Educational Counselor for East Jutland's detention centers, supervision, youth supervision and pre-release prison

Would you like to help strengthen inmates' opportunities for education and employment – both during custody and with a view to life after release?

Denmark's Prisons are facing the implementation of a comprehensive penal reform, where crime prevention and strengthened opportunities for education and employment play a central role. We are therefore seeking an education counselor who can contribute to a systematic, coherent and motivating guidance effort for inmates in Aarhus, Randers and Silkeborg jails.

As an education counselor you will, through guidance, competence clarification and cross-disciplinary collaboration, support the individual inmate in seeing opportunities and taking the next steps toward education or employment.

About you

We are looking for you who

• have a diploma in Educational, Vocational and Career Guidance (DUEK) or equivalent qualifications. If you do not already have the qualification or equivalent documented qualifications, you must be prepared, as part of your employment, to commence DUEK no later than within the first two years of employment
• have experience from the education sector and a good knowledge of educational opportunities and the labor market
• have experience with educational, vocational or career guidance, preferably for adults with different prerequisites
• can meet people where they are, and through clarifying and motivating conversations support the individual in seeing opportunities and acting on them
• work independently, in a structured way and can plan your task-solving across multiple workplaces
• thrive in cross-disciplinary collaboration and contribute constructively to joint solutions
• have good oral and written communication skills.

Experience from Denmark's Prisons or with vulnerable target groups is an advantage, but not a prerequisite.

About the position

Your primary tasks will be to

• conduct individual clarifying, motivating and follow-up guidance conversations with inmates
• uncover the individual's academic, social and personal competencies as well as educational needs and motivation
• advise on educational, vocational and employment opportunities during custody and serving a sentence as well as after release
• advise on relevant educational opportunities, including for example AVU, FVU, HF, vocational education and AMU
• organize guidance processes based on a professional assessment of the individual's needs
• assess relevant teaching and education offers in close collaboration with the instructor and other professionals
• collaborate with teachers, social workers, supervisors, guards and other staff on a coherent effort for the individual
• collaborate with municipal guidance counselors, job centers, educational institutions and other relevant partners
• support good transitions when transferring to other institutions and in connection with release
• collect and record relevant educational documentation and follow up on the guidance effort
• contribute to recognition of prior learning assessments
• contribute to the development of the guidance area in collaboration with the West Circuit Office.

The position involves both independent task solving and close collaboration with colleagues and external partners. You must therefore be able to navigate days where needs and tasks can change, and where it is important both to work targeted with the individual and to have an eye on the overall effort.

Who are we?

Aarhus, Randers and Silkeborg jails belong to the East Jutland jails, supervision, youth supervision and release jail.

Aarhus, Randers and Silkeborg jails have space for 67, 43 and 20 inmates respectively. The majority are pre-trial detainees who have not yet received a verdict. The jails can also house prisoners awaiting a place in a prison.

In the three jails we work cross-disciplinary to create a structured and meaningful daily life for inmates with a focus on responsibility, development and preparation for life outside the walls.

Education and employment are an important part of this effort. As an education counselor you will therefore play a central role in the work of clarifying the individual's competences, motivation and possibilities and in creating coherence in the transition to further education or employment.

You will work closely with, among others, teachers, social workers, supervisors and guards as well as with relevant external partners. The broad collaboration surface is a central part of the role.

We offer

• a meaningful and societally important job where you can make a concrete difference
• the opportunity to help develop and qualify the guidance effort in Denmark's Prisons
• a position with a high degree of independence and a broad professional collaboration surface
• a cross-disciplinary working environment with engaged colleagues and a focus on high professionalism, cooperation and social responsibility
• introduction and training within the framework and areas of work of Denmark's Prisons.

Salary and terms of employment

Employment and remuneration are in accordance with the applicable Collective Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Teachers' Union and CO10 – Central Organization of 2010 as well as the Agreement for guidance counselors at Studievalg Denmark and Denmark's Prisons.

• If you are already civil servant employed in the state, there will be an possibility to retain your civil service employment.
• The position is 37 hours per week with start on December 1, 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
• The area of employment is the Ministry of Justice with its related institutions for civil servants. The area of employment is Denmark's Prisons for contract employees.

Workplace

You will have your service location at Aarhus Jail, but the position covers all three jails:

Aarhus Jail, Christiansgade 1, 8000 Aarhus

Randers Jail, Møllestræde 8, 8900 Randers

Silkeborg Jail, Christian 8’s Vej 2C, 8600 Silkeborg

You must therefore be prepared to have work days at all three locations and plan your day based on tasks and needs at the individual workplaces.

As the position involves travel between Aarhus, Randers and Silkeborg, a driver’s license and access to your own car can be practically advantageous, but it is not a prerequisite for employment.

Application

Your application, CV, documentation of education and other relevant material must be received in the recruitment system

no later than October 20, 2026.

We expect to hold interviews

on October 26, 2026.

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

It is a condition of employment that, in connection with the interview, you consent to Denmark's Prisons obtaining and assessing information about you in the Central Criminal Register.

All interested applicants regardless of personal background are encouraged to apply.

Have questions about the position

, you are welcome to contact

Charlotte Schmidt, Unit Manager at Aarhus Jail, on tel. 72 55 18 86 or Morten Johansson, Unit Manager at Randers Jail, on tel. 72 55 90 96.

For further information about Denmark's Prisons please visit www.danmarksfængsler.dk.

Application deadline: Oct. 20, 2026

Location: Central Denmark Region