Head of Department for the School in Charlottegården

Do you want to make a difference for students with difficulties in the autism and ADHD area?

We are seeking a new head of department for our lower school who can inspire and translate ideas into practice in a curious and respectful learning environment. You should enjoy solving both development and operational tasks and together with the rest of the leadership team lead our core task.

The School in Charlottegården is a large special school with high professionalism and a big and beating heart for our fantastic students. We are seeking a head of department – ideally with special educational knowledge and experience – who together with the rest of the leadership team will help maintain all the good we have achieved at our school and KFO (after-school club), and who at the same time will help develop the school and the KFO in close collaboration with our skilled staff.

In the City of Copenhagen we have high expectations that the leadership of our schools is based on a resource-oriented view of children. It requires clear leadership that can work with clear goals and expectations in daily life. We therefore seek you, who is a clear, appreciative and listening leader at eye level with the staff. In your leadership style you are calm, participatory and inclusive with strong relational skills – a leader you can feel safe going to, even when the tasks are tough.

About our school

The school's target group is students with pervasive developmental disorders (autism spectrum disorders) or extensive specific learning difficulties (ADHD). The students have cognitive potential within the extended normal range, and the school is exam-eligible. Our vision is to make the students so academically and socially skilled that they can meet their full potential.

The school hosts about 180 wonderful students, about 130 specially skilled staff, as well as engaged parents who all work together to achieve the best for the students and the school. The school functions as a holistic offer, where school and leisure time are fully integrated.

Our special pedagogical basis is

• visible visual special pedagogy (SVS with inspiration from TEACCH)
• the Low Arousal conflict management method
• emotional and sensory regulation as well as social learning.

We are in an ongoing process as an organization to be clear and systematic regarding the quality of the teaching and the after-school provision. Here it is an important quality for the overall leadership team that data and knowledge are translated into pedagogical action.

We also expect that you

• have experience with management tasks or other forms of coordinating, sparring or guidance tasks
• are a trained teacher and have broad experience with the folk school subjects and special educational and special didactic practice
• are ambitious on behalf of our children and will work purposefully to further develop our school and the cross-disciplinary collaboration between teachers, pedagogues, teaching assistants and external partners
• see parent collaboration as an important and developing part of the daily work
• have a leadership education or be willing to take one in due course
• understand operational tasks as a significant prerequisite for the school's work, are systematic in your approach to leadership tasks and can make good decisions, also in difficult situations
• want to work with quality development of special education, professionalism and practice
• can lead our core task in all fora where learning and well-being are at stake
• can promote motivation and job satisfaction and meet students, parents and staff with good humor and empathy
• are a team player who can also run with the ball yourself.

We offer

• a well-functioning, engaged and hardworking leadership team
• a leadership team focused on becoming skilled and making a difference
• engaged staff with great professional insight into the task and the student group
• a school where working in cross-disciplinary, professional teams is taken for granted
• happy students at a school and KFO where the children's learning and development are central
• a positive and engaged parent group and school board
• a very competent staff that thrives collegially
• an development-oriented workplace characterized by shared decision-making, influence and co-responsibility.

Employment terms

The position is a permanent full-time employment with a start on January 1, 2027. Salary and employment conditions according to the applicable collective agreement and within the framework of local pay formation. In connection with the employment we collect child and criminal records and take references.

More information

We expect that you will contact the school principal Heidi Hviid at 30 31 29 19, where you can have the opportunity to hear more about the position, and we can hear about your wishes and expectations. You can also inform yourself on the school's website and read how we work .

Together with your application please attach CV and educational certificates.

Apply via the link no later than Friday 20 November 2026

We will conduct interviews on Tuesday 24 November.