Do you want to lead the cultural centers in Vesterbro and Valby – and shape the cultural offerings of the future?

We are seeking an experienced and engaged leader who can bring people together, strengthen the cultural life, and build bridges between different cultural environments. You will have responsibility for six of Copenhagen's cultural houses and the opportunity to shape local cultural offerings and activities.

With your cultural expertise and leadership experience you create the framework for vibrant cultural houses where local initiatives, creative communities and strong partnerships can flourish. You set a common direction with respect for the houses' distinctive profiles and local anchoring.

We offer

• An versatile leadership position with the opportunity to influence the development of the cultural houses and the new shared organization
• A strong leadership community with focus on professional sparring, knowledge sharing and collaboration
• Committed staff and local partners who together create lively cultural offers for Copenhageners.

A new leadership community for the city's cultural houses

From January 1, 2027 Copenhagen Municipality will bring all city cultural houses into one organization under the Center for Cultural and Leisure Activities.

Our ambition is that the cultural houses shall be open and vibrant meeting places where citizens, associations and cultural actors can unfold, take initiative and become part of local communities.

With the culture house and library plan and an upcoming political strategy we face an exciting task of translating common ambitions into concrete improvements in the city's cultural and leisure life.

About the position

You will have overall responsibility for staff, operations and professional development in the houses at Onkel Dannys Plads, Ungdommens Demokratihus, Basement, Valby Cultural House, Kraftwerket and Værkstedshallerne.

Each house has its own profile, target groups, local anchoring and partners. Your task is to safeguard the houses' diversity and distinctiveness while ensuring that resources, experiences and competences are utilized across the board.

You will have line management of about 21 engaged employees who handle everything from concerts and local events to creative workshops and cultural projects. You must ensure a well-functioning everyday life where staff have clear boundaries and where there is room for both established activities and new initiatives.

Your key tasks will be to

• Lead and support the staff's professional work, well-being and competence development
• Ensure stable and efficient operation of the cultural houses with focus on quality and attractive offerings to citizens
• Strengthen the houses' local profiles through partnerships with associations, cultural actors, creative environments and citizens in the local area
• Prioritize budgets and resources and ensure appropriate workflows so there is a balance between quality and frameworks
• Contribute to joint initiatives and knowledge sharing in the culture leadership community
• Translating political decisions and strategic goals into concrete actions and help anchor the new organization.

You report to the head of unit for the cultural houses and will have the opportunity to influence both local activities and the overall development of Copenhagen's cultural houses.

Is it you?

You are a visible and approachable leader who prioritizes presence and dialogue with staff at all six locations. You build trust, set clear boundaries and give room for professionalism and independence. At the same time you have a focus on staff well-being and competences and you can rally them around common goals.

You thrive in a daily life with many interests and considerations. You communicate clearly, make decisions and follow up so ambitions become results. You have the courage to challenge established ways of working and can also ensure stability when the organization is undergoing change.

Your cultural expertise spans broadly. You understand the dynamics at venues and in alternative cultural environments, creative growth areas, broad culture and workshop activities. You meet the various actors with curiosity and respect and can build bridges between their needs and possibilities.

To succeed in the position we expect that you

• Have proven experience in personnel management, culture-related leadership and financial management
• Have solid experience with cultural production and developing cultural offerings in collaboration with different cultural actors
• Have leadership experience from a municipal organization and can navigate a politically governed reality
• Have insight into alternative cultural environments and creative growth areas and understand their importance for a diverse cultural life
• Communicate clearly, build trustful relationships and find solutions when different considerations must be reconciled
• Have a higher education degree relevant to culture and leisure sector.

We would like you to be curious, enjoy trying new things and at the same time be able to create structure and overview in a busy daily life.

Salary and terms of employment

The leadership position (level 4) is full-time. Salary and terms of employment are determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and by agreement with the negotiating organization.

We wish to have the position filled by January 1, 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

We take references and obtain a criminal background check in connection with the appointment.

Want to know more?

If you have questions regarding the position, you can contact the unit manager for cultural houses Louise Friis Pedersen on phone +45 22 47 86 65.

Apply via the link no later than Tuesday, 17 November 2026

We will hold first interview on Monday, 23 November 2026 and possibly second interview Friday, 27 November 2026. If a second interview is held there will be a psychometric test and a case to prepare for before the second interview.

Cultural, Leisure and Citizen Service Administration

In the Cultural, Leisure and Citizen Service Administration we work every day to create good frameworks for culture and leisure life in the city, and to provide Copenhageners and city guests with professional and approachable service. From libraries, cultural houses and museums to sports facilities, citizen service and the city’s green spaces – we create frameworks for communities where Copenhageners can meet and express themselves. Our joint goal is to make Copenhagen a good place to live, meet and engage.