Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd supports businesses whether they are starting up, securing funding, growing, or expanding internationally. We work with companies looking to expand or relocate to Mikkeli and ensure a smooth transition. We also promote sustainable travel and second home living. We serve some 1,400 companies annually with 40 business experts.
We are looking for three Project Managers, Water Expert, and Communications Expert for water sector projects as of August 1, 2025
The projects are funded by the Interreg Central Baltic programme and implemented as part of the Blue Economy Mikkeli (BEM) Centre of Excellence. BEM is a collaborative network coordinated by the city of Mikkeli, the Capital of Clean Water, aiming to promote water-sector RDI (Research, Development & and Innovation), business and education. Mikkeli’s new wastewater treatment plant and its testing environment provide excellent facilities for development, including international cooperation.
Join our team! We are hiring professionals for the following projects:
BaltPlastFree project focuses on addressing the transboundary microplastic pollution problem in water bodies and the Baltic Sea. Wastewater treatment plants in Finland and Estonia are significant sources of microplastic emissions. The project aims to reduce these emissions by developing, testing and piloting effective technical solutions. Partner countries are Finland and Estonia.
SIWat project pilots the reuse of municipal and industrial wastewater in industrial processes to reduce dependence on municipal drinking water. The pilot activities focus on developing methods and technologies that enable cost-effective water recycling in line with the EU Water Reuse Regulation. Partner countries are Finland and Estonia.
PFAS project aims to reduce the PFAS load in the Baltic Sea catchment area by promoting collaboration between municipalities, regional authorities, water utilities and environmental technology actors. The goal is to be achieved through a combination of preventive measures, regulatory tools, and technical remediation and purification solutions. Partner countries are Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Sweden.
MikseiMikkeli acts as a Lead Partner in the BaltPlastFree and SIWat projects and as a Project Partner in the PFAS project.
Open Positions:
Project Manager for BaltPlastFree project and Project Manager for SIWat project, two full-time positions
As Project Manager you are responsible for the overall management and implementation of the project and server as an expert in collaboration with the Water Sector Expert. Project Manager coordinates project activities among all partners and target groups including companies, water utilities, universities, and research institutions.
Key responsibilities include administrative and financial monitoring, procurement and tendering of services, reporting to the funder, and stakeholder engagement. Project Manager also oversees the implementation of work packages, supports partner organisations throughout the project lifecycle and ensures the quality and impact of the results. In the water sector context, the role also involves applying technical expertise related to the project themes.
Key responsibilities:
- Project administration and coordination including scheduling, budgeting, and reporting to the funder
- Implementing work package activities in cooperation with project partners and stakeholders
- Reporting on, presenting, and promoting the applicability of results
Requirements and competencies:
- Relevant university degree
- Experience in leading international project teams and managing projects, preferably in EU-funded or national environmental initiatives
- Excellent spoken and written English, and readiness for international collaboration
- An independent working style, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to network effectively
We consider an asset if you have:
- Broad expertise in international project administration
- Familiarity with funding programmes, especially Interreg
- Experience in water
/or environmental engineering, or in environmental regulation
Water Sector Expert, one full-time position
Water Sector Expert will participate in two international Baltic Sea region projects aimed at improving wastewater treatment quality and reducing environmental impact focusing on water reuse solutions in SIWat and microplastic emission control in BaltPlastFree.
The expert brings technical and research expertise to both projects, especially in wastewater treatment processes, sampling, analytics, and circular economy solutions. The expert will participate in planning and implementing of pilots in collaboration with treatment plants, universities, research institutions and other stakeholders, as well as support the development and harmonisation of methods.
The role combines fieldwork, laboratory methods, guideline development, and stakeholder engagement. The expert will also participate in project reporting, training events, and communication activities at both national and international levels.
