Ocean Partnerships Officer

The World Maritime University; Malmö kommun; On-site; SEK 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

The World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden, invites applications for an entrepreneurial Ocean Partnerships Officer. The OPO will lead strategic partnerships, programme development and resource mobilization to support WMU and the GOI.

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement and Operations, the role involves donor engagement, proposals, and cross‑department collaboration to secure research funding, fellowships and capacity development opportunities for global oceans initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic partnerships, programme development and resource mobilization to support WMU and the WMU-Sasakawa GOI.
• Secure research funding, fellowships, and capacity development opportunities through donor engagement and institutional collaborations.

Job description

Overview

The World Maritime University (WMU) is a postgraduate and research university established in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations. WMU offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy programmes, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Professional Development Courses (PDCs) with high standards in maritime and oceans education and training. WMU also has a research programme supported by specialized research groups across maritime and ocean fields. The Ocean Partnerships Officer position is located at WMU's headquarters in Malmö, Sweden. Since its inauguration in May 2018, the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) has established itself as a leading centre of excellence by operating at the interdisciplinary interface of ocean science, policy, and law to deliver evidence-based research and capacity development programmes addressing critical global oceans challenges such as the triple planetary crisis and the BBNJ Agreement.

Main purpose

The OPO will report to the Vice President for Advancement and Operations, with functional collaboration with the Director of the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) and the overall supervision of the President. The OPO serves as the University's lead liaison to the global oceans sector in terms of WMU's Development Plan. This is a dynamic, strategic partnerships, programme development, and broad resource mobilization role focused on strengthening GOI's institutional growth, external engagement and long-term sustainability. The OPO will develop and manage relationships with partners, funders, donors and institutional stakeholders to secure research funding, fellowships and capacity development opportunities, in-kind contributions, institutional collaborations and broader support for GOI's growth.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial professional who excels at strategic partnership-building, programme development, institutional engagement and resource mobilization. As a collaborative and strategic problem-solver, the OPO will work closely with the Vice President for Advancement and Operations and the Director of GOI to handle high-level partnerships and opportunities. The OPO will also collaborate across the WMU community to secure proposals, donor engagement communications and touchpoints, and stewardship reports.

Remuneration and term

Salary: P4 Grade (ICSC scale), tax-free in Sweden, plus a comprehensive benefits and relocation package. Deadline: 31 July 2026.