Associate Professor, tenure track (industrial sales) / Apulaisprofessori, tenure track (teollinen my

Together, Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences form a multidisciplinary higher education community and Finland’s second largest university. Our community is a hub for leading experts in technology, health, and society, committed to changing the world through research, education, and societal impact.
Learn more: http://www.tuni.fi/en 

Position and Research Environment 

The position is located in the Faculty of Management and Business, in the Industrial Engineering and Management Unit (IEM). IEM examines economic and operational processes in technology-driven organizations as a whole. IEM offers education in the fields of engineering at the BSc, MSc and doctoral levels. Researchers at IEM are known for their broad and multidisciplinary collaboration that addresses the latest societal challenges. We take part in multidisciplinary projects with the different faculties and research groups at Tampere University and actively collaborate with other Finnish and international universities and research institutes. 

The unifying theme of research at the IEM Unit is sustainable value creation in technology-driven organizations, through which our research is linked to four major global challenges: increasing complexity, changes in the logic of value creation, the need for sustainable development and social change. Our six research groups specialize in the following research areas: 

• Center for Industrial Sales Excellence (recently founded group to be led by the candidate selected to the position)
• Innovation and Technology Strategy 
• Operations and Supply Chain Management 
• Profitability Management 
• Project and Service Business 
• Safety Management and Engineering

This position is part of a strategic, mainly externally funded effort to build research and education in industrial sales of investment goods and technology services; areas that are central to Finland’s export performance. We seek an Associate Professor who will build a leading research group, work closely with industry, and strengthen Tampere University’s international standing in this field. The appointee will publish at a high level, win competitive funding, supervise doctoral researchers, and develop education that raises sales capability in technology-intensive firms. The selected person will be supported by Professor of Practice Tuukka Ahoniemi (industrial sales) who works in the same research field. 

Job Description 

We are seeking a highly motivated and accomplished Associate Professor who will:  

• Conduct and lead high-quality scientific research in industrial sales (e.g. focusing on complex selling; key account management; sales management; digitalization in sales, such as data, digital tools, platforms and AI; or sustainable, value-creating sales) and contribute to the international research community. 
• Acquire external funding and build long-term industry collaborations. 
• Represent the field internationally and build impactful partnerships.  
• Supervise doctoral and master’s students.
• Provide research-based teaching in relevant degree programs (MSc and doctoral level) 
• Contribute to planning and administrative tasks in the faculty and university. 

Requirements 

Further requirements for associate professor are as follows: 

Applicant must have 

• An applicable doctoral degree 
• A strong track record of independent scholarly activity in industrial sales or related fields  
• Proven teaching skills  
• Ability to lead a research group and acquire external funding 
• Evidence of international scholarly activity 
• Strong research vision for the field of industrial sales, especially investment goods and technology services

Additional merits include: 

• International peer-reviewed publications 
• Successful completion of research projects 
• Knowledge of various research methods and novel AI tools, for example, experimental and field methods relevant to industrial sales 
• Pedagogical studies, merits, and experience 
• Experience in supervising BSc, MSc, and PhD students 
• Participation in administrative tasks and positions of trust 
• Activities in the international scientific community 
• Societal impact and industry collaboration 
• Proficiency in Finnish or motivation to learn Finnish to operate in Finnish university, business and societal environment  

Please, read more about our Tenure track career path here. 

We Offer 

We invite you to be a part of a vibrant, active, and truly international research community.  The multidisciplinary research environment offers opportunities to develop research expertise via collaboration, e.g., with different fields of industrial engineering and management. We provide support for career development and transition to a tenured faculty position. The initial appointment as Associate Professor is for five years, and subject to successful performance, the position will become permanent.  A trial period of six months applies to all our new employees.

Salaries are based on the job demands and employees’ personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. Job-demand level of an Associate Professor is 7. A typical starting salary for Associate Professor is approx. 5400–5800 EUR/month; higher salaries are possibly depending on experience and performance.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, a personal fund for sports and cultural activities, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find more information about us and working and living Tampere by watching our video: Tampere Higher Education Community – our academic playground. 

TAU is a unique, multidisciplinary, forward-thinking and evolving community. Our values are openness, critical thinking, diversity, learner centeredness, courage, erudition and responsibility. We hope you can embrace these values and promote them in your role.

Finland offers one of the most advanced social security systems in the world.  For more information on Tampere, please check VisitTampere, Relocation guide to Tampere and International House Tampere.

For more information on Tampere and Finland, please visit:   

• https://www.visitfinland.com/ 
• https://www.infofinland.fi/en/frontpage 

How to Apply 

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system (link below).
The closing date for applications is January 31, 2026 (at 23.59 EET, UTC+2 (Finnish time)). 

Applications should be written in English and include the following documents (in PDF format): 

• Curriculum Vitae (according to TENK guidelines) 
• List of publications (according to Academy of Finland guidelines; indicate 5 most important publications for this position) 
• Teaching portfolio (3–5 pages, according to Tampere University guidelines) 
• Vision paper (3–5 pages) describing applicant’s views for the development of research, education, and services in sales of investment goods and technology services 
• The names, positions and contact details of two referees who can support your application (recommendations letters etc. are not asked at this point) 

Further Information 

About the position:  

• Dean of the Faculty, Marko Seppänen, marko.seppanen(at)tuni.fi 
• Professor Tuomas Ahola, tuomas.ahola(at)tuni.fi 
• Professor of Practice Tuukka Ahoniemi, tuukka.ahoniemi(at)tuni.fi

About the recruitment process:

• HR Specialist Ilona Pekuri, ilona.pekuri(at)tuni.fi

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Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat korkeakouluyhteisön, joka uskoo ihmiseen ja tieteeseen. Tekniikan, terveyden ja yhteiskunnan huippuosaajat muuttavat maailmaa Suomen toiseksi suurimmassa monitieteisessä ja innostavassa tutkimus- ja oppimisympäristössä.  www.tuni.fi 

Johtamisen ja liiketalouden tiedekunnassa, tuotantotalouden yksikössä (IEM) on avoinna teollisen myynnin tenure track -tehtävä. Tuotantotalous tutkii taloudellisia ja operatiivisia prosesseja teknologiavetoisissa organisaatioissa kokonaisuutena. Tuotantotalous tarjoaa koulutusta tekniikan aloilla BSc-, MSc- ja tohtoritasolla. Tuotantotalouden tutkijat tunnetaan laajasta ja monitieteisestä yhteistyöstä, jossa käsitellään ajankohtaisia yhteiskunnallisia haasteita. Osallistumme monialaisiin hankkeisiin Tampereen yliopiston eri tiedekuntien ja tutkimusryhmien kanssa ja teemme aktiivisesti yhteistyötä muiden suomalaisten ja kansainvälisten yliopistojen ja tutkimuslaitosten kanssa. 

Tehtävänkuvaus  

Haemme motivoitunutta ja aikaansaavaa apulaisprofessoria vahvistamaan tutkimusta teollisen myynnin alueella. Tehtävässäsi vastaat korkeatasoisen tieteellisen tutkimuksen toteuttamisesta ja johtamisesta eri aloilla, kuten kompleksinen myynti, avainasiakashallinta, myynnin johtaminen, digitalisaatio (data, digitaaliset työkalut, alustat, tekoäly) sekä kestävä ja arvoa luova myynti. 

Hakuohjeet  

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta.  

Jätäthän hakemuksesi yliopiston sähköisellä hakulomakkeella (linkki löytyy tämän ilmoituksen alta).   

Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 31.1.2026 klo 23:59. 

Osaamisalue: Teollisuus & tuotanto