Do you want to be the leader of the early years and after‑school program at Tjørnegårdskolen, to lead where school life begins, and to become part of a strong working community that has the children and one another at heart?

The first years of school leave their mark. The same goes for a good after-school program (SFO). Therefore we are looking for a leader who will head the child’s entire day and create strong communities across teaching and leisure. A leader who can get teachers, pedagogues and teaching aides to succeed together – and who knows that clear direction, good relationships and well-functioning structures are prerequisites for each other.

Do you have experience with leadership in primary school? Can you create followers in times of change while holding on to what already works? And would you like to become part of an young – and we think so – ambitious and warm leadership team, where we support each other and the school? Then maybe you are our new lead for the primary years and the SFO.

Who are we? Tjørnegårdskolen is an development-oriented public school in Roskilde, where we insist that academic subjects, well-being and community go hand in hand – in practice, not just on paper.

We work from a shared, systemic and resource-oriented view of children. This means we are curious about the children’s perspectives and our own practice, and that we constantly ask: What is the child showing us – and how do the adults respond?

With us, all children should feel that they belong and have something valuable to contribute. Therefore we work purposefully with inclusive and broader child communities. We want the children to meet a coherent everyday life where teachers and pedagogues work closely together, and where school and the SFO feel like parts of one integrated child life.

You will meet a staff group that goes the extra mile every day to help our children move forward. We have strong traditions, modern facilities, good outdoor areas and a vibrant social community. We want to support each other – both professionally and personally – and this can be felt in daily life.

Your role – leader of the whole child’s day As lead for the primary years and SFO you will be the nearest leader for teachers, pedagogues and teaching assistants in grades 0–3 and the SFO. Your most important task will be to create the framework that makes it possible for staff to succeed with the joint task: to create the best conditions for children’s learning, development and well-being.

You must set a clear direction, create structure and follow up – while staying close enough to everyday life to know what your decisions mean in practice. We therefore seek a visible and approachable leader who naturally moves around in teaching, in the SFO, in the corridors and at team meetings.

You should meet the staff with trust, curiosity and clear expectations. There should be room for involvement and professional dialogue, but you must also be able to make decisions, communicate them clearly and stay true to the shared direction.

The SFO is not just what comes after school We want a leader who genuinely cares about after-school pedagogy. For us, the SFO is not a parenthesis around teaching, but an important pedagogical space where children develop independence, form friendships and express themselves through play, creativity, movement and meaningful activities.

You should want to develop and profile an attractive SFO that children want to be part of, and that parents experience as a strong and valuable offering. At the same time you should strengthen the collaboration between teachers and pedagogues without blurring their distinct professionalities. When this works, children experience not different systems, but one safe and coherent day.

You will also have an important role in the transition from day care to school and further from the SFO to the club. Together with staff, parents and external partners you will help create continuity and security around the children.

You must be able to lead in change – and bring people with you Tjørnegårdskolen is a school in development. We work to strengthen our shared pedagogical foundation, create clearer structures and workflows, and develop a more systematic practice.

Therefore experience with change management is important. You know that a change is not implemented just because it is decided. It is only successful when it makes sense for the staff and can be seen in daily practice around the children.

You must be able to create movement without losing people along the way. You involve and listen, but are also clear and persistent. You can translate goals into realistic practice and work systematically with follow-up and adjustment – with respect for the school’s culture and everything that already works.

The position requires you to be able to create an overview in a complex daily life. You must be close to the pedagogical practice and take responsibility for the operations that make everyday life hang together. This includes child welfare matters, planning, resources, economy, working environment, sickness absence and substitute use.

You will become part of something bigger As the lead for the primary years and SFO you are not only the head of your own department. You become part of the school’s overall leadership and share responsibility for the development and operation of Tjørnegårdskolen as a whole.

You step into an ambitious leadership team and an administrative working community that genuinely enjoy working with each other. We collaborate closely, laugh often and stand together when it blows. We share the tough issues so they are never one person’s task alone, and we expect you to contribute professionally and become an active part of the community.

You will also become part of the Roskilde Municipality’s shared leadership and development community, where we among other things work with Wider Child Communities.

Who are you? We know that no candidate can check all the boxes. But we envision that you can recognise yourself in most of this:

• You have experience with leadership in primary school – from a fixed leadership position, a temporary appointment, or a coordinating function where you have created direction and followership.
• You have experience with leading both teachers and pedagogues and can bring different professionalities together around the children.
• You have knowledge of and experience with change management and can translate development goals into sustainable practice.
• You work in a structured and systematic way, have a secure overview and a high work capacity.
• You are relationally strong, clear and proper. You listen and involve, but you can also make decisions and stand by them.

You have a systemic and resource-oriented view of both children and adults and are curious about causes rather than faults. You remain calm and proper when the situation is complex, and you dare both to set demands and take care of your staff.

Your educational background could be as a teacher or a pedagogue. The most important is that you have a relevant pedagogical education, solid knowledge of the organization of primary education and an understanding of both teaching and after-school pedagogy. If you have a leadership education, that is an advantage. Otherwise we expect you to be willing to start one.

What do you get with us? You get a leadership task of great importance. This is where children meet the school, learn to be part of new communities and discover what they can do. You will have the opportunity to leave your mark far beyond the first years of school.

You will get both a large responsibility and a strong safety net. You will be put into play – not into a lawsuit – and you will have real influence on the primary years, the SFO and the school’s overall direction. We are ready with close sparring and co-leadership, and as a new leader you will be part of Roskilde Municipality’s onboarding program.

You will also become part of an administrative working community with strong competencies in, among other things, finance, HR and administration, so you can devote as much energy as possible to pedagogical leadership.

And then you will have a workplace where the social aspect is not just something we write in the job advertisement. We have bingo and karaoke evenings, sports in the hall on Friday afternoons, a big gala party and pop-up events that arise because we actually want to be together.

Practical information The position is full-time with commencement 1 January 2027 .

Salary and terms of employment are set according to applicable collective agreement. In connection with the recruitment we will obtain child and criminal records checks as well as references.

The application deadline is 25 October 2026, and interviews will be held in week 44.

Applications, CV and relevant attachments are sent via the link in the job advertisement.

If you have questions about the position or are curious whether Tjørnegårdskolen could be the right place for you, you are very welcome to contact:

School Principal Maiken Staudt Olesen

Phone: 28 70 55 29

Email: [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you – and to welcoming the right leader into the community at Tjørnegårdskolen.