Google has announced a new position for a public affairs manager in Helsinki, a move that comes amid heightened scrutiny of the company’s data‑center projects in Finland. The role, posted on the job‑search site Duunitori on 10 October, offers an annual salary of €98,000–€100,000 plus a performance bonus. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying societal issues that affect Google, monitoring regulatory developments, and participating in campaigns aimed at influencing specific political positions or the broader regulatory environment. The position is part of Google’s global public‑affairs unit. The job requires experience at the intersection of public administration and the technology sector, evidence of public‑affairs work, and a solid understanding of politics. Applicants must be fluent in English and Finnish, with Swedish preferred. The role also calls for experience in public‑sector work, think‑tanks, interest groups, or corporate public‑affairs functions. Google’s decision to recruit a public‑affairs specialist follows a series of controversies surrounding its data‑center investments in Muhos and Kajaani. The company had been criticized for clearing hundreds of hectares of forest and carrying out large‑scale construction work at the sites before an environmental impact assessment was completed. Authorities halted the preparations, and on Thursday police announced a criminal investigation into Google’s activities in Muhos. Google’s country manager, Antti Järvinen, issued an apology, stating that the company was unaware it had violated the law. The job posting was first reported by Helsingin Sanomat.