Head of Department for the special education area across two schools

Do you want to lead the special education area at two independent schools – and help create a strong common direction with great respect for the schools' differences?

At Ejstrupholm School and Nørre Snede School we are looking for a department head who can create direction, coherence and quality in the special education efforts. The schools are only about 5 km apart and share a principal, but are independent schools with their own local identity, culture and history.

You will be the immediate supervisor for the staff in the special education area at both schools and a central sparring partner for staff, management colleagues, parents and external partners in complex pupil cases. The position is newly established, and you will therefore have a special opportunity to shape how the function, the special education area and cross-school collaboration should develop.

You must be able to move confidently between professional leadership, people leadership, operations and complex pupil cases – and at the same time have an overview of the whole of both schools. You should be able to remain calm in complexity, make clear decisions and create buy-in, even when considerations and perspectives point in different directions.

Your task is not to make the schools the same, but to create a common direction and use the differences constructively, so that staff and students experience proximity, quality and coherence.

Examples of your tasks

• Ensure clear, accessible and present leadership of staff with a focus on well-being, professional development and professional collaboration at both schools.
• Set professional and pedagogical direction based on a resource-oriented view of children, students' participation opportunities and good transitions.
• Support complex pupil cases through professional sparring, clear actions and constructive dialogue with staff, parents and partners.
• Create coherence and quality across the special and general education areas and contribute to joint school development and a sustainable leadership practice.

We are looking for a leader who

• Has a relevant basic pedagogical education and solid knowledge of special pedagogy, inclusion and relational work.
• Has leadership experience or clear leadership professionalism with responsibility for people, academic direction and complex processes.
• Has an eye for people, professionalism, operations and organization and can prioritize in a busy daily life.
• Communicates clearly, respectfully and credibly – even in difficult conversations and disagreements.
• Can create buy-in, stay calm under pressure and at the same time be clear in decisions.
• Works structurally and translates knowledge, observations and data into concrete actions.
• Sees collaboration in the management team as a prerequisite for success and contributes loyally and curiously to joint decisions.
• Has or wishes to begin a relevant leadership education.

We offer

• A full-time leadership position with the opportunity to set direction for an important area.
• A strong leadership community where you receive sparring and are not alone with the complex tasks.
• Dedicated staff with extensive knowledge about the students and strong academic ambitions.
• A close collaboration with PPR and other professionals around children, youths and families.
• Opportunity to influence and develop the new common leadership function in practice.

About the schools

Ejstrupholm School has about 230 students and is led by a common principal, deputy principal and pedagogical leader. We work with a mentalizing approach and are curious about the child behind the behavior. The school is locally anchored with a focus on strong relationships, professional development and shared responsibility for ensuring all students feel part of the community.

Nørre Snede School has about 350 students and is led by a common principal, deputy principal and department head for the primary level and after-school care. Our motto is We see each other . We emphasize strong communities, relationships and systemic thinking – and that we do not have your and my children, but our children.

The schools are only about 5 km apart, but each has its own local identity and culture. You must therefore be able to see the value in difference and at the same time create coherence across them.

At both schools you will meet staff who want the students and each other, and who expect a leader who is professionally curious, present and clear.

As department head you will become part of the Fællesskolen in Ikast-Brande – a strong and committed leadership community across the municipality’s schools and youth services. Here school leaders, leaders in the youth area, school consultants and the school chief collaborate to set a common direction and develop strong school and leisure offerings for all the municipality’s children and young people.

You will have a solid professional sparring space and the opportunity to contribute actively to the municipality's overall school development. At the same time you will be part of a close interprofessional collaboration with among others PPR and Family Department to create coherent solutions close to the child, the family and the school’s practice.

Salary and terms of employment

The position is a permanent full-time role with expected start no later than 1 January 2027.

Salary and terms of employment are set according to the applicable collective agreement and the Ny Løn principles.

Applications with relevant educational documents, references and attachments must be received by Friday 30 October 2026 at 23:59 .

The first round of interviews is expected to be held on Tuesday 10 November 2026 and the second round on Monday 23 November 2026 . In connection with the second round, a personality profile analysis and reference checks may be included.

When employed, Ikast-Brande Municipality will obtain a child safeguarding certificate with the applicant’s consent.

Want to know more?

You are very welcome to contact the principal Karl Plougstrup-Petersen at Tel. 40 32 96 77. We place great value on you visiting both schools, and visits can be arranged directly with Karl. As Karl – perhaps like you – will be on autumn holiday, he cannot be reached by phone from October 8 through October 18. You are however welcome to send an email to [email address] with your name and phone number, and Karl will get back after the holiday to arrange a time.

It is also possible to contact the school head Thomas Garsdal at 20 90 59 04.

Read more on the schools’ Aula websites.