Head of Department at Æblehaven – focus on professional leadership and pedagogical quality

Are you keen to put your pedagogical expertise to use in a role with greater responsibility and influence?

In Høje-Taastrup Municipality we are now establishing a new department head role at our largest early childhood education and care center. Therefore we are looking for a department head for Børnehuset Æblehaven. As department head you will be part of the management team of the day care center and will have the opportunity to shape a new role with great significance for daily life in the house.

Æblehaven is one of the municipality's largest day care centers. Here, there are engaged staff, a strong focus on children's well-being and development, and a desire to continue strengthening the pedagogical quality.

We work with NEST pedagogy and have a targeted focus on creating participation opportunities for all children. We work to develop inclusive learning environments where all children experience themselves as important participants in the community.

About the position

As department head you report to the house's pedagogical leader and become part of the management of the day care center. You do not have line management responsibility, but you play an important role in supporting staff, strengthening professionalism, and contributing to a good working environment.

You are close to daily life and the pedagogical practice and function as a sparring partner for the staff. At the same time, you help translate decisions, pedagogical goals and pedagogical ambitions into practice in collaboration with the pedagogical leader.

Your tasks will among other things include

• carry professional leadership and occupational safety work in collaboration with the pedagogical leader
• support staff through guidance and sparring in everyday work
• facilitate staff meetings and support reflection on practice
• participate in and conduct parent conversations
• support onboarding of new staff
• engage in interdisciplinary collaboration
• work with schedules and staffing (SUBIT).

We offer

As department head you will have the opportunity to help shape a new role in Høje-Taastrup Municipality’s day care services. You will have the opportunity to develop your leadership and practice development competencies in close collaboration with the pedagogical leader and become part of an organization focused on learning, collaboration and shared responsibility.

In addition you will receive

• the opportunity to make your mark on the role and its development
• close sparring and collaboration with the pedagogical leader
• the chance to make a visible difference for children, staff and everyday life in the day care center.

Who are you?

You are first and foremost a strong pedagogical professional who wants to take on special responsibility for development, quality and collaboration. You are motivated to support staff and contribute to a common professional direction.

We imagine that you

• are a trained pedagog and have experience from day care
• have interest in or experience with professional leadership, guidance or coordination
• can create followership through dialogue, relationships and clear communication
• have an eye for both quality in the pedagogical work and day-to-day operations.

In addition we value that you work development-oriented, stay the course even when changes take time. You have a contemporary view of children and can apply your professional knowledge in collaboration with staff, children and parents.

Salary and employment

The position is full-time (37 hours).

Appointment from December 1, 2026 with the possibility of an earlier start.

Application deadline is Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Interviews will be held Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Salary and employment terms according to the applicable collective agreement for pedagogues and Ny Løn. There will be the possibility to negotiate salary based on experience and competencies, but the statutory starting salary is 38,776 DKK per month plus pension.

Child and criminal background checks as well as references will be requested.

We encourage you to contact the pedagogical leader, Matilde Nørholm Jørgensen at telephone: 51816403, if you would like to visit or simply hear more about daily life, the current focus areas and the concrete role.

We look forward to hearing from you.