A strategic recruitment of an Automation Project Manager

When Öresundsverket, part of Uniper, needed to recruit a strategically important competence in automation, more than a traditional recruitment process was required. The role was in a technically complex and socially critical environment, where the right person needed to combine technical excellence, independence and the ability to work both strategically and operationally.

We at Unik Resurs were entrusted to support Uniper through a structured process and close cooperation. During the journey, the need was clarified, and the role landed in the title of Project Manager Automation – a key function for Öresundsverket’s continued development.

Johanna Sellevi, Head of Engineering at Öresundsverket, describes the collaboration as follows:

“I have experienced the cooperation with Unik Resurs as very professional, committed and well-structured. In the recruitment processes we have carried out together, you have shown a good understanding of both our business and the specific requirements of our roles, especially in a technically complex and socially critical environment.”

The challenge: Recruitment in a technically complex and socially critical environment

Uniper is a key player in thermal energy production in Sweden. Through the Öresund plant in Malmö, the company contributes to fossil-free, reliable and flexible energy. It is a socially critical business with high demands on technology, safety and competence.

It became clear to us that recruitment was not just about finding the right technical background. The role required an unusual combination of:

• deep understanding of industrial automation
• knowledge of IT security and security-critical environments
• technical leadership and autonomy
• ability to switch between long-term development and urgent operational needs
• confidence in working in a complex organization with high demands

This made recruitment both business-critical and difficult. The candidate market was limited, so it was crucial for us to communicate the role clearly, realistically and in the right context.

Working together: a close partnership from the start

A decisive success factor in the assignment was the close collaboration between Uniper and us at Unik Resurs. In order to make an accurate match, we needed to understand both the role and the business in depth.

Jessica Sjösteen, Operational Manager Region SYD at Unik Resurs, describes the collaboration with Johanna Sellevi as follows:

“Johanna Sellevi is absolutely fantastic to work with, she really wants us to succeed together! It’s such a given for her to make sure we understand the role on a deeper level, and she makes sure we get the right conditions before the start but also along the way.”

When the client shares context, expectations and the reality of the business, we can have a relevant and credible dialog with the candidates. This creates better conditions for the right match right from the start.

Johanna Sellevi also highlights the value of how we ran the process:

“What particularly distinguishes your work is the combination of professionalism, structure and accuracy. The processes have been characterized by clear communication, regular and well-structured reconciliations and good feedback throughout the recruitment journey. I have also appreciated the transparency of communication even when there was no major news to report – it creates security and trust in the collaboration.”

In complex recruitments, transparency is an important part of quality. For us, it’s about creating security, clarity and good decision-making throughout the process.

The solution: Business understanding, search and accurate candidate dialog

We worked with a structured recruitment process where requirements profile, search, candidate dialog and ongoing reconciliations were always kept close to Unipers’ needs. Our focus was on finding the right match, not just filling the role quickly.

An important part of the work was to translate the complex requirements profile into a relevant dialog with the market. This involved both technical competence and assessing motivation, contextual understanding and the ability to contribute in a socially critical environment.

Johanna Hermansson, recruiter at Unik Resurs, describes the value of long-term customer understanding:

“Through our long-term collaboration with Uniper, we have built up a deep understanding of the business and its different parts. This allows us not only to describe the role but also to put it in context and clarify what is actually crucial in a mission-critical environment.”

This was particularly important as the role evolved during the process and required us to continuously calibrate the requirements profile.

Johanna Hermansson also summarizes our approach as follows:

“For us, it’s not just about attracting candidates, but about doing it on the right basis. The attraction factors we highlight should be rooted in reality and reflect what the candidate actually encounters in the role and organization.”

This creates security for both customer and candidate and provides better conditions for a sustainable match over time.

The result: The right skills presented for the right needs

The recruitment resulted in a successful appointment of the role of Project Manager Automation. Through a structured process and close collaboration with Uniper, we were able to present candidates with the right skills and profile.

For Johanna Sellevi, it was not only the end result that was important, but also how the process worked along the way:

“Yes, absolutely. The end result has met our expectations, and we have been presented with candidates with the right skills and profile for our needs. For me, a successful collaboration is not only the end result but also how the process works along the way, and Unik Resurs has been a safe and reliable partner.”

This mission clearly shows how we work when skills, culture and business-critical conditions need to be balanced.

The main results of the cooperation were:

• the right candidate profile was identified for a complex and strategic role
• Uniper had a clear and structured recruitment process
• the candidate dialogue was anchored in the real needs of the business
• cooperation built trust through transparency and continuous feedback
• the Automation Project Manager role was filled with the right skills for the job

Johanna Sellevi concludes with a clear recommendation:

“I am happy to recommend Unik Resurs as a recruitment partner to organizations that are looking for a committed and professional partner with the ability to understand complex recruitment needs.”

Conclusion: Deep business understanding creates accurate recruitment

For us, the recruitment to Uniper and Öresundsverket shows the value of a close, professional and structured partnership. In a technically complex and socially critical environment, a recruitment partner who understands the role, the business and the context is required.

Through clear communication, transparent follow-up and deep business understanding, we were able to support Uniper in an important skills supply issue. The result was an accurate appointment that strengthens Öresundsverket’s technical development and continued work.

At Unik Resurs, we are a long-term skills assurance partner. We provide support in all phases of your business – when you need more, fewer or improved efficiency. Our core competence is to understand our clients’ business, what needs to be achieved and under what conditions.