Colleague sought for exciting regulatory tasks within waterways

Esbjerg Municipality looks into a future where the green transition provides many tasks to be handled by the watercourse authority. We therefore seek a colleague for a newly established authority position.

We are looking for a new colleague who will be part of Esbjerg Municipality's watercourse team. We have a lot of exciting tasks underway, but need a colleague who can help lift together in a common effort.

In the watercourse team we administer about 800 km of public watercourses. Some of our best known waterways are the Kongeåen, Ribe Å and Sneum Å, all of which flow into the Wadden Sea. The Wadden Sea has been designated a national park, and also a World Heritage site. The Wadden Sea results in many low-lying and wetland projects in Esbjerg Municipality under Grøn Trepart (Green Three-Part).

There is currently potential for over 10,000 hectares of projects, including an EU-life nature project, large projects with the Nature Agency, a potentially national Signature project and other projects that Esbjerg Municipality will be responsible for – and many of them can affect the watercourses.

Job content Your tasks will be within the authority domain. You will handle applications for regulation and restoration ranging from crossing permits to nature-improving watercourse projects, carry out enforcement under the Watercourses Act, and have dialogue with farmers and colleagues.

Water plan projects and climate low-lying area projects, etc., must all be approved under the Watercourses Act, and it is to be expected that part of the workload will lie here.

We also have a very close collaboration with colleagues who administer the other nature and environmental legislations. You, as the watercourse authority, will participate in cross-cutting working groups with both internal and external partners.

Room for professional and personal development The distribution of tasks in the team will be adjusted to your qualifications and the team's priorities, which can be continuously adjusted. There will also be a focus on your personal and professional development.

Good collegiality and professional sharpness The Watercourse team is part of the municipality's Nature & Water Environment Office, which is located at the town hall in Esbjerg. There are 26 employees in the Nature & Water Environment Office distributed across three teams, solving tasks within agriculture, nature and watercourse areas. The office places emphasis on expertise and collaboration. Although there is sometimes a lot to do, there is good camaraderie and collegiality.

Your upcoming team currently consists of 11 employees with different professional backgrounds. But whether the title says engineer, biologist, technician or nature administrator on the business card, we all contribute to the strong professional environment where exchange of experience and collaboration with colleagues is highly prioritized. We emphasize that everyone feels like an important part of the team both professionally and socially.

We have a good sense of humor, are informal but always professional in relation to our tasks. We work on trust, and we generally think it should be fun and challenging to go to work.

You will fit well into the watercourse team if you

• have experience with regulatory work, preferably within the Nature Protection, Environmental Protection and Watercourses Act
• are educated as a biologist, engineer or have a similar relevant education
• have knowledge of the physical, biological and hydraulic conditions in river systems
• have experience with GIS and river tools such as VandløbsGIS and VASP
• have knowledge of farming and experience communicating with landowners and other citizens
• are solution-oriented and good at collaborating with others
• communicate well in Danish in writing and speaking
• have an overview and the ability to prioritize
• thrive with “freedom with responsibility”
• want to work in a politically governed organization
• have a driver's license for a passenger car (B driving license)

If you have more than 1 hour of travel time to the town hall, we ask you to consider the commuter challenge.

Employment terms The position is desired to be filled from February 1, 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. It is a permanent position. Working time is 37 hours/week or by agreement, with flexitime and the possibility of up to two days of telework per week.

Salary and terms of employment are set in accordance with the applicable collective agreement, including the current rules on local salary formation. You can find information about the salary level in Esbjerg Municipality via this link: KRL . Here you will also find information on base pay and pension. In addition, following a concrete assessment, qualification and/or function allowances may be agreed depending on the content of the position and your experience and qualifications.

In Esbjerg Municipality we work on trust and see human diversity as a strength. We therefore encourage all qualified applicants regardless of gender, age or ethnic background to apply.

A criminal record check will be obtained upon hire.

If you proceed after the interview, references will be obtained from current and/or previous employers if you are still being considered for the position. You will be informed before references are requested.

Contacts and application deadline, etc. If you want to hear more about the positions, you are welcome to contact the Office Manager Søren Hjortsø Kristensen, tel. 7616 0728 or Team Coordinator Jonas Beck Petersen, tel. 7616 0951.

Application deadline is Sunday, November 22, 2026.

Employment interviews will be held Thursday, November 26, 2026 morning, Monday, November 30, 2026 morning, and possibly supplementary interviews Thursday, December 3, 2026 morning.

Apply electronically Click on "send application" at the bottom and attach your application, CV and relevant documentation.