Head of Børnehuset Ådalen

Workplace: Børnehuset Ådalen

Working hours: Full-time without the highest service time

Employment start: 1 January 2027 or after further agreement.

Børnehuset Ådalen is seeking a present and clear leader who can set a direction, create engagement and further develop the pedagogical practice – with respect for the good foundation we already have.

In Kolding Municipality we have high ambitions for quality in day care. We work systematically and data-informed with pedagogical quality so that all children have good participation opportunities in Strong Child Communities .

About Børnehuset Ådalen

Børnehuset Ådalen is an integrated day care offering with two departments in Almind and Viuf – about 1½ km apart. Both departments are located in lovely natural areas close to fields, forest and streams. Both departments are newly renovated and newly expanded and offer strong play and learning environments for all children and adults.

We are about 25 pedagogical staff, a management team consisting of a director and a deputy director, as well as staff in the kitchen and administration.

Despite the two addresses, we work as a single day care with a shared pedagogical framework, while there is room for diversity, participation and local traditions.

We have an engaged staff group and an active parent board and parent group.

Professional development is a natural part of our daily life, and we work systematically with development through among other things Læringsledelse – Dagtilbud (see more below) as well as Vi Lærer Sammen (VLS) as a common pedagogical framework. Furthermore, the entire Ådalen works with fixed themes that take their starting point in the strengthened pedagogical curriculum.

There is a completely new industrial kitchen established in the Valhalla department, which delivers lunch and afternoon meals to the entire Ådalen. We emphasize the meal at child height in close collaboration with our staff in the kitchen.

Your task

As a leader you will be responsible for both the daily operations and the continued development of Børnehuset Ådalen.

You shall, among other things

• Set a clear common direction for the pedagogical practice and create alignment
• Lead the work with Strong Child Communities and the children’s well-being, development and learning
• Lead a professional culture where data, reflection and shared learning are transformed into development of practice
• Be visible and present at both departments and close to children, staff and parents
• Ensure good staff management, financial control and a well-functioning daily operation.

We are looking for you who

• Are a clear and present leader who can set direction and at the same time create room for staff's professionalism and engagement
• Have strong relational and communication skills and lead through dialogue, trust and clarity
• Have a view of both people, professionalism and operations
• Are focused on developing pedagogical quality and translating ambitions into practice
• Enjoy being a leader at two addresses and can create coherence and a sense of community across them.

You are a trained educator and have leadership experience from the day care sector. We would like you to have a leadership qualification – or be willing to pursue one.

We offer

• A leadership job in a municipality where the ambitions and the level are high – both in terms of finances, staffing and quality content. You can read more about this in Kolding Municipality’s work with Quality development in day care
• Participation in our collaboration with Aalborg University around the project Learning Leadership - Day Care, which contributes with quality and competency development for the day care.
• You will become part of our network leadership organizing with other institution leaders, where knowledge sharing and development are prioritized. Read more about this in Network leadership in the day care sector in Kolding Municipality
• An independent leadership role with a lot of autonomy and own budget and staff responsibility
• A close leadership collaboration with a deputy
• An engaged and professionally focused staff group
• Good opportunities for professional and managerial development

As a leader you will become part of Kolding Municipality’s day care area and our Common view of children and young people ( kolding.dk ) where we work to ensure that all children feel themselves as meaningful participants in communities.

Would you like to help set the direction for Børnehuset Ådalen and at the same time build on what already works? Then we look forward to hearing from you.

Practical information

Application deadline: 6 November 2026.

1st interview: 19 November 2026 from 1:00 PM

2nd interview: 25 November 2026 in the time window 8–12.

Employment: 1 January 2027.

Applicants who proceed to the 2nd interview will be asked to fill out a personality profile.

The salary is set in accordance with applicable collective agreement and according to local salary formation principles as well as the applicant's qualifications. The starting point is DKK 609,000 annually + pension.

For further information you are welcome to contact Day Care Manager Merete Lund Westergaard at telephone 24 81 25 18 or Management Consultant Bodil Høgh at telephone 23 72 70 27 .

You can also contact the current Leader Kate Schmidt for information and to arrange a visit at telephone 24 98 44 73 .

Applications are submitted electronically via the button "Søg stillingen".

Your application must include documentation of education, a complete CV and relevant attachments that give a complete picture of you.

Prior to recruitment, Kolding Municipality will obtain a criminal record/child care certificate when required by law or when the position justifies it.

Kolding Municipality encourages all interested regardless of age, gender, handicap, religion and ethnic background to apply for the position.

We look forward to hearing from you!

All positions are full-time unless otherwise stated. Kolding Municipality encourages all interested regardless of age, gender, handicap, religion and ethnic background to apply for the position. Prior to recruitment, Kolding Municipality will obtain a criminal record/child care certificate when required by law or when the position justifies it.

Are you considering moving to Kolding Municipality? Read more about the opportunities to live and work in Kolding Municipality at www.komtilkolding.dk