Team Leader for the Ukraine Element at the Defence Language School

Do you want an exciting position where you work in an operational and professional environment with an international focus? Are you interested in leading groups with the same goal, but different prerequisites and cultural backgrounds? And are you ready to take leadership responsibility for a team of language officers and civil-military interpreters deployed on tasks related to the Defence's support to Ukraine?

If yes, then apply for the position as team leader of an interpretation team in the Operations Section's (OPSEC) Ukrainian Support Element (UAELM) at the Danish Defence Language School (FSS).

About us

FSS is responsible for training language officers in Arabic and Russian. The training combines language, cultural subjects and military subjects, and is characterized by a highly intensive learning environment. After the training, language officers perform tasks as interpreters and cultural advisers in Defence's international missions as well as support in the national structure as reserve officers.

In addition to the language officer education, the school also trains civil-military interpreters and Defence officers in English. In addition, we are responsible for preparing and deploying language officers and civil-military interpreters to international tasks just as the school supports the rest of the Defence with a range of tasks where language officers' competencies are put to use.

FSS is a military institution, and comprises approx. 60 employees distributed among civilian language teachers, civil-military interpreters and military staff. We also have a Ukraine element with a number of interpreter teams dedicated to the Defence's support to Ukraine.

About the position

As the leader of an interpretation team (team leader) you will be a central part of the Defence's support to Ukraine. This will entail both short- and mid-term official travel for assignments in national contexts as well as in countries with which Denmark collaborates on the task. You will daily be the leader for an interpretation team consisting of both civil-military interpreters and language officers, whom you will need to prepare and work with for the majority of your tasks.

You will also be a major contributor in planning interpreters' deployments, and to a large extent act as a Point of Contact (POC) between the interpreters and the supported authority/unit. In connection with operational interpreter tasks your role will therefore involve a significant degree of coordination with other interpretation teams, other Defence authorities and other FSS sections.

In addition to the operational task execution there will also be periods of “home” at FSS, where professional immersion and preparation will be in the forefront. Here you will have access to an office workspace at FSS as well as professional support and sparring from colleagues and teachers as part of your preparation for upcoming tasks.

Furthermore, if you are Russian- or Ukrainian-speaking, there will also be opportunities to further educate yourself in Ukrainian during periods, either as a longer modular education or a more limited course focusing primarily on listening skills. As you gain experience in the position, you will also contribute to the continued anchoring and expansion of the school's Russian- and Ukrainian-language professionalism.

As the structure is new, the position involves a high degree of team- and staff development. The role places great demands on leadership skills, as it will be your responsibility to create structure and meaning for the interpreters before, during and after a mission. In some cases you will yourself have to go on missions as team leader.

Your fixed workplace will, as a rule, be at Svanemølle Barracks in Copenhagen.

During preparation periods at the school the working hours will most often be stable and within normal office hours. But if you have to travel on duty, you will in many cases have long working days with high intensity in solving tasks, where weekends will not always be sacred. If you are on a longer assignment, you will naturally be able to take compensatory leave at a later time.

You can expect a varied job with a high degree of freedom in task solving, and you will become an important part of a lively and friendly workplace with an informal (but proper) tone of voice.

About you

It is a requirement that you have completed the four-month training at FSS, where you become civil-military interpreter. And you must have the training in Ukrainian. In addition, experience with working for Defence's support to Ukraine will be a significant advantage.

We want you to succeed in the position, so we place great emphasis on personal development.

It is also desirable that you have a good linguistic level in Russian – or Ukrainian – English and Danish and are ready to undertake interpreter tasks related to the Defence's support to Ukraine.

You are robust, have strong leadership competencies and potential and motivation to take on the responsibility, as well as good coordination and planning skills. You possess strong collaboration skills, are adaptable and quickly able to grasp new subject areas.

Employment terms

The position is advertised broadly and can be applied for by both military and civilian candidates.

You are employed in accordance with the applicable collective agreement at all times.

Depending on your qualifications and competences, there is a possibility for negotiation of allowances. There is an employer-funded pension scheme attached to the position.

Your fixed place of work will be in Copenhagen.

As an employee under the Defence Ministry's area you are subject to certain special terms. You must, among other things, be security cleared and maintain the security clearance throughout the employment.

As an employee you are required to perform service outside the country, including units in international operations with a view to participating in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peace-enforcing, humanitarian and other similar operations.

Special conditions

Please note that there are physical and functional health requirements linked to the position, and that the role requires you to be deployable to international missions. This means that the employment is conditional on you passing an assessment at the Personnel Command Selection. The assessment consists of a physical test, a health assessment and a psychological resilience assessment.

The date for the assessment will be announced after interviews and must be conducted and clarified before we initiate salary negotiations and employment. You can read about the physical requirements at forsvar.dk

Training for the Defence's Physical Test (Level 1-5) – See Requirements

Contact and application

If you have detailed questions about the position, you are welcome to contact the caseworker in the Ukraine element, Captain Jan Berg, by email: [email protected] or phone 2160 2519.

If you have questions about salary and terms of employment, you are welcome to contact the Personnel Command, HR consultant Birgit Jepsen at phone 3266 5811.

The application deadline is 1 December 2026. Interviews are expected to be held on an ongoing basis, but also after the application deadline has passed.

You apply for the position via the link and we ask you to attach your application, CV and copies of your education certificates. Note that attachments must be added in PDF format.

In the Defence Ministry's organization we believe that diversity optimizes task solving. Therefore we encourage all interested regardless of background to apply for the position.

About the Defence Academy

The Defence Academy (FAK) contributes to the Defence's task solving by delivering relevant and up-to-date education as well as research and advice to Defence's employees and authorities. In addition, FAK supports the group with course administration and guidance in pedagogy and digital learning forms.

FAK consists of service locations in Copenhagen, Varde, Slagelse, Karup and Frederikshavn and offers the basic and further education, including sergeant and officer educations, including the language officer education, the Military Academy Education as well as a Master in Military Studies. In addition, FAK offers a wide range of continuing education that helps Defence's employees and the reserve to solve their tasks effectively and professionally throughout their careers.

FAK conducts research and development within the three military core areas; military operations, military strategy and military leadership, as well as related areas such as war history, cultural understanding and military technology. FAK participates in collaborations with Danish and foreign research and educational institutions and contributes to the development of NATO's doctrines and research projects. Knowledge production supports the education, but is also used and communicated broadly for the benefit of the Defence, national and international partners and society as a whole.

Read more at fak.dk.