Research director, Civil engineering

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 3,600 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 17,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations.  

We are looking for

Research Director

to Faculty of Technology, the Civil Engineering research unit. The offered position is permanent and 100% employment.

Our Civil Engineering is a science and education unit that is expanding rapidly. We are now looking for a team player primarily for research project acquisition, execution, and management. The preferred fields of experience cover one or more of the following: mobility, transportation, infrastructure, construction, civil engineering, and built environment.

Job description

As a Research Director, you will have the following tasks:

• preparing and acquiring international and domestic research projects, typically funded by the European Commission, the Academy of Finland, Business Finland, and regional cohesion funds.
• managing and ensuring the profitability and impact of the projects.
• resource planning and preparing the needed resources to carry out the projects.
• depending on the applicant's experience and preferences, supervision of PhD students and participation in scientific publication activities.

What we offer

• a motivated and enthusiastic research community that is on a growth path.
• opportunity to work on significant research projects with true impact.
• opportunity to develop oneself as a leader and expert in research.
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• Our competitive salaries include paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. 
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you

We seek a professional and motivated team player and leader. The applicant should already have merits and experience in research funding and project acquisition. The applicant can communicate seamlessly in English. Having a list of peer-reviewed scientific publications will be an asset. The applicant should have experience from various types of research & innovation activities. 

To be successful on this job, the applicant will benefit from having:

• doctoral degree in technology, engineering, economics, or another field of science.
• proven track record of research funding acquisition, particularly from the European research and innovation programs.
• track record of other types of activities in the field of science and research.
• understanding and experience of research in new technologies (AI, big data, IoT), sustainability, and/or circular economy.
• Fluent in written and spoken English

In addition, we appreciate:

• Finnish language skills

Salary and terms

The preferred commencement of the permanent task is latest from the beginning of 2026, or earlier if possible.

The job requirement level within the universities' salary system is MV13-MV14. In addition, a performance-based bonus is paid to a maximum of 50% of the basic salary. Typically, this level of job is paid 7000-8000 EUR/month. A 6-month probationary period is applied.  

How to apply

The application must be sent through the recruitment system latest July 31, 2025. The attachments should include at least:

1. Cover letter
2. CV
3. Track record of research funding acquisition
4. List of publications
5. Certificates of degrees

The best-deemed applicants will be called for an interview either through a telco system or in person. The University of Oulu will inform all applicants about the progress of the recruitment process.

We encourage diversity and hope to see applications from different groups of gender, age, and culture.

More information 

Please contact Professor Pekka Leviäkangas, Director of Civil Engineering, +358 40 6411 496, [email protected]. 

1. Pekka Juhani Leviäkangas, +358406411496