Institutional Economist

Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet · Full-time

Uppsala, Sweden

Department of Plant Biology Would you like to work in a varied role with economics, decision support, and organizational development in an international academic environment characterized by a fast pace and abundant contact points? Can you see yourself as a central member of a small administrative team working closely with leadership to support world-class research and education? Are you interested in contributing to the long-term development of a workplace that values sustainable employment relationships and good working conditions? If so, we welcome your application for the position of Institutional Economist at the Department of Plant Biology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)! About the Role You will work with project economics, be responsible for the department's overall finances, provide qualified decision support to management, and contribute to organizational development. A key focus of your work will be on financial monitoring and reporting of research and development projects. You will be responsible for supporting operations throughout the entire project cycle, from budgeting to follow-up, procurement, and financial reporting to funders. You will also manage agreements, including sub-agreements with partners. Since funders have different regulations, you will need to be able to understand and apply complex guidelines, both during applications and throughout project execution, as well as in reporting and audits. In addition to project economics, you will also have overall responsibility for finances at the unit and department level. You will lead the department's consolidated budget and financial statement work and provide qualified support to department leadership on matters related to budgets, forecasts, financial statements, analysis, and operational monitoring. You will also contribute to the development and quality assurance of administrative procedures, processes, and methods, particularly in the finance area. The role involves many contact points, both internally and externally. You will collaborate with researchers, project managers, and leadership within the department, as well as with the university's central administration and external parties. The department operates in an international environment, which means that a significant portion of communication takes place in English. Your Background We are looking for someone with: • An academic degree in economics or other education that the employer deems equivalent. • Experience with qualified finance work. • Experience with budget work, financial monitoring, and reporting. • Very good skills in Excel and other Office programs. • Strong ability to express yourself in Swedish and English, both verbally and in writing. Meritorious: • Experience with project accounting and project reporting. • Experience with externally funded projects, such as EU-funded projects. • Documented experience in accounting, budgeting, and decision support within the public sector. • Experience working with financial administration systems such as Unit4 ERP, Proceedo, or similar systems. • Experience with development and improvement work in administrative processes. Personal Qualities: To succeed in this role, you are analytical, structured, and thorough. You have good collaboration skills, enjoy working with many contact points, and have a service-oriented approach while being able to work independently and take responsibility. You communicate clearly and smoothly and have the ability to explain financial relationships in a pedagogical manner. We also value initiative and an interest in developing the organization's administrative processes. About Us The Department of Plant Biology has approximately 85 full-time employees, all located on one floor in Uppsala BioCenter in the heart of the Ultuna campus in Uppsala. Colleagues from over 20 different countries conduct research and teaching here with the common goal of increasing knowledge about how plants function to promote sustainable future forestry and agriculture. Research and doctoral education are conducted within six different subject areas and focus on everything from basic evolutionary processes to practical breeding, with plants as the common denominator. In practice, work can range from molecular biological laboratory work to plant experiments in our advanced cultivation facility and practical field work. We have about 20 active doctoral students at the department. The department also oversees a number of basic and advanced courses within SLU's various educational programs. More information about the department: https://www.slu.se/om-slu/organisation/institutioner/vaxtbiologi-skogsgenetik/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21086656031 Learn more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/ Location: BioCentrum, Ultuna, Uppsala. Employment Type: Permanent position. SLU may apply a probationary period. Scope: 100%. Start Date: By agreement. Application: Welcome to submit your application via the application button below no later than 2026-10-19. Trade Union Contact Persons: https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/ Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) plays a key role in the development of sustainable living, grounded in science and education. Through our focus on the interactions between humans, animals, and ecosystems and responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable social development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main offices are located in Alnarp, Umeå, and Uppsala, but operations are also conducted at research stations, experimental farms, and educational facilities throughout the country. SLU has over 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students, and a turnover of over 4.5 billion kronor. The university is investing in attractive environments on its campus areas. We work towards an equal and inclusive work environment where open conversations between people with different experiences form the foundation for scientific inquiry, creativity, and development. We therefore welcome applications from people with different backgrounds and perspectives for this position.