Are you looking for a role where your work truly makes a difference? With us, you’ll become an important part of an international academic community where you’ll support cutting-edge research and education. You’ll enjoy secure employment conditions, generous benefits, and excellent opportunities for professional development, all while contributing to something greater.

Would you like to help develop an exciting environment where elite sports, higher education, research, and innovation converge?

Luleå University of Technology is one of Sweden’s elite sports-friendly universities (EVL) and offers elite student-athletes the opportunity to combine academic studies with a continued focus on their athletic careers. The university has strong research and development environments in sports technology, performance development, and sports medicine.

We are now seeking a development-oriented individual who wants to help strengthen the university’s work with dual careers while also developing the connection between elite sports, education, and research.

About the Position

The position combines three areas of responsibility:

• operational management and coordination for EVL,
• coaching responsibilities in cross-country skiing,
• and work on research and development issues in collaboration with LTU’s research environments.

The role involves working closely with elite student athletes and their daily lives, while also contributing strategically to the development of LTU’s elite sports environment through broad collaboration with students, coaches, faculty, researchers, the sports community, specialized sports federations, municipalities, the region, and external partners.

Job Responsibilities

ELITE SPORTS COORDINATION

• Coordinate and develop LTU’s work as an Elite Sports-Friendly Institution.
• Support elite student athletes in balancing their elite athletic commitments with their studies.

TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT

• Be responsible for planning, training, and follow-up for students pursuing elite cross-country skiing.
• Serve as a liaison between elite athletes, coaches, sports federations, and the university’s research environments.

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EXTERNAL COLLABORATION

• Contribute to and participate in R&D projects in sports, performance, and technology.
• Initiate and lead collaborative projects with external partners.
• Participate in resource acquisition, external funding, and strategic partnerships.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who has:

• an academic degree in a relevant field, such as sports science, technology, physiology, sports medicine, or another field deemed equivalent by the employer,
• documented experience in elite sports or performance development, for example as an athlete, coach, manager, researcher, development manager, or equivalent,
• a good understanding of the conditions faced by elite athletes and dual careers,
• experience leading, coordinating, or developing programs,
• strong ability to build relationships and collaborate with various stakeholders,
• excellent communication and organizational skills,
• strong ability to work independently and drive development initiatives from concept to implementation.

For this position, it is important that you can navigate between practical sports operations and an academic environment. You need to understand the day-to-day realities of elite sports while also recognizing how research, measurement, analysis, and innovation can contribute to long-term performance development.

Desirable Qualifications

It is advantageous if you have:

• experience in research and/or development work in elite sports,
• experience in cross-country skiing at the elite or developmental level,
• experience as a coach in cross-country skiing or another endurance sport,
• experience working with elite student athletes or dual-career athletes,
• experience in project management and externally funded projects,
• experience in collaboration between academia, the sports community, and external partners,
• experience with testing, performance analysis, data collection, or methodology development in sports.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for a person who is responsible, organized, and development-oriented. You have strong collaboration skills, inspire trust, and can build long-term relationships with students, coaches, researchers, and external partners.

You need to thrive in a role where you alternate between operational work closely with athletes and more strategic work involving organizational development, collaboration, and projects. You are proactive, analytical, and have a genuine interest in developing environments where elite sports, education, and research reinforce one another.

Great importance will be placed on your personal qualities.

We offer

With us, you’ll have the opportunity to help further develop a unique environment where elite sports, higher education, research, and innovation converge. You will be an important part of LTU’s ongoing efforts to become an elite sports-friendly institution and will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of future support for student-athletes.

This position offers excellent opportunities to influence the future direction of our operations and to contribute to a growing research and development environment in sports, performance, and technology, with particular relevance to winter sports and endurance sports.

Scope and Location

This is a full-time, permanent position based in Luleå. A probationary period may apply. The start date is to be agreed upon.

Additional Information

For more information, please contact Jennie Hägg Wilhelmsson, Head of the Department of Student, Research, and Educational Support, at 0920-49 1746, jennie.hagg.wilhelmsson@ltu.se, or Andreas Almqvist, Professor of Machine Elements and Director of the Center for Sports and Performance Technology, at 0920-49 2407, andreas.almqvist@ltu.se.

Union Representatives

SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 20 37 diana.chroneer@ltu.se and OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721 marika.vesterberg@ltu.se

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position using the application button below, where you should attach a cover letter, your resume, and your diploma. Please include the reference number below in your application. Both your application and your diploma must be written in Swedish or English.

Reference number: 4205-2026

Application deadline: August 24, 2026