Do you want to lead one of the country’s most central professional environments in medical microbiology – and at the same time contribute to top-level research and education?
 
A permanent Head of Department position (100 %) in medical microbiology is available at the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, start date 01 April 2027.
 
We are seeking a clear and unifying leader for the Department of Microbiology, which is part of the Division of Laboratory Medicine at Oslo University Hospital. The clinic is Norway’s largest laboratory environment and plays a crucial role in modern diagnostics, research, and innovation.
 
The Head of Department position is associated with a permanent adjunct position as Professor II or Associate Professor (20 %) in medical microbiology at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo (UiO). It is a requirement that the person in this role fulfills both functions.
 
Oslo University Hospital serves as a local hospital for parts of Oslo’s population, a regional hospital for the inhabitants of South-Eastern Norway (Helse Sør-Øst), and performs a number of national functions. It is the largest hospital in Norway with more than 25,000 employees, local hospital functions for large parts of Oslo, regional hospital for Helse Sør-Øst, and numerous national functions. Oslo University Hospital is responsible for most medical research and training of health personnel in Norway and is a key actor in educating future health professionals.
 
Oslo University Hospital is a workplace with great diversity. We believe this is crucial for solving our tasks in the best possible way. We want this diversity to be reflected among the applicants for our positions, and we encourage all qualified candidates, regardless of background, to apply!

Kvalifikasjoner:

Research activity is large and includes both fundamental biological research and translational research. Fundamental research is particularly connected to DNA repair, genome stability, epigenetics, and horizontal gene transfer. Translational research includes studies in bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, molecular biology, bioinformatics — with a strong focus on antimicrobial resistance, especially in bacteria and fungi, as well as pathogenesis in bacterial and viral infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Looking ahead, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), host-microbe interaction and pandemic preparedness will be of great importance for Oslo University Hospital also at the national level. In this regard, state-of-the-art facilities for AMR research have been established in collaboration with other faculties at the University of Oslo.

The Department educates medical microbiologists, provides practical training for biomedical laboratory scientist students, and participates in the teaching of medical students because of its close ties to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.

Our department is currently undergoing major reorganization with a shared laboratory information system, harmonization between two locations, and consolidation of the entire department in the Life Sciences Building in 2027.

The main 100 % position will be a senior consultant role as Head of Department . The appointed person will primarily lead the Department of Microbiology and participate in bacteriological, virological and/or mycological diagnostics.

The Role
The Head of Department will be part of the leadership team of the division and contribute actively to the development of the entire Division of Laboratory Medicine at Oslo University Hospital. The position may be combined with a 20 % adjunct appointment as Professor II / Associate Professor at the University of Oslo, thereby providing a unique opportunity to combine leadership with research and education.

Responsibilities

As Head of Department you will have overall responsibility for the operations and development of the Department of Microbiology, including responsibility for academic affairs, personnel, research, and finances. You will:

• lead and inspire a strong professional environment with high competence and a majorsocietal mission
• facilitate high-quality research, innovation and education
• contribute actively in the clinic’s leadership team and to the further development of Oslo University Hospital as a whole

Qualifications

• Medical degree (cand.med.) and specialist certification in medical microbiology
• Leadership experience, preferably with documented results from managing operationsand change processes
  
• Interest in and experience with research and development
  
• Strong communication skills, good collaboration skills, and strategic vision

As a leader at Oslo University Hospital, the following leadership requirements apply:

You are strategic

Personlige egenskaper:

• Facilitate leadership development in your leadership group and in the individual unitswithin your area of responsibility.
  
• Patient safety, quality and deviations: Promote/stimulate a culture that seekscontinuous improvement and learning, and follows up reports of deviations andsuggestions for improvement.
  
• Think strategically, set clear and ambitious goals and be able to develop a culture thatmotivates the organization for necessary changes and transformation also acrossclinics and support functions.
  
• Work actively with other professional areas to achieve a stable operational situation.

You demonstrate integrity

• Express your own opinions, but at the same time be loyal to and actively supportdecisions once they are made.
  
• Be open, honest and a good role model who facilitates good and open dialogue with staff.

You are motivating and unifying

• Be a visible, inspiring leader who creates well-being in the organization and motivateseffort.
  
• Be focused on developing your employees and your organization.
  
