Postdoctoral Position on Safety Training and Preparedness in the Arctic - Arctic Safety Centre

About the position

Arctic Safety Centre is looking for a Postdoc for a full-time four-year position on safety training and preparedness in the Arctic. The work will include 25% teaching for Arctic Safety courses on bachelor and master’s level. Alternatively, the candidate may choose a three-year position which excludes teaching. The vacant position is related to the projects “Safety Training in The High-Arctic” and emergency preparedness in “ARCHAIC” Sustainable and Resilient Communities in the High Arctic in the Age of Climate Change, focussing on communities in Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland.

About the project: the project will focus on High Arctic communities’ preparedness to deal with large natural hazard events by leveraging the research and local knowledge. It will strengthen existing and build new networks between traditional emergency response actors, volunteer organizations, private companies, and other relevant stakeholders to effectively manage crises. The overall objective for the post-doc position is to explore how effective and reliable current safety education and training by the various organisations in Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland is for High-Arctic fieldwork and emergency preparedness in extreme environments. Fieldwork is a significant part of life in Svalbard and Longyearbyen, this includes access to potentially dangerous areas, unpredictable conditions including extreme weather and wildlife encounters. This has been exacerbated by dramatic climate change in the Arctic. Reliable safety and emergency preparedness training is therefore of great importance. The structure of the project would be divided in three themes: i) establish knowledge of existing safety training programs and routines; ii) study effectiveness and reliability of the applied methods; iii) explore how this training can be elaborated including simulation technology to support training outcome. The basis should be to further develop a training program based on a learning focused approach and safety theories. 

The Postdoc candidate will be situated in the Arctic Safety Centre which is a part of the Arctic Technology department at UNIS. 

Qualifications and personal qualities

• The candidate must have in depth knowledge and experience of field operations in Svalbard
• The candidate must have experience with field safety training
• The candidate must have completed a relevant PhD preferably within the field of safety or risk programmes on a relevant topic, or in the field of  “friluftsliv” or pedagogy on a relevant topic
• Proficient in both written and oral English
• Preferably experience from other parts of the Arctic such as Greenland and Iceland
• Preferably knowledge on innovative methods and technologies in field safety training and education
• Preferably knowledge on field safety training on Svalbard 
• Personal suitability and motivation will be emphasized 

We offer

UNIS offers a challenging and varied job in an exciting, pleasant, and international environment. As an employee, you will be a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK), which provides one of the best pension schemes on the market. We also offer excellent insurance schemes, coverage of travel and relocation expenses upon starting the position, and staff housing in accordance with current regulations. 

 
The position is classified under the job code “Postdoc” (code 1352). In addition to the base salary, UNIS provides Svalbard allowance of NOK 42.840 per annum. A 2 % contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. The income tax rate in Svalbard is currently 8 %, and a national insurance contribution of 7.7 % is also deducted. 

Application

Inquiries about this position, may be directed to: 
Associate Professor Gunhild B. Sætren, phone: +47 77 01 66 07, email: gunhilds@unis.no 
  

Application deadline 25.09.2025. 
  

Please include the following documents to the online application form: 

• Motivational letter (max. 1 page) to state applicants scientific and personal interest in pursuing a Postdoc position at UNIS 
• Full academic CV 
• Transcripts and diplomas showing the completion of a PhD degree.
• Contact information for two references, one of which must be your PhD supervisor

It is possible to request that your name/application be exempt from public disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (Offentlighetsloven) § 25. The request must be justified. Please note that if the request is not granted, the applicant will be contacted and given the opportunity to withdraw the application. 

 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  

One of UNIS’ values is inclusion. We are committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment in the high Arctic. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, beliefs, age, or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged. 

 
Selection and appointment 
A committee appointed by the Managing director of UNIS will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants and invite the highest ranked person(s) for an interview. The appointment will be made by the Director of UNIS based on the recommendation from the committee.