Chief Physician for the Emergency Department

Should you want to be chief physician for a day, we have a good training ground for you.

Do you want to help develop the future of acute patient pathways in a region of Denmark with high ambitions? Have you the desire to combine clinical acute medicine with strategic leadership, strong collaborative relations and the development of a well-functioning Visitation Unit? Then the position as Leading Chief Physician in the Emergency Department in Esbjerg may be for you.

About the Emergency Department

The Emergency Department in Esbjerg has a catchment area of approximately 250,000 residents and handles the acute entry to the hospital around the clock. The department has around 185 staff, including 14 specialists, 15 senior trainees in general practice and 10 introductory doctors. In 2027, 16 general practice trainees in medicine will join us.

Over several years we have built a strong acute medicine profile with a focus on quality, education, research and innovation. At the same time we operate a well-established mobile acute receiving service, which contributes to new and cohesive patient pathways across sectors.

We are known for creating good conditions for work-life balance. Almost all of the department’s specialists live more than 100 km from the hospital, and we have extensive experience with flexible solutions that support both an attractive work life and a well-functioning private life.

About the position

As Leading Chief Physician you will be part of the department's overall management and have a special responsibility for the collaboration with the Visitation Unit.

You will sit on the department's operations council together with the department management, other leading physicians, head nurses and the leading medical secretary. Here you contribute to the overall strategic, professional and organizational development of the Emergency Department.

Our leadership foundation is based on trust, participation and shared responsibility. We prioritise that employees and teams have a high degree of autonomy in daily task solving.

Your areas of responsibility

In collaboration with the management of the Visitation Unit you will among other things have responsibility for:

• Medical leadership of doctors with a function in the Visitation Unit
• Planning of the medical resource in the Visitation Unit
• Strategy, flow management and operation of the Visitation Unit
• Preparation and maintenance of instructions and working procedures
• Collaboration with relevant clinical departments and cross-sectoral partners
• Development of quality, patient safety and cohesive patient pathways
• Recruitment, competence development and retention of doctors within the area of responsibility
• Implementation of professional and organizational development initiatives

You will have a clear mandate within your area of responsibility and function as an important link between the department's leadership and clinical operations. The department management is ready as a sparring partner, but the leadership area is yours.

We are seeking a specialist physician who

• Has specialist recognition, preferably in acute medicine or a relevant specialty
• Has leadership experience or a strong interest in leadership
• Has strong collaboration skills and naturally builds relationships across professional groups and sectors
• Can combine strategic overview with understanding of daily clinical life
• Thrives in an organization with a high degree of participation and shared responsibility
• Can contribute to further development of both the Emergency Department and the Visitation Unit
• Has ambitions for leadership in a culture where employees’ decision-making space is large

We offer

• A central leadership role in a large and ambitious emergency department
• Opportunity to influence the development of visitation and acute patient pathways
• A strong medical professional environment with dedicated colleagues
• An department with focus on education, research and innovation
• Good opportunities for professional and personal development
• Flexible frameworks that support balance between work life and private life

The position includes both leadership tasks and clinical work. The clinical work constitutes a minimum of 60% of the employment, while the leadership time is adjusted to the scope and complexity of the tasks.

See also job description

Further information

You are warmly welcome to contact Chief Nurse Peter Hansen Jakobsen at tel. 24876221 or Chief Physician Ulf Hørlyk at tel. 20322148 if you would like to hear more about the position, the department or opportunities to develop your competencies.

The region is obliged to inform you about the starting salary for the position. You will be informed of base pay, centrally fixed allowances and pension in Medical chiefs - collective agreement 22.04.1 - salary as of 1.4.2026 In addition to the starting salary, the pay may include any negotiated allowances depending on the position, your experience and qualifications

Application

A motivated application should be prepared in such a way that the applicant relates to the 7 medical competencies and a current, chronological CV is attached. For the leading physician position, a form for medical evaluation of senior physicians and clinical leaders is to be completed at here .

Application deadline is 21 October 2026 and interviews are expected to be held on 26 October 2026.

Start date 1 February or by agreement.

Department: Common Emergency Department FAM

Job title: Leading Chief Physician

Working hours: 37

Workplace: Esbjerg

Application deadline: 21 October 2026