• Have a good understanding of the employer role and be able to establish a balancedand well-functioning collaboration with employee representatives/trade unions andsafety delegates.
  
• Conduct employee appraisals, have zero tolerance for and follow up harassment cases,and implement measures to prevent and reduce sickness absence.

Why Apply?

This position is for someone who wants to lead in a complex and dynamic environment, while also having the opportunity to contribute to research and education in collaboration with the University of Oslo. The role gives you a central position in shaping the future of laboratory medicine, with the Life Sciences Building as a catalyst for diagnostics, innovation, collaboration, and scientific breakthroughs.

Key Duties

• Overall responsibility for and involvement in the daily operations of the department
• Academic advising to the department’s leaders and staff
• Lead the department’s leadership group
  
• Participate actively in the clinic’s leadership team
  
• Overall responsibility and ensure excellent academic quality and development ofroutine diagnostics as well as frontline research activity in the department
  
• Lead planning for future operations
  
• Execute the relocation to a consolidated department in the Life Sciences Building
  
• Ensure smooth workflow
  
• Responsibility for competence development among physicians
  
• Leadership responsibility (personnel and financial accountability) for the department
  
• Participate in routine diagnostics and current on-call duties

Qualification Requirements – Education and Important Personal Qualities Qualifications

• Norwegian authorization as a physician
  
• Recognised specialist in medical microbiology
  
• Formal qualifications and/or experience in leadership
  
• Significant high-level research experience
  
• Proficiency in a Scandinavian language, both written and spoken
  
• Broad experience in bacteriology and/or virology is desired
  
• High competence in host-microbe interaction and antibiotic resistance is an advantage
  
• Experience with reorganization and harmonization work is valued

Vi tilbyr:

Personal Attributes

• Work purposefully according to the department’s and division’s goals and be able tocontribute to the bigger picture
  
• Good communication abilities with capacity to listen and be clear
  
• Solution-oriented with strong execution skills
  
• Flexible, positive and initiative-taking
  
• Contribute to a good and inclusive work environment
  
• Strong cooperation skills
  
• Ability to quickly learn new tasks and acquire new knowledge
  
• Engaged
  
• Willing to embrace change
  
• Independent
  
• Efficient
  
• Responsible
  
• Personal suitability will be given significant weight

We Offer

• High professional level with exciting and demanding tasks, including collaborationwith the University of Oslo
  
• Engaged colleagues committed to quality and progress
  
• A positive, challenging and supportive working environment
  
• Inspiring and educational work
  
• High degree of flexibility
  
• Competitive salary according to applicable agreements
  
• Membership in pension scheme, 2 % pension contribution
  
• A workplace that is an Inclusive Workplace enterprise
  
• Work with a wide range of tasks in a large and busy unit
  
• Participation in currently applicable on-call roster at the department is expected

Working Conditions

• Good welfare benefits for employees
  
• Company sports team with a large and varied offering
  
• Central location in surroundings in Oslo
  
• An active work environment with many professional challenges based on a veryvaried field
  
• The department has a modern and advanced instrument park
  
• Appointment takes place under the terms specified in applicable laws, collectiveagreements and regulations
  
• Relocation of workplace to the Life Sciences Building is planned for 2027

For the academic adjunct appointment (20 %) at UiO:

See the full job description including qualification requirements and evaluation criteria for the academic adjunct position: : https://www.med.uio.no/klinmed/om/ledige-stillinger/stillingsbeskrivelser/2025-117279-description-of-position-microbiology.pdf

Applications for the adjunct appointment must include:

• Cover letter and CV
  
• Publication list
  
• A list of up to 10 publications to be particularly emphasized. These must be submittedin full text.
  
• Summary table of PhD candidate supervision experience (name of candidate,supervision period, institution and date of defence, primary / co-supervisor for eachcandidate).
  
• Description of qualifications in administration, leadership, teaching / dissemination,language proficiency
  
• Any other relevant qualifications

Documentation should be compiled into a single PDF document, max 10 MB: See guidelines for preparing the application, applicant information, appointment regulations for Professor, and rules for pedagogical competence: http://www.med.uio.no/om/jobb/veiledninger/index.html 

Inquiries about the application process related to the adjunct position can be directed to the personnel adviser at the Institute of Clinical Medicine (UiO), , Mija Nikolaisen phone +47 22 85 06 53.