Deputy Head of the HR Department at the Danish Prison Service

Are you passionate about people management, and are you motivated to develop a professionally strong unit within negotiation and classical personnel and employment law? Do you have ambitions to set direction and create coherence in a complex organization? Then perhaps you are the one we are looking for as deputy head in the HR Department at the Danish Prison Service.

We are seeking a deputy head for the Negotiation unit in the HR Department, which deals with both classical employment law and development projects within the HR area in an organization with high political attention, and which carries out a meaningful public task within the Ministry of Justice's area.

Your areas of responsibility

As deputy head your tasks will span a wide range and include both managerial and operational elements.

As deputy head you will be required to

• keep an overview of the unit's tasks and ensure prioritization and progress in both ongoing operational tasks and development projects.
• support cross-unit collaboration within the department.
• support and ensure the quality of your employees' tasks and case handling - including:
• advising managers and HR units in the two prison districts regarding handling of concrete personnel cases both on the collective bargaining and civil service law areas.
• participation in larger projects related to e.g. recruitment of personnel.
• case handling of personnel-law matters on the collective bargaining and civil service law areas.
• negotiation of concrete cases, local agreements and collective agreements with the trade unions.
• preparation of notes and concrete decision proposals for top management.

About us

You will become part of a strong interdisciplinary environment in the agency, and as deputy head you will have personnel responsibility for an engaged group of employees currently consisting of eight, most of them lawyers. The unit is characterized by a high level of expertise, a wide range of tasks, and an informal, collaborative culture – also in relation to other HR Department units and the rest of the organization.

As deputy head you will play an important role in further developing this approach and ensuring coherence between development and operations.

The office consists of two units each with their own deputy head: Recruitment and Education, and Negotiation.

The office is part of the HR Department together with another office, which also consists of two units, Occupational Health and HR in the agency. In day-to-day operations you will report to the head of the Negotiation and Recruitment and Education offices.

The HR Department at the Danish Prison Service comprises roughly 45 professionally skilled and dedicated employees spread across four units, which together are responsible for central strategy, development and operational tasks within the HR area, including administration, law, negotiation, occupational safety, recruitment and education.

About you

You are a jurist and have experience with employment and personnel law, preferably in a leadership role.

In addition, we emphasize that you

• have a high level of expertise.
• have the ability to develop, motivate and inspire your staff.
• have a systematic and structured approach to your work.
• have strong communication skills, both written and spoken.
• understand processes and case handling in a large public organization with high political attention.
• thrive in an environment with many collaboration interfaces and be able to build good relationships across the organization.

Salary and employment terms

Employment and compensation are in accordance with the state agreement for academics in the state Circular on the state agreement for academics | Rules, agreements and circulars . In addition, a supplement may be agreed depending on experience and qualifications. You will be placed as a Chief Consultant with leadership responsibility.

• The position is to be filled as soon as possible and preferably no later than January 1, 2027.
• The position is full-time with an average workweek of 37 hours.
• The employment area is the Danish Prisons. The workplace is currently located at Strandgade 100, 1401 Copenhagen K.
• Security clearance is a prerequisite for employment, just as you must be able to maintain the security clearance throughout your employment.

Application

You apply for the position via the button “Search for the position.”

Your application with CV and documentation of education must be received no later than 15 November 2026.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 47.

If you are invited to an interview, you must bring identification, e.g., passport or driver's license.

It is a condition of employment that you, in connection with the interview, consent to The Danish Prisons obtaining and evaluating information about you in the Central Criminal Register.

If you have questions about the position, you are welcome to contact the head of office Julie Vedel Hejlesen at phone 72 55 42 45. You can read more about the Danish Prison Service's organization and tasks at Danish Prison Service - We operate the country’s prisons

The Danish Prison Service regards diversity as a strength and encourages all interested candidates regardless of personal background to apply.