Kiruna has been named the European Capital of Culture for 2029! The government made the decision following a strong recommendation from the European expert jury, which selected Kiruna from among the Swedish candidates based on its application, “Movement—Below Ground. On Earth. In Space.”  A historic step for the municipality, the region, and the cultural life of all of northern Sweden! Kiruna lies at the intersection of extraction and regeneration, tradition and the future, local stories and cosmic horizons. Few cultural leadership roles in Europe offer this combination of artistic mandate, geopolitical relevance, and long-term structural impact. Become part of one of Europe’s most significant cultural initiatives—an innovative project located in Kiruna, one of Sweden’s most unique cities. 1 position(s). JOB DESCRIPTION The Program Director’s mission is to artistically and curatorially realize and implement the bid book’s artistic vision into a cohesive and world-leading artistic program. This involves positioning Kiruna 2029 within the European and global cultural landscape, while ensuring a high artistic standard with a focus on inclusion, sustainability, and local relevance. As Program Manager, you will deliver and produce the bid book’s program—one that is locally rooted and of international significance—to build long-term cultural infrastructure and networks beyond 2029. This work is ongoing, and as Program Manager, your role will be to foster a culture of excellence, a spirit of experimentation, and inclusion within the program team and among collaborative partners. The Program Manager will contribute to risk management and scenario planning, as well as support monitoring, evaluation, and a long-term legacy strategy. You will have financial responsibility for the program budget, guided by sound financial management. Together with colleagues, you will develop strategic partnerships in Europe and globally, collaborate with past and future Capitals of Culture, and build long-term collaborations with indigenous networks, national minorities, and Arctic stakeholders. The work is periodically intense, which requires you to handle a fast pace, prioritize, and navigate complex communication situations. Main Areas of Responsibility • Artistic and curatorial leadership • International positioning and partnerships • Community and capacity building • Financial and strategic responsibility Business travel is required, and you will represent the Municipality of Kiruna and Kiruna 2029 in various public settings and in the media. The role is both strategic and operational and requires on-site presence in Kiruna. Kiruna 2029 is a project organization within Kiruna Municipality that reports to its own committee. After the project period ends, the project organization will be dissolved. QUALIFICATIONS We are looking for someone who has: • A post-secondary degree in the arts and culture or other education or work experience that the employer deems equivalent. • Curatorial vision and conceptual clarity; you have a high level of credibility in contemporary art and culture at the local, national, and international levels. • Experience leading change and the ability to build trust across sectors and target groups. • Understanding of and experience with both Swedish and EU cultural policy frameworks, and the ability to balance artistic freedom with public service mandates. • Established European and international cultural contacts, and experience with cross-border and interdisciplinary collaborations. • Good knowledge of the local and national arts and cultural scene • Experience appearing in the media. • We work in a bilingual environment with Swedish and English as working languages. Proficiency in English is required, and we also welcome applicants who are still developing their Swedish language skills. • Class B driver’s license The following are considered a plus: • Experience leading large and complex cultural programs • Knowledge of local and national political contexts • Experience working in a politically governed organization. • Interest in Arctic, indigenous peoples’, sustainability, and/or development issues • Knowledge of Sami, Meänkieli, or Finnish As a person, you are visionary yet pragmatic, collaborative, and decisive. Politically aware yet artistically bold, and comfortable working with complex processes. You are motivated by long-term cultural impact rather than short-term visibility. Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability. This is a unique opportunity to help raise the profile of Kiruna and showcase it from a European perspective. Through your work, you will help promote a strong, vibrant, and inclusive narrative about a place in transition and make it accessible to our local audience and far beyond Sweden’s borders. Employment Type: Fixed-term employment. Duration: 6 months or longer; Start Date: As agreed; Project-based position; End Date: January 1, 2030. To work with us, you must share Kiruna Municipality’s core values, where respect, responsibility, and collaboration are the guiding principles. We offer a pleasant work environment and stimulating tasks, ensuring that you, as an employee, enjoy a good work-life balance. We offer a variety of benefits, including free access to various fitness facilities up to 5,000 SEK per year, cabins in the mountains that you can rent, and the option to exchange a portion of your salary for time off. We strive for gender equality and view diversity as a strength; we welcome employees from diverse backgrounds and work to ensure our workplaces are accessible to everyone. Kiruna Municipality views full-time employment as a right and part-time employment as an opportunity. Knowledge of Finnish, Sami, and/or Meänkieli is a plus, as Kiruna Municipality is an administrative area for these languages. Kiruna Municipality applies individual and differentiated pay scales. If you advance in the recruitment process, you will be presented with a salary range applicable to you at the time of your interview. We encourage you to read the information about our collective bargaining agreements, local agreements, and what we as an employer have to offer before we meet with you for a potential interview; you can find this information here: https://kiruna.se/naringsliv--arbete/arbeta-hos-oss/kommunen-som-arbetsgivare.html Kiruna Municipality has engaged a recruitment agency for this position and therefore requests that advertising sales representatives or other providers of recruitment services refrain from contacting us.