JOB DESCRIPTION

The appointee is expected to develop high-quality and societally relevant research on the economic and business dimensions of agriculture and food systems. The research profile may focus on, for example, farm-level decision-making and the business management of agricultural enterprises (agribusiness), the measurement and analysis of productivity and efficiency, sustainability transitions in agriculture, the functioning of agricultural and food systems and value chains, or international and development-oriented agricultural economics. The position requires expertise in applied economics and the ability to apply advanced empirical methods, particularly econometrics, in both research and teaching.

The position carries teaching responsibilities in agricultural economics, mainly in the Bachelor’s Programme in Environmental and Agricultural Economics (YMTA), the Bachelor’s Programme in Agricultural Sciences (MAAT), the Master’s Programme in Agricultural, Environmental and Resource Economics (AGERE) and the Liberal Arts and Sciences Programme (LAS). It also involves supervision of bachelor's and master’s theses, and doctoral training in the Doctoral Programme in Multidisciplinary Research in Renewable Natural Resources (RENEW). The appointee is expected to build active research and teaching collaboration within the faculty and with external research organisations such as the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Pellervo Economic Research (PTT) and the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), and to strengthen the research group by securing competitive funding, publishing high-quality research and developing international networks.

The tenure track assistant/associate professor or full professor will have a central role in developing agricultural economics research, teaching and doctoral education, and in strengthening the national and international visibility of the field.

REQUIREMENTS

Assistant Professor or Associate Professor

An appointee to the position of assistant professor or associate professor in the tenure track system shall have:

• a doctoral degree
• the ability to conduct independent scholarly work
• the teaching skills required for the position
• the ability and motivation to pursue an academic career, as demonstrated by publications and other means

Professor

An appointee to the position of professor shall have:

• a doctoral degree
• high-level academic qualifications
• experience in leading scientific research
• the ability to provide research-based teaching and supervise dissertations and theses
• evidence of international cooperation in the research field they represent
• academic leadership skills

The degree requirement (doctoral degree) must be met by the end of the application period.

When considering the candidates’ qualifications, attention shall be given to scientific and teaching merits. In addition, the candidates’ leadership and interaction skills, as well as activity in the scientific community and public engagement shall also be taken into account.

Scientific merits include

• scientific publications and other research results of academic value
• success in obtaining external research funding
• international research experience
• other international experience

Teaching merits include

• teaching experience
• pedagogical training
• the ability to produce learning material
• other teaching merits
• a teaching demonstration
• participation in doctoral education

Successfully performing the duties of the position requires good spoken and written proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and satisfactory proficiency in the other national language. If you do not yet speak Finnish or Swedish, we expect you to achieve intermediate language proficiency in either language within a reasonable time after being selected for the position. The University provides support for language learning and time for language studies can be included in annual work plan.

To successfully attend to the duties of the position, the appointee must have good English skills as it includes teaching in an English-language master's programme as well as active participation in international research collaboration.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer an interesting opportunity to work in a diverse research environment. At the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry you will carry out research-based teaching at the highest education level in the field in Finland and have the opportunity to take part in internationally valued, first-class research activities. The position is also an opportunity to develop your own professional skills in a multidisciplinary work community of the faculty. Your work will be supported by the research and teaching staff of the department and the faculty as well as the administrative and technical staff at Viikki campus. Furthermore, the university takes care of your well-being by flexible work arrangements, comprehensive occupational health care and wide-ranging, low-cost UniSport services. Professional development is supported in different ways, i.e. by offering versatile staff training, mentoring etc.

The professor’s gross annual starting salary varies approximately between 85 000 and 98 000 euros and the assistant/associate professor’s starting salary approximately between 66 000 and 82 000 euros, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience.

There is a six-month trial period in the position. The appointee is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. International staff are supported in relocating to Finland.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications a SINGLE PDF file that includes the following documents in English:

1. CV
2. A short motivation letter and report on how the applicant intends to develop his or her research and focus his or her activities, if appointed (1-2 pages)
3. Report on the applicant’s research activities (including activities in scientific communities, the acquisition of research funding and international scholarly work) (max. 5 pages)
4. A numbered list of publications
5. A report on pedagogical expertise (see the instructions via the link below under University portfolio – Teaching and supervision)

For more detailed instructions on the application documents, please see: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/open-positions/instructions-applicants-teaching-and-research-positions

Applications with the above attachments must be submitted in a single PDF file, which is named: agricultural economics_lastname_firstname. Other attachments are not required.

The faculty may request shortlisted applicants to submit 5-10 publications of their choice to be sent to the assessors via the electronic recruitment system after the application deadline. In the case of shortlisted applicants, aptitude evaluation may be used as part of the recruitment process.

External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now link.

Applicants who have a helsinki.fi username and a valid employment contract, a grant researcher's contract, a visiting researcher's or visiting professor's contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the Employee login.

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders and linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

The closing date for applications is 2.11.2026 at 23:59 EEST.

FURTHER INFORMATION

About the position:
Department Head Marko Lindroos
marko.lindroos(at)helsinki.fi
Tel. +358 2941 58068

Recruitment process and the recruitment system:
HR Specialist Mirkka Juntunen
recruitment(at)helsinki.fi
Tel. +358294157583

ABOUT US

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is located on the Viikki campus. The mission of the faculty is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources through scientific research and research-based teaching. We focus on agricultural and forest sciences, food and nutrition, microbiology, as well as on economics and management. We cover the full natural resource chain from farm to fork, the entire field of forest sciences from soil chemistry to marketing, as well as the environmental effects of related activities. Graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry are versatile experts in biosciences and business, able to meet the needs of both the business sector and society at large.

www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-agriculture-and-forestry

The Department of Economics and Management

The Department of Economics and Management conducts high-quality research and teaching, involving the application of economics, management, marketing and consumption theory, methods and perspectives to address issues associated with the goods and services from our terrestrial and aquatic environments: agricultural areas, food systems, forests and aquatic environments. The department has several international research groups. Our researchers also participate in the teaching and development of doctoral programmes. The Department is also a part of Helsinki Graduate School of Economics (HGSE).

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-agriculture-and-forestry/research/economics-and-management

WHY UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI, CITY OF HELSINKI AND FINLAND

• Why should you choose University of Helsinki: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-university-helsinki
• Why Finland is a great place to live and work: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-finland
• 10 reasons to work in Helsinki: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-helsinki
• Support for international staff: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/welcome
• International House Helsinki: https://ihhelsinki.fi
• Welcome to Helsinki: https://welcome.hel.fi/

OPEN POSITION

Due Date: 2.11.2026 (23.59 Europe/Helsinki time)

Unit: Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

Sub-unit: Department of Economics and Management

ID: 5235

WORKING FOR THE WORLD

Science has the power to change the world. Join one of the best research universities in the world – an international community united through bold thinking, science, research, and learning, with over 30,000 students and 8,000 employees.

We are defined by our multidisciplinary approach. This, combined with a dedication to cross-border collaboration, gives us our potential to find real solutions and build hope for a better, more sustainable future.

We are united by our values – truth, bildung, freedom, and inclusivity – as well as our passion for work that truly matters.

Join us: work for the future – work for the world.

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