Professor / Associate Professor / Assistant Professor in consumer society research

The Faculty of Social Sciences invites applications for the position of

PROFESSOR / ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR / ASSISTANT PROFESSOR in consumer society research

The successful applicant may be appointed to a permanent professorship or a fixed-term associate professorship / assistant professorship (tenure track system), depending on qualifications and career stage. Further information on the UH tenure track system can be obtained online.

We invite applications from candidates with an internationally recognised track record in research on consumption and consumer society. The appointee is expected to contribute to theoretical and conceptual advancements in understanding consumer society, more specifically the socio-economic implications of consumer culture, the development of new markets, and the evolution of consumption. We welcome applications that situate consumption within the broader transformations of the global political economy. Issues such as geopolitical tensions, industrial policy, debates over strategic autonomy, and the restructuring of global supply chains are increasingly shaping consumer societies.

In keeping with the Centre’s national tasks, we value research and public engagement that benefit policymaking, innovation, and the promotion of consumer literacy. Former experience of leading and managing academic work is a significant merit for this appointment. While a successful candidate is expected to have a record of publications addressed to international scholarly audiences, we appreciate the ability to collaborate in an environment in which Finnish or Swedish is the working language.

DUTIES

The appointee will deliver top-level research-based teaching, supervise theses and dissertations. The appointee is expected to have a demonstrated ability to secure external funding, an international network of relevant research collaboration, and sufficient managerial skills for leading academic work.

The position’s teaching includes the development of several new course offerings and an ongoing commitment to make them an inherent part of CCSR’s pedagogical future. The applicant will be expected to take a leadership role in developing consumer studies as part of current or future degree programs.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate shall have a doctorate in an applicable social science field. The doctoral degree requirement must be met by the end of the application deadline.

An appointee to the position of assistant professor / associate professor in the tenure track system shall hold a doctoral degree and have the ability to conduct independent scholarly work as well as the teaching skills required for the position. In addition, the appointee shall have the capacity and potential to pursue an academic career at a high level, as demonstrated by publications and other means.

In assessing the applicants’ qualifications, attention shall be paid to scientific publications and research, teaching experience and qualifications, international experience and collaborations, and success in the acquisition of external research funding.

An appointee to the position of professor shall hold a doctoral degree and have high-level academic qualifications; experience in leading scientific research; the ability to provide research-based teaching and supervise dissertations and theses; as well as evidence of international cooperation in the research field they represent. The appointee shall also have academic leadership skills.

When considering the applicant’s qualifications, attention shall be given to scientific publications and other research results of scientific value, teaching experience and pedagogical training, the ability to produce teaching material, other teaching merits and, if necessary, a demonstration of teaching skills as well as the applicant’s participation in doctoral education. Account shall also be taken of the applicant’s activity in the international scientific community, success in obtaining external research funding, international research experience and international elected positions as well as leadership and interaction skills.

Successfully performing the duties of the position requires good English language skills and a positive attitude towards learning Finnish and/or Swedish. The University offers support for language learning.

The appointee is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The International Staff Unit provides assistance in relocation.

The assessment of each applicant will be based on the following criteria:
-    Scholarly publications
-    Success in obtaining external research funding
-    International research experience
-    Activities in the academic community
-    Teaching experience, supervision of dissertations and theses, and other pedagogical merits
-    Leadership and interaction skills
-    The applicant’s vision for developing the field and its research agenda
-    How the candidate’s thematic specialization fits the priorities described in the job description 
-    The statements of external evaluators
-    The applicant's teaching demonstration
-    The interview with the applicant

CCSR AS RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT 

An integral part of the Faculty of Social Sciences since 2015, the Centre for Consumer Society Research (CCSR) is a unique research institution within Finland and Europe. It investigates from a social scientific perspective the challenges consumer society faces, issues of growth, energy use and sustainability, the tensions and contradictions of digitalisation, and the development of consumer citizenship. While the Centre is endowed with funding from the Finnish Ministry of Education to fulfil its core tasks, it has also been highly successful in securing competitive external funding from, among others, the Finnish Strategic Research Council, Horizon Europe, and Business Finland. Our highly motivated team of more than 40 researchers from various social scientific disciplines is curiosity-driven, problem-oriented, and cross-disciplinary. The CCRS’s interdisciplinary social scientific approach (known as the Helsinki School of Consumption Studies) provides timely, critical, research-based knowledge on the values, technologies and practices that shape the economy and consumer society.

The CCSR has a national duty to carry out three core tasks: 
 
-    Conduct thorough, interdisciplinary social scientific research on critical issues related to consumer society, especially those that affect consumers' everyday lives. 
-    Provide research-based higher education in this field. 
-    Increase the societal impact by engaging in public debates and contributing to policy discussions. 
 
WHAT WE OFFER 
 
We are an equal opportunity employer and offer an attractive and diverse workplace in an inspiring environment. Annual gross salary for a full professor varies between €76,000 and €105,000, and for an assistant/associate professor between €63,000 and €74,500, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience.

In addition, the University of Helsinki offers comprehensive benefits to its employees, including occupational health care, opportunities for professional development, support for applying for research project funding, as well as library, wellbeing, and fitness services. Further information is available on the webpage. The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.

Finland is a member of the European Union, has high quality free schooling (also in English) and generous family benefits and healthcare. Finland was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families, and Helsinki is in the world’s top ten most livable cities. Finland and the Helsinki region feature leading research and innovation facilities, clean environment, affordable accommodation, and excellent international, national, and local transport connections. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see the websites.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link “Apply now”. Applicants who are currently employed by the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the link “Employee login”. The closing date for the applications is 5 June, 2026 at 23.59 local Helsinki time (EEST).
 
Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications the following documents in English:

-    A curriculum vitae
-    A numbered list of publications in which the applicant has marked in bold font five key publications to be considered in the assessment
-    A report (max. 3 pages) about the applicant’s research activities (including international scholarly work, activities in academic community, and success in obtaining research funding)
-    A vision statement (max. 2 pages) about how the applicant intends to develop the field and focus their research
-    A report (max. 3 pages) on the applicant’s teaching experience and pedagogical merits

Detailed information on the CV and list of publications as well as the presentation of teaching skills can be obtained online.

Other enclosures, such as recommendation letters or certificates are not required.  

After the closing of the application period, the Faculty may request the applicants to submit up to five publications of their choice to be reviewed by the external evaluators.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information on the position and the working environment may be obtained from the Director of CCSR Niilo Kauppi, niilo.kauppi(at)helsinki.fi.  

Further information on the recruitment process may be obtained from HR Specialist Minna Maunula, minna.maunula(at)helsinki.fi. 
  
The Faculty of Social Sciences is Finland’s leading research and education institute in the social sciences, and the country’s most diverse social sciences faculty in terms of the range of its disciplines and fields of research. The Faculty has a strong international research profile and an international master’s programme, and several of its disciplinary units have been rated among the top 50 in the world. The Faculty comprises approximately 500 researchers and teaching staff, and each year it awards some 350 bachelor’s degrees, 400 master’s degrees and more than 40 doctoral degrees. 

A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to us. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for our positions.

 Click this link to read about accessibility and inclusivity at our University.
 
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