Key Responsibilities:
- Evaluation and piloting of technical solutions for water reuse, including identification of development needs and techno-economic assessments
- Application of harmonized measurement and analysis methods
- Fieldwork and collaboration with university, research, and treatment plant personnel
- Development of training and guidance materials for partners and stakeholders
- Use of digital modeling in pilots
- Technical reporting and expert communication
- Participation in thematic events and workshops
Requirements and competencies:
- Relevant university degree, e.g., environmental/ water engineering, chemistry, biology
- Experience in the water sector, particularly in wastewater treatment and water quality monitoring
- Understanding of microplastic behaviour and measurement in aquatic environments
- Interest in water reuse and circular economy solutions in water management
- Good spoken and written English and readiness for international collaboration
- Independent, analytical, and collaborative working style
We consider an asset if you have:
- Practical experience in wastewater treatment processes, water recycling, and reuse, microplastic analytics
- Prior experience with EU or Interreg projects
- Experience in producing training and communication materials
Communications Specialist, full-time position
Communications Specialist will oversee communications of the SIWat and BaltPlastFree projects. This includes developing and coordinating communication plans in collaboration with project partners in Finland and Estonia. The role combines strategic communication skills, visual communication, project outreach, and multi-channel content creation.
The specialist plays a crucial role in enhancing the visibility, clarity, and impact of the projects. The specialist is responsible for maintaining the quality of communication materials, coordinating translations, media relations, and ensuring compliance with funder communication requirements.
Key responsibilities:
- Creating and implementing communication plans for both projects
- Producing multi-channel content, e.g., news articles, blogs, infographics, social media posts
- Managing project websites and social media channels
- Planning and executing stakeholder and public communications
- Producing visual and written materials, e.g., press releases, brochures, reports
- Coordinating information sharing and maintaining consistent branding within the international project team
- Monitoring and reporting communication results according to funder requirements
Requirements and competencies:
- Relevant university degree, e.g., communications, marketing, environmental communications
- Experience in communications for international projects
- Ability to produce clear and impactful content on technical topics
- Strong visual communication skills and experience with tools, e.g., Canva, Adobe, WordPress
- Excellent spoken and written Finnish and English
- Initiative, organizational skills, and enthusiasm for working in an international team
We consider an asset if you have:
- Interest in the water sector, environmental issues, or circular economy
- Experience in project communication and funder reporting
- Skills in event communication and stakeholder collaboration
- Knowledge of Estonian is considered a plus
Project Manager for BalticPFASResolve Project, part-time position (50 %)
The Project Manager will lead the implementation of the PFAS project. The role combines coordination and leadership responsibilities with technical and content expertise. The project is led by a Swedish main partner, with Miksei acting as one of eleven partners.
PFAS compounds are an emerging environmental and health risk. The project aims to identify and reduce PFAS emissions into aquatic environments, develop monitoring methods, and support authorities and utilities in implementing new regulations.
Key responsibilities:
- Project administration and coordination: scheduling, budgeting, and funder reporting
- Implementing work package activities in collaboration with project partners and stakeholders
- Expert work on PFAS identification, analytics, and risk management
- Coordinating communications together with communication support staff
- Organizing workshops and site visits
- Participating in project activities
peraccording to the implementation plan - Reporting and promoting the practical applicability of results
Requirements and competencies:
- Relevant university degree, e.g., environmental engineering, chemistry, water technology
- Experience in project management, preferably in EU environmental projects
- Strong understanding of PFAS compounds, water protection, or contaminant control
- Fluent written and spoken Finnish and English
- Independent work style, good communication skills, and strong networking ability
We consider an asset if you have:
- Practical experience with water sample analytics or contaminant monitoring
- Familiarity with utility or authority operational environments
- Previous experience with international collaboration or environmental regulation
For all roles, the primary working language is English, and the positions require travelling. The project duration is 36 months, starting on August 1, 2025.
We offer a varied role in a unique environment and a dynamic, supportive community. Staff benefits include sports and lunch allowances, a phone allowance, a bicycle benefit, and comprehensive insurance coverage both at work and during leisure time. We are committed to systematically improving employee satisfaction and well-being.
Your future workplace is located in Mikkeli, the Capital of Clean Water. We currently offer a remote work policy allowing up to eight remote workdays per month depending on work requirements.
Please submit your application and CV on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at the latest to maarit.randelin@mikseimikkeli.fi. In your email headline and application please clearly indicate which position(s) you are applying for.
For more information, please contact Maarit Randelin, +358 440 361607, maarit.randelin@mikseimikkeli.fi
