The Student Union at KTH (THS) is a historic student union founded in 1902. THS is comprised of students and PhD Students at KTH, with a current membership of approximately 10,000. THS’s purpose is to safeguard the interests of students and PhD Students in relation to KTH and to ensure that everyone enjoys a meaningful study experience, leisure time, and future.
THS is organized and built around members engaged on a voluntary basis. Locally, students are organized into chapters, which advocate towards KTH’s various schools. At the central level, students are led by the THS Management Team, consisting of eleven elected full-time student representatives. THS Central also includes permanent staff led by the Chief of Staff, as well as a restaurant, a café, and two subsidiary companies.
At KTH, there are currently about 1,600 PhD Students, the majority of whom have an international background. The duality of being both a student and an employee, along with the sensitive relationship between PhD Students and supervisors, can create complex situations where candidates require support and guidance to manage challenges and resolve issues. The PhD Student advisor plays a crucial role in providing this support and ensuring that the rights and needs of PhD Students are met.
Your Workday
As the PhD Student advisor, you work operationally to ensure that PhD Students’ rights are upheld. A significant part of your role involves one-on-one conversations to support and coach PhD Students facing challenges with their supervisors and/or employers. You excel at guiding and inspiring solutions to difficult situations in a constructive manner. You collaborate with local union organizations at KTH and stay informed about changes affectingPhD Students’ conditions at the university.
Your responsibilities also include spreading information about current rules and responsibilities, participating in education sessions from a PhD Students, and working proactively alongside the PhD Chapter and other stakeholders. You will also support the union’s Study Environment Officer.
Your Profile
To succeed in this role, you need strong self-leadership, dedication to Phd issues, and high integrity. You have excellent collaboration skills with colleagues and elected representatives and experience working independently with responsibility. You also have prior experience in non-profit organizations.
We believe you have:
- A relevant academic degree, such as in social work, human resources, behavioral sciences, or equivalent.
- Relevant experience in student union and/or trade union work.
- Experience conducting conversations with individuals in vulnerable situations.
- Experience speaking to large groups and conducting short training sessions.
- Experience handling confidential matters.
- Excellent proficiency in Swedish and English, as many conversations will be held in academic English.
We consider it a merit if you:
- Have worked in the HR field.
- Have represented others as an ombudsperson or advocate towards authorities and/or employers.
- Have experience working in a democratic organization.
- Have worked with advocacy in the higher education sector and are familiar with the Higher Education Ordinance and other relevant legislation.
What We Offer
As an employee of THS, you will work alongside both permanent staff and full-time elected student representatives. You will be based centrally in Stockholm at THS’s premises at KTH, Drottning Kristinas väg 15, with the option to work remotely part of the time. We offer collective agreements, wellness allowances, and meal benefits for all our employees.
Welcome to apply!
The position is a permanent part-time role (80% of full-time) with a fixed salary. The application deadline is January 6, 2025, and the start date is to be agreed upon. THS applies a six-month probationary period. Selection is ongoing throughout the application process, so don’t wait to send in your application. Email your CV and a short cover letter to jobba-pa-ths@ths.kth.se. Please mark your application with PhD Student advisor.
About THS
THS holds union status at KTH and is funded through targeted state grants for education monitoring, membership fees, and partnerships with KTH and industry. The student union is a member-driven organization where members set the organization’s direction through the Student Union Council. The Union Presidium and the Office Manager lead daily operations. The organization consists of a network of chapters.
THS’s main tasks are to:
- Enrich the study experience for KTH students with social activities and practical experiences that complement theoretical studies.
- Protect and contribute to the development of the quality of KTH’s education.
- Create opportunities for students to connect with industries and future employers so they can gain early insights and form an idea of what they want to do after graduation.
Learn more on the THS website: https://ths.kth.se
