Head of Unit for Building Preservation and Architecture at the Agency for Palaces and Cultural Properties

Do you want to help set the direction for how we safeguard the Danish built heritage?

the Danish Agency for Palaces and Cultural Heritage is looking for an ambitious and engaged unit head for the Unit for Building Preservation and Architecture in Nykøbing Falster.

A unit with an important societal mission

In Denmark we have about 3,000 listed properties, which constitute an important part of our shared cultural history. In the Unit for Building Preservation and Architecture it is a core task to fulfil the authority task under the Building Preservation Act, so the buildings can be used today and protected for the future. The tasks require close collaboration and dialogue with building owners and stakeholders in the field.

We serve the Minister for Culture and contribute with our professional expertise to ensure the government's visions for the protected built heritage become a reality. We provide secretariat support to the Special Building Surveillance, and solve a number of tasks including architecture policy and cultural environments.

Your role as unit head

You will be the head of 15 employees who work with building preservation and architecture, as well as six employees in a cross-functional resource team, including a team leader. The employees are engaged, have strong professional competencies and extensive knowledge and experience in the field.

As unit head you are responsible for setting a clear strategic and professional direction for the unit and creating good frames for the employees to succeed and thrive.

You must be able to navigate between the strategic and operational levels and translate organizational and political objectives into concrete results. Together with the rest of the management you also actively contribute to the Danish Agency for Palaces and Cultural Heritage's overall task solving and strategic development.

Your main tasks will be to

• set direction and prioritize the unit's tasks in close dialogue with the employees, peer managers and the directorate
• ensure a strong cultural heritage and civil service professional environment characterized by collaboration, engagement and high quality
• ensure an efficient and secure operation in case handling and administrative management, including through strengthened digitalization and use of data
• develop strong relations with external partners and stakeholders
• advise leadership and the ministry professionally, strategically and solution-oriented
• ensure professional execution of political initiatives and projects.

A clear and trusted leader

We imagine that you have leadership experience – formal or informal – from a politically governed organization. You are a leader who creates direction and followers with a firm hand on the tiller. You communicate clearly, have political acumen and organizational understanding, and can prioritize and make decisions, even when many considerations are at play.

You hold a relevant academic degree such as MSc in Political Science (cand.scient.pol.), Master of Law (cand.jur.), or Master of Architecture (cand.arch.).

You do not need to be a specialist in the unit's field, but you must be willing and able to acquaint yourself with them, ask the right questions and create the framework for a common direction for strong professional disciplines.

Center for Cultural Heritage

The Unit for Building Preservation and Architecture together with the Unit for Monuments and World Heritage forms the Center for Cultural Heritage. The center works with preservation of buildings, monuments, architecture, archaeology, UNESCO World Heritage and with advising municipalities on planning. There are around 40 employees in total. The management consists of two unit heads and a team leader for a common cross-functional team, which organizationally is part of Building Preservation and Architecture.

The Center for Cultural Heritage is located at Fejøgade 1, Nykøbing Falster .

Employment terms

The appointment will be made under a framework agreement on contract employment of managers in the state and on a fixed-term basis. The position is placed in Group 1. Supplements can be negotiated depending on qualifications.

The position is to be filled on 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible.

It is a condition of employment that you can obtain a security clearance, and that you can maintain the security clearance during the employment.

The workplace is Nykøbing Falster with regular working days in Copenhagen.

Information and application

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting the agency's Deputy Director Sidsel Nordengaard at mobile 81717744 or [email protected]

Applications should be submitted via the link below no later than Sunday, 1 November 2026.

Please attach CV, certificates and other relevant documents. We expect to hold 1st interview on Friday 6 November and 2nd interview on Friday 13 November 2026.

There may be tests as part of the recruitment process.

We strive for a workforce that reflects the surrounding society. Therefore we encourage everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.