Are you interested in the field of Safety & Connectivity and want to make a difference for business, society and people? Would you like to develop innovative technology with superb colleagues who are top experts in their field? Do you want to build an excellent science career and work at the interface of the academy and industry? Are you enthusiastic about working with fascinating projects in state-of-the-art research facilities? VTT might be just the place for you.  

VTT is one of the leading research and technology organizations in Europe. At VTT, you have an opportunity to be part of our innovative work community of brilliant minds. We have over 2000 encouraging and inspiring colleagues from over 50 different nationalities waiting for you across Finland. Our purpose is to bring together people, business, science and technology to solve the biggest challenges of our time. You can familiarize with us further by exploring VTT’s research infra through VTT World. 

We are now seeking for a Vice President to lead Safe and Connected Society research area with around 100 highly skilled professionals located in Espoo, Tampere and Oulu, Finland. We work globally with our clients and research partners to solve global and national challenges through impactful research. 

As a Vice President, you are responsible for the visionary leadership of Safe and Connected Society research area as well as for coaching and developing your team. You lead the research and customer agenda with a high impact and an ambitious approach. As a member of the Digital Technologies business area’s leadership team, you collaborate and contribute to the success of the whole VTT, our customers, and our partners.  

Safe and Connected Society at VTT 

In the Safe & Connected society area we develop new digital technologies related to connectivity, cybersecurity, remote sensing and data-analysis. We have a long track record of large national and international projects including a deep relationship with e.g. European Smart Networks and Services JU, the European Space Agency and several commercial customers. Our spearheads are in 6G Communication, Post Quantum Cryptography and Sensor Fusion & analytics. We provide top-notch services to the defence and security sector and work in close collaboration with the public and private sector actors. VTT is an active player in European and international defence research. 

As a Vice President, you are responsible for the visionary leadership of Safe and Connected Society research area as well as for coaching and developing your team. You lead the research and customer agenda with a high impact and an ambitious approach. As a member of the Digital Technologies business area’s leadership team, you collaborate and contribute to the success of the whole VTT, our customers, and our partners. 

With us, your responsibilities include: 

• The overall visionary leadership of the research area and in nominated focus area(s) across VTT, including research excellence and customer relationships 

• People leadership with coaching style - inspiring, attracting, and developing talents and ensuring their continuous competence development  

• Contributing actively to customer work, sales, and marketing. You develop and nurture a customer-oriented mindset and competencies to support sales activities within your unit. You are not afraid to jump in and participate in closing the biggest commercial deals yourself. 

• Leading the operations and performance of the research area in a systematic way 

• Fostering relationships with all key stakeholders - businesses, public organisations, funding organisations, partners, and networks. You act as a thought leader and promote VTT brand externally 

• Contributing to the business area strategy. As a member of the business area’s leadership team, you ensure that the business area’s goals are met. 

Your competencies and background: 

• Strategic vision and the ability to see where the organisation and our partners are headed, define opportunities, and drive actions. 

• Strong motivation and track record in leading and coaching teams. You have several years of leadership experience with direct reports. You have experience in change management with the ability to engage and motivate others.   

• Understanding the application areas of Safe and Connected Society from both research and customer point of view. You have worked in or with companies and have an understanding of their needs and way of working.  

• Wide networks of different kinds of stakeholders: research organisations, funding organisations and instruments, as well as companies both in Finland and internationally. 

• Preferably a PhD level in a relevant field. You are passionate about research and innovations and understand how research excellence can be applied to meet industry needs. You have gained experience in practical research work at some point in your career.  

• Commercial understanding and interest to drive sales and a customer focused approach. 

• Fluent written and oral communication skills in Finnish and English. 

As a person, we hope that: 

You have a visionary mindset as well as the ability to translate strategy into actions, you are not afraid to go beyond the obvious. As a leader, you want to create a positive drive and get people excited by coaching and setting ambitious targets together with the team and inspiring others in a cross-disciplinary way. You are an excellent collaborator and communicator with strong influencing skills. You are curious about learning new and developing competence. You focus on impact – wanting to see research results turn into innovations and concrete solutions. You are looking for a role where both strategic leadership and hands-on work are needed.   
 

With VTT, you’ll enjoy: 

• Visionary work in technology. We offer positions at the cutting-edge of technology and engineering, from next-generation microelectronics and quantum technology to automation and robotics, energy systems, and more. Our research agenda is dedicated to creating sustainable growth by solving systemic and technological challenges, so your work will go towards creating a real, positive impact. Read more about our strategy – the path of exponential hope. 

• Fascinating projects, excellent research environment. Our researchers get to work on a combination of cutting-edge academic research and applied customer projects locally and internationally. At VTT, you'll have state-of-the-art research facilities, such as Micronova, the Finnish research infrastructure for micro-, nano-, and quantum technologies.   

• Great career opportunities, superb colleagues. At VTT, excellence in research is a strategic priority. We offer long-term positions and stable career paths in top-level research. People tend to stay with us for over ten years since there are always new roles and responsibilities to grow into. Collaborating in a cross-disciplinary community with superb colleagues is a source of learning, inspiration, and fun. Read more about our organisational culture as the builder of the world's most meaningful place to work. 

• Support for your well-being. Our people are our main asset, so we take good care of them. We aim to nurture excellent team spirit and leadership and offer versatile well-being services to enable a good work-life balance. On top of 6 weeks of paid holidays, we offer exercise and culture benefits, hobby clubs, and voluntary well-being services such as meditation and cognitive ergonomics training. 
   

Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds! 

Please send your CV and application letter via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 3.12.2023. The first-round interviews will be held between 8-15.12.2023. A security clearance procedure will be conducted for the selected person. 

Interested and want to know more? 

For further information, please contact Erja Turunen, Executive Vice President, Digital Technologies, erja.turunen@vtt.fi or +358 503809671 on Monday 27.11. at 17-18 or on Tuesday 28.11 at 17-18 o´clock.

We look forward to hearing from you!