Head of Department for Construction Case – set the direction for professionalism, service and collaboration

In Kolding Municipality we see building case processing as more than the individual case. We work for coherent processes, where citizens and businesses meet clear guidance, early dialogue and coordination across disciplines. At the same time our decisions must be professionally well-founded and legally sound.

As head of the Building Case Department, you will have a central role in translating the ambitions into practice.

You take over a well-functioning department with skilled employees, strong professional expertise and operations that run . Your task will be to build on what is already successful and set the direction for the continued development.

A well-functioning department with an important task

Building Case consists of 22 employees distributed across three teams : housing, commercial and specialists.

Building Case handles everything from single-family houses and holiday homes to apartment buildings, commercial construction and larger facilities. In addition, there are regularisations and appeal cases. The specialist team supports the area with, among other things, the Building and Planning Register (BBR), addresses and archive.

The department delivers on the service targets, and employees thrive with freedom under responsibility. At the same time building cases are becoming increasingly complex and often require cross-disciplinary collaboration. It sets new demands for coordination and coherence in case processing.

For citizens and businesses the municipality is one organization. The experience should be the same too. You will therefore have an important task of bringing the three teams together around a common direction and strengthening cooperation, among others with Environment and Green Transition, Construction and Operation, so we become even better at coordinating and guiding applicants further.

At the same time, building case processing requires that complex rules are translated into clear, well-founded and legally sound decisions. You must support the professional quality and ensure a good balance between regulatory responsibility, dialogue and service.

You create direction through trust and collaboration

Your most important task will be to set the direction and create good frameworks for the employees. This requires you to trust their professionalism and give them the freedom to solve tasks independently. At the same time you must create an overview, ensure a sensible task distribution and ensure that employees have access to the professional sparring they need.

You will have responsibility for professional and personnel leadership, including sparring with employees and team coordinators, wellbeing and competence development. We emphasize a trust-based leadership style, where employees experience support, clear communication and security to raise questions and challenges.

We imagine that you have a relevant professional background, e.g. as a lawyer, architect or engineer, and experience with the processes in building case processing. You would preferably have experience in managing the building case area or another relevant area.

The most important thing is that you can lead people, create alignment and support the professional quality. You understand the role of the authority and can navigate a politically governed organization. You are structured, clear and solution-oriented, take initiative for dialogue and can accommodate different perspectives – even when interests differ. You communicate clearly and properly and dare to challenge established workflows when it can lead to better solutions.

Kolding Municipality also participates in KL's AI large-scale project. You will have the opportunity, together with the employees, to explore how digitalization and AI can support the quality of case processing and free up time for dialogue and guidance.

A leadership community with trust and room to set direction

You will become part of the management team in Planning and Building reporting to the area manager. Here, trust and professional sparring are natural parts of the collaboration. We use each other’s perspectives and help each other across disciplines. You will have considerable management discretion and support in the leadership role, while becoming part of a leadership community where we consult with each other and share responsibility for the task solution.

Kolding Municipality has ambitions to be Southern Denmark's strongest business municipality. As department head you will have the opportunity to contribute to that ambition by developing building case processing where professionalism, service and collaboration go hand in hand.

You will have the opportunity to unite the employees around a common direction, strengthen cross-organizational collaboration and make a concrete difference for citizens and businesses.

Practical information

Workplace: Kolding Municipality, Nytorv, Planning and Building

Reference: Head of Planning and Building, Jan Laursen

Application deadline: 17 November 2026

Start date: 1 January 2027

If you have questions about the position, you are welcome to contact Jan Laursen at telephone 51 81 18 80 or email [email protected] .

We expect to hold the first interview on 23 November and the second interview on 26 November. Between interviews, a personality profile will be conducted with subsequent feedback. For the second interview, a case will be included. References are collected after further agreement.

All positions are full-time unless otherwise stated. Kolding Municipality encourages all interested regardless of age, gender, disability, religion, and ethnic origin to apply for the position. Before employment, Kolding Municipality will obtain a criminal record certificate/child 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