Head of Department sought for Havkærparken: Can you see the whole picture and at the same time spot the detail that makes a difference?

At Havkærparken we know that a small detail can be decisive for a person's well-being, development and opportunity to participate in the community.

We are therefore seeking a department head who is curious about practice, close to professional expertise and motivated to create the best possible conditions for adults with developmental disabilities and autism.

About the job

Havkærparken is an activity and social participation offering under the Social Service Act §104 for 24 adult residents with developmental disabilities and autism. The residents often have perceptual and sensory challenges, and several may exhibit challenging or self-harming behavior.

We work with structure, predictability, communication support and individually tailored activities. The goal is to create a daily life with meaning, well-being, development and positive experiences.

Havkærparken is part of the Center for Mastery and Autism, which is part of Disability, Life Mastery and Communities in Aarhus Municipality.

As department head you will be responsible for 19 engaged staff spread across four teams.

You must be able to move between strategic perspectives and everyday practice. You must create direction, development and good conditions, while being interested in what happens close to the residents.

With us, we lead from a basis of professional curiosity.

When something is difficult, we don’t first ask: "What is wrong with the resident?"

We ask: "What is the resident trying to tell us, and what can we do differently?"

Therefore you must be able to translate observations, data and professional knowledge into concrete improvements that make a real difference for the residents.

Your most important tasks

You will among other things

• Set a clear direction for staff, professionalism and well-being.
• Be close to the pedagogical practice without taking it over.
• Support shared professional methods and ensure that they can be seen in everyday life.
• Create coherence between professionalism, operations, finances and the working environment.
• Follow up on results and development.
• Ensure a strong collaboration with relatives and partners.
• Actively contribute to the development of the entire Center for Mastery and Autism.

You succeed with us if you

• Can create buy-in around common goals.
• Have an eye for both people, professionalism and operations.
• Can make decisions and stand by them.
• Are interested in understanding what lies behind behavior.
• Are curious about your own and others' practice.
• Can balance present leadership with strategic overview.
• See yourself as a team player, taking responsibility for more than your own department.

We imagine that you

• Have leadership experience, preferably from the specialized social sector.
• Have experience with or an interest in the autism and developmental disability field.
• Are professionally ambitious and focused on developing both staff and services.
• Thrive in a daily life where relationships and complex issues go hand in hand.

Why choose us

You will become part of a strong leadership community where we help each other, challenge each other and lift each other as a group.

You get

• Responsibility for a professionally strong and meaningful offering.
• Skilled and engaged staff.
• Opportunity to influence the development of the Center for Mastery and Autism.
• Sparring, leadership development and a strong leadership network.
• Opportunity to test new solutions and develop the initiatives of the future.

Do you want to help make a difference?

With us, good leadership is not only about creating direction. It is also about being curious about the small details that can make a big difference in a person’s life.

If you can see the whole and at the same time notice the detail, we would very much like to hear from you.

Salary and employment terms

Salary and employment terms are in accordance with the applicable collective agreement. Final salary setting occurs after negotiation with the bargaining-authorized professional organization based on qualifications.

Weekly hours: Full-time.

Start: December 1, 2026.

Application

Applications for positions in Aarhus Municipality are submitted electronically. Click on 'Søg stillingen' to fill in and send your application. All fields with * must be filled in. Only when you have received a receipt by e-mail have we received your application.

Application deadline: October 18, 2026.

Interviews will be held on October 20 and 23, 2026

The position is at all times contingent on a satisfactory public criminal record check.

You report to center manager Diana Østergaard.

If you want to know more about the position, you can send an SMS to 41856300. Diana will then call you back so you can get answers to your questions.