The PR campaign of Skellefteå Municipality was named "A job without boundaries". In an attempt to attract new employees, the municipality advertised a position with unusual conditions in the autumn: the salary, title, and job tasks would be determined by the applicant.
Out of 535 applicants, it was finally 29-year-old Philip Bärring who won. He will start working as a democracy developer at Skellefteå Municipality in March.
You are from Stockholm and live in Linköping, how does it feel to move to Skellefteå?
I was there for the first time in January, when I arrived in the middle of a snowstorm, so I didn't see much of the town. But I got a good feeling and I'm looking forward to my move, says Philip Bärring.
A cheeky question, but what salary have you decided for yourself?
I claimed 37,000 to 43,000 kronor. And the municipality offered 40,000 kronor. It was an amount I felt comfortable with and it seemed quite normal. For me, the most important thing is that I get to work with something that feels important.
What job tasks have you assigned to yourself?
Working with citizen councils. It's a method where a council that reflects society should be involved in decision-making to reduce the distance between political decisions and the population.
How come you chose to apply with the title democracy developer?
Skellefteå is a growing municipality, and then there's a lot to consider, for example, when expanding city districts. It's important that it happens democratically, and then I believe that citizen councils can be used in a good way.
