Head Nurse for new health care positions in Varde

Do you want to set the direction for nursing, develop staff and create a new department with high professionalism and well-being? In brand-new framework? How do we create the best framework for citizens with needs for care, treatment and rehabilitation – and at the same time a workplace where employees thrive and succeed with their professional skills?

This is your opportunity to respond as chief nurse for a new regional department with health care beds in Varde.

From 1 January 2027 the regions will be responsible for establishing and operating health care beds as part of the health reform. Esbjerg Grindsted Hospital will establish 109 beds distributed across Fanø, Esbjerg, Varde, Vejen and Billund Municipalities. In Varde Municipality 20 beds are established in Varde.

You get a unique opportunity to build a new department and create a shared direction for professional development, staff well-being and operations.

Nursing that makes a difference Health care beds are an offer to citizens with a need for a targeted health care and rehabilitative effort. Tasks range from clinical observations, nursing and treatment to nutrition, rehabilitation and basic palliative care.

You must create the framework for a professional environment where nurses, social- and health care assistants, therapists and fixed attached doctors collaborate on safe and coherent citizen pathways. At the same time, employees should have the opportunity to develop their competencies and experience meaning, influence and professional pride in everyday life.

Your management task: Direction, followership and well-being You will have the overall professional, personnel and operational responsibility for 20 health care beds.

A central task will be to unite staff around a shared culture with clear goals, high professionalism and a good working environment. Through visible and present leadership you must build trust, involvement and engagement and support a workplace where employees take responsibility and succeed together.

The extra special thing about this task is that staff and citizens must move physical premises on 1 January, so if you can start a little before 1 January, it is very welcome so you can catch the “moving mood.”

Your most important tasks will be

• Set the direction for the department's professional and organizational development.
• Ensure high nursing professional and cross-disciplinary quality, patient safety and a rehabilitative approach.
• Create a common culture and good workflows across the sites.
• Strengthen employee well-being, collaboration and professional development through dialogue and involvement.
• Balance professional ambitions, resources and operations.
• Develop collaboration with hospitals, general practice and municipal services.
• Ensure operations in brand-new physical premises.

We seek a leader who develops both people and professionalism We imagine that you

• Are a licensed nurse and have management experience, preferably from the municipal or regional health services.
• Are visible, present and trust-building and create followership through clear communication and dialogue.
• Can set direction and expectations while involving and developing the employees.
• Are passionate about professional quality, staff well-being and strong cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Have experience with or interest in quality development, implementation and change management.
• Can make decisions with a view to both professionalism, working environment, resources and economy.

You are motivated by creating something new, developing employees' competencies and building a workplace where people and professional skills thrive.

We offer You get great influence on establishing a new department and the opportunity to shape its professional direction, culture and workflows.

You will become part of an engaged management community with close sparring with the department's other functional leaders and the department management. We offer interdisciplinary collaboration, good opportunities for professional and managerial development as well as an onboarding program tailored to you and your experiences.

We place emphasis on integrity, trust and good collaborative relationships. We go the extra mile, take responsibility for the community and help each other succeed – and we also believe it should be fun to go to work.

Employment The position is full-time with commencement no later than 1 January 2027.

Salary and employment terms follow the applicable collective agreement and the principles of local pay formation.

If you have questions, you are welcome to contact Chief Nurse Jane Birkebæk at telephone 21 67 59 05 .

Application deadline: 15 November 2026.

Interviews will be held 18 November 2026.

Region of Southern Denmark states the starting salary in accordance with the Health Cartel's collective agreement for leaders and chiefs (32.26). The starting salary includes base salary, centrally set allowances and pension. In addition allowances can be negotiated based on position, experience and qualifications.

See starting salary for positions in Region of Southern Denmark HERE .