Vice President Research & Development

Company Description
The energy market is in an exciting transition, moving away from fossil fuels towards decentral solutions, renewables and energy efficiency. Important drivers are changes in customer expectations and behavior and rapid technological developments. Our ambition is to take the lead in this transition.


Vattenfall is a European energy company with approximately 20 000 employees. For more than 100 years we have electrified industries, supplied energy to people’s homes and modernized our way of living through innovation and cooperation. We now want to make fossil-free living possible within one generation. To be able to reach this ambitious goal we are looking for talented individuals who, in addition to their passion for their own role, also have strong team spirit and want to contribute to supporting a meaningful corporate mission.


Vattenfall is one of Europe`s largest electricity generators and producers of heat. We operate in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Our strategy is to reduce emissions from power generation with a road map aiming at achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Job Description
Are you a leader of the future and have the ambition to take part in enabling a fossil-free living within one generation? We might have an interesting position for you!
Vattenfall’s Research & Development unit is organised within Staff Function Strategic Development. The portfolio for R&D covers all aspects of the company’s business. The function plays a crucial role to develop Vattenfall’s daily operations by application of technology business cases for the company to pursue. As example, R&D are developing charging solutions for heavy vehicles, digital inspections of nuclear power plants, and smart algorithms for steering large batteries in the grid. The function is also part of important strategical partnerships, including Vattenfall’s industrial decarbonisation initiatives, with HYBRIT as the premier example.
Overarching application themes for the R&D function include: flexibility, electrification, digitalisation. The strategic directions include implementation of successful projects together with the business, in particular more transformative developments and data driven decision making. The R&D organisation consists of 130 employees, coming from more than 30 different nationalities who are working according to agile principles. Vattenfall’s R&D laboratory is placed in Älvkarleby, Sweden.
We are now looking for the right person to fill the position Vice President Research & Development to lead and manage the R&D business and organisation. You will report to Sr Vice President for Strategic Development, Andreas Regnell, and be part of SF Strategic Development management team. You will be based in either Solna or in Älvkarleby. We believe that the position requires presence several days a week in Vattenfall’s headquarter in Solna.
Your role and key responsibilities
As Vice President for Research & Development you have the following tasks and key responsibilities:
Managing the business performance of the Research & Development unit
Closly work with other business leaders within Vattenfall to set R&D priorities
P&L responsibility for the entire unit, and accountable for budgets
Being Vattenfall’s spokesperson and external contact for R&D related topics
High employee satisfaction with an eye on attracting new employees and retention and development of current ones
Lead and develop the people within R&D management team
Be a valuable and active member of the SF Strategic Development management team

Qualifications
Professional and personal characteristics
Today, you are a senior leader with documented experience of making strategic connections between the needs of business and opportunities in technology, and of driving necessary change, using wide and deep networks inside and outside the organisation. Leadership and management skills thus are essential, as are communication and social skills. We believe that successful applicants have a business background, combined with a deep and wide foundation in technology. You have a university degree in business, engineering or other suitable background. Your command of Swedish and English is strong, both verbally and in written.
Next to this you:
Are an flexible, self-motivated and organized individual with the ability to work on your own, willing to share knowledge and experiences across the organisation
Have strong analytical skills and strategic business acumen
Are experienced in planning and execution as well as leading managers
Are a senior change leader possessing high communication skills
Have a strong credibility within Vattenfall and being an excellent network builder
Are inclusive as a leader and act in line with Vattenfall experience principles; open, active, positive and put health & safety first
Work in accordance with the leadership focus areas of Vattenfall where you will excel in connecting people, accelerating learning and driving innovation
You belive in a strong feedback culture, open to give feedback and ask for feedback in return

Additional Information
Our offer
A challenging and international work environment, and the possibility to work with some of the best in the area. You will lead a fast growing business in all the countries we have established our business and will establish executive relationships with high demanding business customers committed to electrification and together with great leaders to explore innovative solutions and be in the forefront of business development to meet their needs. You will grow a strong network all over Vattenfall to be a part of our journey – to enable fossil free living within one generation.
Process and time line
We welcome your application in English, including CV (under the heading Resume) and a cover letter (under the heading Additional attachments), via the application button at this page. We welcome your application in English no later than 11th of December.
We kindly request that you do not send applications by any means other than via our website as we cannot guarantee that we will be able to process applications that are not made via our website.