University Lecturer in Societal Security

University of Helsinki; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Helsinki invites applications for a permanent UNIVERSITY LECTURER IN SOCIETAL SECURITY, starting 1 January 2027. The appointee will contribute to the international Master’s Programme in Societal Security and teach across tracks within the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The position emphasizes research on societal security, democracy, inequality, and resilience, and includes supervising master’s theses and doctoral dissertations, along with student guidance and programme

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to provide high‑quality, research‑based teaching.
• Experience supervising master’s theses and doctoral dissertations.
• Active research profile with international publications in social sciences.
• Strong command of English; readiness to learn Finnish/Swedish if needed.

Responsibilities

• Teach across degree requirements, primarily within the Master’s Programme in Societal Security.
• Coordinate and develop the Democracy, Inequality, and Societal Resilience track.
• Conduct research on topics related to the track's focus areas.
• Supervise and examine master’s theses and doctoral dissertations.
• Participate in student guidance, academic administration, and programme development.

Skills

Teaching ability

Supervision of theses

Research publications

Education

Doctoral degree

Job description

The Faculty of Social Sciences invites applications for the position of UNIVERSITY LECTURER IN SOCIETAL SECURITY for a permanent position starting 1 January 2027.

We seek candidates with a background in social sciences and expertise in research related to questions of societal security, democracy, inequality and/or societal resilience from a comprehensive and critical perspective.

The position is linked to the international Master’s Programme in Societal Security, a two-year master’s programme focusing on the complex nature of security and conflict. The programme provides students with a multidimensional understanding of the foundations of societal security and the threats it faces. Read more about the programme and University of Helsinki’s Societal Security Hub here.

The position will be organisationally situated in one of the following units at the Faculty of Social Sciences, depending on the appointee’s field of research: Social and Public Policy, Social Psychology, or Sociology.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Teach in accordance with degree requirements and general guidelines of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Most teaching will take place within the Master’s Programme in Societal Security. The appointee will teach study track-specific courses and one common course for all study tracks, and participate in the teaching of the Master’s thesis seminar. The appointee also serves as one of the supervising teachers in the programme. The teaching responsibilities may also include teaching in other study programmes in which the appointee’s unit participates.
• Coordinate and develop the Democracy, Inequality, and Societal Resilience track of the Master’s Programme in Societal Security. This track studies how the internal and external processes of societies produce and reproduce societal security, how key societal functions are tied into the perceived security needs of the state and global organizations, and how certain elements in the society, such as inequality and welfare, are linked to institutional and societal trust.
• Conduct research on the topic areas of the aforementioned study track.
• Supervise and examine master’s theses and supervise doctoral dissertations.
• Participate in student guidance, academic administration, and programme development.

Selection Criteria

• Hold an applicable doctoral degree by the application deadline.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide high-quality, research-based teaching.
• Show competence in supervising master’s theses and doctoral dissertations.
• Maintain an active research profile with international publications in the fields of social and public policy, social psychology or/and sociology.
• Demonstrate excellent English language skills. If the appointee is not proficient in Finnish or Swedish, they are expected to acquire moderate proficiency within a reasonable time after appointment. Support for language studies will be provided.

In assessing applicants, attention will be paid to:

• Scholarly publications.
• Teaching skills and experience; supervision of theses and dissertations; pedagogical training; development of teaching; and production of learning materials.
• Teaching demonstration.
• Interview performance.

What We Offer

• The University of Helsinki is an equal opportunity employer and offers an attractive and diverse workplace with a variety of development opportunities and benefits.
• The annual gross salary range will be approx. €54,000 – €67,000, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience.
• Standard Finnish pension benefits and occupational health care are provided for university employees.
• The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.

Finland is a member of the European Union, has high quality free schooling (also in English) and generous family benefits and healthcare. Finland was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families, and Helsinki in the world’s top ten most livable cities. Finland and the Helsinki region feature leading research and innovation facilities, clean environment, affordable accommodation, and excellent international, national, and local transport connections. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see the website.

The appointee is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. International staff are supported in relocating to Finland.

A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to us. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for our positions.

Click this link to read about accessibility and inclusivity at our University.

Further information

Further information about the position is available from Vice Dean Jari Eloranta ([e-mail]) and Professor Ville-Pekka Sorsa ([e-mail]), and about the recruitment process, from HR Specialist Minna Maunula ([e-mail]).

The Faculty of Social Sciences is Finland’s leading research and education institute in the social sciences, and the country’s most diverse social sciences faculty in terms of the range of its disciplines and fields of research. The Faculty has a strong international research profile and international master’s programmes, and several of its disciplinary units have been rated among the top 50 in the world. The Faculty has approximately 550 research and teaching staff, and each year it awards some 350 bachelor’s degrees, 400 master’s degrees and more than 40 doctoral degrees.