the same or a corresponding subject at any Swedish higher education institution.

Contact information

Further information about the position can be obtained from the head of department, Vicki Johansson, by telephone on +46 (0)31-786 1596 or by email at Vicki.Johansson@spa.gu.se

Questions about the appointment process can be directed to Maria Utterhall, HR- officer, maria.utterhall@spa.gu.se.

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking the "Apply" button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Publications that cannot be attached to the application digitally should be sent to: School of Public Administration, Box 712, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden

Applications must be received by:2026-01-26

The application must be accompanied by:

• A personal letter explaining why you are applying for the position. In the letter, you should describe how your research and teaching fit into the subject of public administration in general, as well as how you intend to contribute to the School of Public Administration's existing research areas and educational programs and/or contribute new perspectives that would enrich the environment. Please also describe in detail your ability to contribute to the School of Public Administration's academic environment in Gothenburg.
• A plan for the research to be conducted within the position (max. 10 pages)
• List of qualifications/CV
• Scientific qualifications, including a list of publications; a maximum of 10 scientific papers
• Teaching qualifications (must include information on the scope and type of teaching, as well as a statement on its quality); a maximum of 10 teaching materials may be cited
• Certificate of employment
• Other documents that you as an applicant wish to refer
• Two references with contact details

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.