Nordfynsskolen seeks a dedicated head of department for the Hjadstrup department

At Nordfynsskolen we believe in the potential of every child. We also believe that good leadership close to practice is essential for both students and staff to succeed.

Therefore we are seeking a dedicated department head who wants to lead our department in Hjadstrup. A leader who thrives with the daily management of their own site, can create direction and buy-in, and at the same time sees themselves as part of the leadership of Nordfynsskolen as a whole.

Nordfynsskolen – one school on three sites

Nordfynsskolen is the special school of Nordfyn Municipality and consists of four departments and a Knowledge Center spread across three sites in Hårslev, Hjadstrup and Bogense.

From January 2027 we will be around 140 students and about 80 staff. We are a school in development, and our various departments accommodate different target groups and special educational tasks.

The leadership consists of a principal, a deputy principal and two department heads – where you will be one of them.

We have a leadership structure with clear areas of responsibility and short decision-making paths. As department head in Hjadstrup you have your fixed leadership base on the site and you are the daily and visible leader close to staff, students and parents.

At the same time, you are part of Nordfynsskolen's overall leadership. We have joint leadership meetings, we consult with each other and collaborate on tasks and development across the sites. We have our own areas of responsibility, but a shared responsibility for the entire Nordfynsskolen.

About the Hjadstrup Department

At the Hjadstrup department, normally developing children and young people with various socio-emotional challenges attend. The students may, among other things, have regulation difficulties, high emotional intensity and attachment challenges. Some students also have specific learning difficulties.

A common thread for our students is that they need adults who can look beyond the behavior, create security and maintain calm and direction – even when it gets difficult.

Everyday life is built around fixed structures, clear frames and predictability. The teaching and the pedagogical efforts are planned based on each student’s needs and prerequisites, and we work with both students’ academic, personal and social development.

The department emphasizes close interdisciplinary collaboration and strong parent cooperation is an important part of the task.

Your leadership task

As department head you will have the daily leadership responsibility for the Hjadstrup department. You will have personnel management and responsibility for the pedagogical and professional development as well as a number of administrative and operational tasks.

You must want site-based leadership. You are the leader that staff meet in everyday life, and you must be close enough to practice to know what is going on. At the same time you should be able to lift your gaze, prioritize and set direction.

You must be able to stay calm when situations become complex, and be clear when decisions are needed. You must be able to listen and involve – and know when it is you as the leader who needs to draw a line.

An important part of the task is to support staff in succeeding with a student group where relational quality, shared pedagogical direction and adults’ alignment are of great importance.

You will also become part of the work around Nordfynsskolen’s school board.

We are looking for a leader who

• has leadership experience, preferably from the school or special education sector
• has experience with the special education area and preferably concrete experience with students with socio-emotional challenges
• thrives with independent daily leadership responsibility and at the same time naturally seeks collaboration and sparring
• is visible and approachable and cares about what is happening close to students and staff
• is clear, calm and decisive – even when waves are high and there is no simple solution
• can create trust and buy-in through engagement, integrity and clear communication
• listens and is curious about different perspectives
• can create structure, prioritize and follow up
• can facilitate academic discussions and translate them into concrete pedagogical practice
• has an eye for both the individual employee and the overall work community
• has good administrative skills and is comfortable with digital systems – preferably KMD, Excel or similar
• has knowledge of exam administration in primary school
• communicates confidently and respectfully with students, staff, parents and partners.

We would like you to have a leadership education or be well on your way with one.

What we stand for

At Nordfynsskolen we value learning, personal development and social competencies going hand in hand. We work cross-professionally and different professional backgrounds contribute to the common task.

Our pedagogical and didactic framework is built on mentalization, Low Arousal, positive psychology and neuroaffective developmental psychology. We also work based on a skill-based approach, where the adults bear the responsibility that the demands we place on the students match their prerequisites for success.

Our values are integrity, curiosity, openness, credibility and visibility . This also applies to our way of leading.

We offer

A leadership position with a high degree of autonomy and real opportunity to set the direction for your department – while at the same time becoming part of a leadership team where we lift Nordfynsskolen together.

You will have a committed group of staff, a student body and a parent group that call for capable and persistent adults, and a everyday life where your leadership makes a noticeable difference.

In the leadership team we place emphasis on openness, sparring, humor and being able to ask each other for help. We do not expect you to know everything from day one. Instead we expect you to take responsibility, be curious and want to develop both the Hjadstrup department and Nordfynsskolen as a whole.

Salary and employment terms

The position is available from 1 January 2027 .

The expected salary range is disclosed upon a visit to the school or at the first interview. The final salary is set based on your qualifications and previous work experience and after concrete negotiation with the professional organization.

Criminal and child protection checks will be obtained before employment can take place.

Want to know more – and come for a visit?

If you are curious about us, you can read more about Nordfynsskolen, our different departments and what we stand for on our website: https://nordfynsskolen.nordfynskommune.dk/

A visit gives you the opportunity to experience the Hjadstrup department, meet us and gain a more concrete insight into the student group, the staff, daily life and the leadership task you are applying for.

Send an SMS to the school principal Catja Kristiansen at phone number 20 14 58 48 – and you will be contacted to arrange a visit. Of course, there will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the position and Nordfynsskolen.

Application deadline: Sunday 8 November 2026

First interview: Wednesday 11 November 2026 after 3:00 PM

Second interview: Wednesday 18 November after 3:00 PM

Between the first and second interview there will be a candidate assessment/test as part of the recruitment process. References will also be obtained.

We look forward to meeting you and hearing what you can contribute – and what you need from us to succeed as the leader of the Hjadstrup department.

Here you can read more about what we in Nordfyns Municipality consider to be characteristics of an attractive workplace:

Our attractive workplace – Nordfyns Municipality