Professor of Practice in Sport Sciences

Job Summary

The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences is currently seeking to recruit  staff to a position of Professor of Practice in Sport Sciences; with a special focus on research and development of football,  as soon as possible thereafter, for a fixed period of five years.

Education and research in sport sciences in Finland are concentrated at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä. Physical activity and health, as well as their relationships and promotion, are explored there from a multidisciplinary perspective, with the improvement of health, functional ability and wellbeing across the human lifespan as the key aim. The faculty employs about 200 people.

The Football Association of Finland is the largest sports federation in the country, which is responsible for the development of football and futsal in Finland. There are almost 140,000 registered players in Finland and about 500,000 Finns deal with football every week. The Finnish Football Association has made the biggest organizational change in its history in recent years and currently employs around 130 people.

The position to be filled is placed at the Faculty of Sport Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä. The aim is to create new types of knowledge management practices between the academic and the sports world, and to provide research information to support this activity. This objective is supported by the results of research and development and their rapid dissemination into practice.

The professor of practice is responsible for leading the research of the Football Association of Finland (FAF), building a research program and network for football and futsal development, and overseeing national and international multidisciplinary football research. The duties also include co-ordinating the R&D activities of the FAF in co-operation with the Head of Research and Development of the FAF, as well as developing education and coaching activities. The professor participates in the teaching activities of the Faculty of Sport Sciences (up to 40hrs / academic year), in supervising the theses, support for multidisciplinary football-related research within the Faculty and in any other assignments assigned by the faculty. The position is expected to contribute to the acquisition of complementary R&D funding. The professor of practice is also responsible for producing and sharing football and sports research information nationwide and for new innovations for coaching, coach education, sports academies and club activities. Co-operation between the University of Jyväskylä and the Football Association of Finland has a key role to play in this task.

Applicants for the position of Professor of Practice are required to have an appropriate doctorate, strong evidence of scientific research and evidence of national and international cooperation and practical familiarity in the field they represent. Practical familiarity in this context means evidence of research programs and researcher networks. Practical familiarity is illustrated by an understanding of sports management, football as a national and international system, and player development.

Any other national or international qualification supporting the job is considered an advantage. The assignment requires fluent oral and written English proficiency.

The professor of practice position requires a person who has the ability to manage activities,as well as experience in management positions and demanding development projects; excellent social and presentation skills; evidence of pedagogical competence and knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences. Knowledge of the best practices in European football and the ability to apply them to the development of the Finnish football system is considered an asset; good teamwork, collaboration, interaction and communication skills; good IT skills and experience in using various electronic systems; the opportunity to work in the evenings and on weekends when needed and the readiness to travel both in Finland and abroad.

Professor of practice position will be set at level 8 of the university teaching and research staff salary system. Starting salary is depending on previous skills and experience.

The following documents must be attached to the electronic application in PDF format:

• Curriculum vitae (CV), composed according to good scientific practice and considering when possible the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity.
• A numbered list of publications covering the applicant’s the scientific and other publications according to the instructions of the Academy of Finland.
• A maximum of ten publications, which must be numbered according to the list of publications (and fixed to a one pdf file).
• Short (2-3 pages) explanation of the applicant’s research activities, merits in scientific work and supervision of research including acquisition of supplement R&D funding and other merits which show the applicant’s eligibility and merits for the job.