School Principal at Hjortholmskolen in Holbæk Municipality

Would you lead a special school with high professional standards, strong ambitions and a focus on each child's possibilities? Hjortholmskolen seeks an academically ambitious, present and proactive principal who can unite the school as an independent organization and lead a strong, knowledge-based and autism-specific practice. You must create clear direction and stable frameworks – and at the same time have the courage to develop the school in close collaboration with students, parents, staff, the leadership team and partners.

About Hjortholmskolen Hjortholmskolen is an extensive special education provision for students from 0th to 10th grade with pervasive developmental disorders. The target group is primarily children and youths with autism spectrum disorders, often in combination with other difficulties and complex school trajectories.

The school is organized in several tracks and has around 90 full-time equivalents, including teachers, pedagogues, teaching assistants and other professionals. The school offers a full range of subjects and graduation examinations with individually tailored support. Our practice is based on structure, predictability, clear communication and a fundamental understanding that children do the best they can. The aim is to strengthen students' learning, life skills, independence and participation in communities.

Your task as schoolleader As school leader you will have overall responsibility for Hjortholmskolen's academic, pedagogical, personnel, administrative and financial management. A central task will be to unite the school around a clear direction as an independent special school and strengthen coherence across the school's three tracks.

You must build on the school's strong professional knowledge and culture and, together with the leadership team and staff, develop a shared understanding of quality in teaching and the special pedagogical practice. It requires that you are both strategic and close to daily life, and that you can translate goals and decisions into meaningful practice for students and staff.

Your main areas of responsibility You should, among other things

• set a clear strategic, professional and pedagogical direction for the school based on a shared, knowledge-based autism-specific practice
• maintain high and realistic ambitions for students' learning, well-being, life skills and opportunities for graduation exams
• strengthen the work in complex student pathways, including in cases of stress reactions and extensive school absence
• develop a trusting and individually tailored collaboration with parents with a view to the child’s and the family’s perspectives, resources and possibilities
• lead and develop the leadership team with a common direction, clear leadership spaces and systematic follow-up
• be visible in practice and create good conditions for staff well-being, professionalism and interdisciplinary collaboration
• ensure responsible financial management and efficient administrative processes in cooperation with the administrative center,
• support a good working environment in close collaboration with TRIO and MED
• actively contribute to the development of the school's physical facilities
• strengthen the school's position and collaboration with the mainstream sector, PPR, authorities, UU and other relevant actors.

We expect that you

• have a relevant educational background and documented experience with school leadership
• have experience leading leaders and developing a shared and well-functioning leadership team
• have solid experience or in-depth knowledge of autism, comorbidity and complex student pathways
• understand both teaching and pedagogy and can lead an interdisciplinary practice
• have experience with professional leadership, school development, competence development and extended parental collaboration
• have an eye for economics, operations and administrative processes
• have a leadership degree or are prepared to undertake a relevant leadership education

Your leadership profile You are a calm, visible and approachable leader who builds trust and psychological safety. You are genuinely curious about practice and approach the school's existing culture and staff's substantial professional knowledge with respect. At the same time you have the courage to set direction, make decisions and take responsibility.

You can create stability and continuity in an evolving organization and are able to challenge practice without losing sight of what already works. You maintain a strong child-centered view and always see the child behind the behavior. You represent the school clearly and are simultaneously engaged in collaboration with the outside world.

We offer

• a meaningful leadership position with the opportunity to make a clear difference for children and young people with special needs
• a school with high special educational professional competence and dedicated staff
• a leadership team that you are responsible for bringing together and further developing
• close collaboration with students, parents, the school board and municipal partners
• an opportunity to leave your mark on Hjortholmskolen’s profile, development and future frameworks
• a central role in the development of Holbæk Municipality's comprehensive special education area.

Want to know more? You are welcome to contact School Manager Per Gjerrild at 7236 6065 to hear more about the position and Hjortholmskolen.

You can read more about Hjortholmskolen and Holbæk Municipality at www.hjortholmskolen and www.holbaek.dk

Recruitment process and terms The application deadline is November 1, 2026. First interview is expected to be held on November 11, 2026, and second interview on November 26, 2026. In week 47 there will be tests and test feedback.

The position is to be filled by January 1, 2027. Salary and employment terms follow the applicable collective agreement and the principles of local salary formation. A child-care and criminal record check will be obtained prior to employment.

We look forward to receiving your application.

In Holbæk Municipality we are 4,800 engaged colleagues who every day work to create good service and welfare for our approximately 75,000 residents in Holbæk Municipality. Together we bring our different professionalities into play and create solutions that make a real difference.

We place great importance on a good working environment and on developing our employees - both professionally and personally.

In Holbæk Municipality we actively work for diverse workplaces where there is room for difference. All qualified applicants are therefore encouraged to apply for the position - regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, political and religious beliefs or sexual orientation.

Holbæk Municipality's personnel policy sets the framework for our values and the way we meet each other and the citizens.

Read more about what it's like to work in Holbæk Municipality .