Children's Environment Leader at Højby School

Are you academically well-founded, relationally strong with respect to students, parents, staff and the school's other partners? Are you ready to engage as a leader at a school with ambitions for high academic achievement and strong communities? Can you lead inclusive processes with a positive mindset, a twinkle in your eye and good energy? Do you want to work for the best solutions for all students in close and committed collaboration?

Are you interested in the administrative side of the leadership role, and passionate about pedagogical development, then maybe you are the one we are seeking for the position as department head for the youngest children’s environment and SFO.

Our long-serving head of the children’s environment is retiring. We are seeking a new head of the children’s environment as of February 1, 2027. A head of the children’s environment who wishes to be part of a diverse and development-oriented school and who is focused on creating strong child communities and good learning environments for all children together with the school management and staff.

About the position

As head of the children’s environment at Højby School you will, in collaboration with the headteacher, deputy head and staff, continue to develop the school’s values, culture and visions in professional learning communities.

You will be responsible for the daily leadership with focus on the following tasks

• responsibility for the youngest children’s environment 0.-3. grade
• responsibility for SFO, SFO2 and spring SFO
• collaboration regarding the children’s environment with the other schools in the area
• collaboration with the kindergartens in the area
• pedagogical operation and development of the teaching in interaction with the staff – including strong child communities, new subject plans, a vision for leisure pedagogy and pedagogical curricula
• planning of teachers’ working hours
• substitute coverage.

We are looking for a head of the children’s environment who

• wishes to be closely in touch with teachers’ and pedagogues’ practice
• is focused on creating companionship through relationships, dialogue and trust, and sees the staff’s perspectives as an important resource in their leadership
• works in an appreciative way, and has an eye for the individual’s competences and potential
• has good communicative skills both in writing and speech
• has experience from the school world and has a relevant leadership education or is willing to undertake a leadership education
• as a person is curious, collaborative and present
• thrives in a daily life where two days hardly resemble each other, and where there is a need for structure, overview and human insight
• can balance between staff leadership, administration and pedagogical development.

You will become part of

• a management team consisting of the head, deputy head and department head. We work closely together on the big shared tasks, and each of us works with the smaller tasks within our respective departments. We create the right amount of disruption for one another through sparring and collective reflection, where we make each other look good. “Decency, responsibility and loyalty” are fundamental leadership values.

We see the overall leadership task in a team perspective and based on a flat leadership structure. We work to create well-being and learning through recognition, a positive leadership style and a focus on having high ambitions for both students and staff.

• a school where staff are organized in year-team groups, and our teachers and pedagogues work closely together in professional, binding learning communities, where we thrive with each other and have a fundamental respect for each other’s professional competences.
• an organization where you as a new employee receive a thorough introduction to the administration and to Odense Municipality as the workplace. The Children and Young People Administration supports cross-cutting projects and the development of the individual leader. We have functioning leadership networks in the school area, where leadership colleagues provide each other with professional sparring, and you will participate in sparring meetings with the school department’s leadership. In addition, you will have the opportunity to join groups of child and youth leaders, where you work across disciplines in the 0-18 year area.

About Højby School

Højby School is located in the southern part of Odense, close to the motorway with good bus and train connections to the centre. The school has 330 pupils. 29 teachers and 11 pedagogue/assistants.

The school is divided into two departments distributed in 3 “houses”: the youngest children’s environment and the oldest children’s environment for grades 0-5, and a youth environment with grades 6-9. In addition, there is the school’s SFO, which is housed in the children’s environment, where skilled staff run exciting activities and communities for the children.

At Højby School we believe that strong communities, high academic standards and diversity go hand in hand.

The student body at the school is diverse and thus contributes to creating a diverse school.

Here there is space for reflection, curiosity and different perspectives.

We have a strong and dedicated staff, an active school board and a parent association, who collaborate to create strong learning environments where students thrive, are formed and develop. This is based on the school’s vision to create strong and democratic learning environments that strengthen children and young people’s life skills, so they acquire personal, social and academic competencies.

Højby School has a good working environment, which is evident in our collaboration. We work in professional learning communities together and across year-team groups, subject teams and subject groups to create the best school for all our students.

We are generally at the forefront of political, didactic and pedagogical currents in our children’s and youth environment. We work with strong child communities to create participation opportunities for all students.

Højby School is certified as a United Nations Global Goals school, which is a natural part of the teaching.

Would you like to know more?

If you have questions about the position, or would like to arrange a visit to the school, you are welcome to contact the principal Pia Smiszek Nielsen at 51157759.

You can read more about the school on our website https://hoejbyskole.aula.dk/ and see glimpses from everyday school life on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hoejbyskole/

Salary and terms of employment

Salary and terms of employment in accordance with the current collective agreement between KL and the negotiating organization. The expected salary level will be stated before any interview and depends on experience and qualifications.

The position is intended to be filled on February 1, 2027.

The practical

Application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2026.

1st round of interviews is Friday, December 11, 2026 and 2nd round December 17, 2026.

In the event of a 2nd interview round you will be asked to possibly complete a personality profile analysis as well as case work. With your permission, references may be obtained between the 1st and 2nd interview from your current employer and any previous employers.