Department Manager for UNG VARDE. Do you have fire in your eyes – and can you ignite the spark in others? 🔥

For we have ambitions for our youth that require more than just a good leader

At UNG VARDE we work every day to give young people more opportunities, stronger communities and new experiences. We have really skilled and passionate employees, many different offerings and ambitions that reach further than simply doing as we usually do .

We believe that communities make a difference. That young people grow when they feel they belong.

Now we are seeking a new department head, who will help set direction, take responsibility and turn ambitions into reality. You will get responsibility, influence and space to make your mark. In return we expect you to use it.

You will have responsibility for people, communities and development

As department head you will play a central role in the management and development of a wide range of UNG VARDE's offerings and initiatives.

Your area of responsibility includes among other things

• Leisure and communities - development of attractive leisure offerings and communities where more young people want to participate. Responsibility for our Magazine
• Youth clubs and Værket – management and development of our club offerings with new strategy and format as well as meeting places for young adults.
• The voice of the youth and participation – recruit and engage more young people in our initiatives and strengthen the youths' ideas, influence and active participation.
• PM and US students – support of our young ambassadors and their engagement in a great collaboration with the schools and the youth coordinators
• Cross-team tasks – collaboration on youth initiatives across staff and professional areas – and with external actors. Eg camps, events, elective subjects
• Staff management – approachable and clear leadership of permanent staff with different functions and competences and management of hourly-paid staff in our leisure part and clubs.
• Daily operations and administration – an overview of resources and planning of tasks and areas of responsibility

You do not have to succeed in everything alone. You will be part of a great leadership team where we share responsibility for the whole UNG VARDE – also when tasks span departments. We stand strong on our values and insist that the youths can feel who we are.

We are looking for a leader who can do more than keep the day-to-day running

You can inspire followership because you are clear, proper and genuinely interested in people.

You thrive on giving others space and responsibility, but are also not afraid to step forward and make decisions. We imagine that you:

• Have experience with leadership and know that good people management requires both presence, direction and decisiveness – and often a good laugh.
• Have an eye for young people's lives, opportunities, needs and trends.
• Turn ideas into reality and ambitions into concrete results.
• Have pedagogical insight and impact – can challenge, inspire and set direction.
• Work in a structured way and can maintain a sharp overview in a daily life with many different tasks.
• See the strength in cross-collaboration and take responsibility for the whole.
• Have understanding of visible communication and SoMe – and can help expose and position us.
• Are happy with a daily life that does not always follow the clock – and are ready to roll up sleeves where the youths are.

And you should have outward energy, humor and desire to be part of an organization where there is rarely a long way from thought to action. For us it always starts with a YES.

You will be part of something bigger.

UNG VARDE is not one particular type of school or one particular offering. We are many different ways into youth life. We stand strong in our youth perspective - and that is the compass for all of us.

We work with learning, leisure, communities, well-being and development. And we believe that we create the best opportunities for young people when we think across and use each other’s strengths.

You will have room to influence development. But we also expect you to use that space.

Because with us leadership is not only a question of what you are responsible for. It is just as much about what you take responsibility for.

Your. Mine. Ours.

It’s not just three words. It is how we want to work.

It became long. For we really have a lot on our hearts when it comes to our youth.

Would you like to be involved?

Then we look forward to hearing from you.

All the practical

The position is a permanent full-time role, intended to be filled on January 1, 2027. Salary and employment terms are agreed between Varde Municipality and the National Association of Youth School Leaders.

Your application may very well be different from a classic application and reflect both who you are – and what you stand for.

The application deadline for the position is 12 November 2027 at 12:00 . Interviews will be held 17-18 November and a second interview on Tuesday 24 November.

We would love to tell you more about the position and who UNG VARDE is. We expect you have looked at our Magazine and checked our DNA at ungvarde.dk .

Call Anne Mette Hede Jensen, head of UNG VARDE at 6155 3659 if you are curious or would like to drop by.

NICE TO KNOW

UNG VARDE is the Youth School, 10iCampus, camps, youth initiatives, SSP, Super10, Kraftværket, Krumtappen, International classes, Værket, Youth clubs, administration, Climbing park, elective courses and partnerships… and surely much more.

UNG VARDE has 35 permanent staff, 73 leisure instructors, 23 club staff, 12 PMs and to date in this season: 3491 youths registered at UNG VARDE.