West Daycare Service Area seeks General Manager for Tjørnehuset

Do you want to lead professional quality and strong child communities?

Do you have strong pedagogical expertise, good relationship skills and a desire to create frameworks where children and staff succeed with the core task?

Then perhaps you are the one we are looking for as head of operations at Tjørnehuset in Næstved.

Tjørnehuset is a day care facility with 54 children, distributed among a nursery group and two kindergarten groups. There are 10 staff members employed.

We are seeking a leader who is ambitious on behalf of the children

In Tjørnehuset we want to create high pedagogical quality, where all children experience themselves as meaningful participants in the community and have good opportunities for well-being, development, learning and formation.

Quality is created in everyday relationships, play and learning environments – and in the adults’ way of being with the children.

We are therefore seeking a leader who is passionate about the pedagogical core task, has an eye for the individual child and the child community, and is curious about how we can together develop practice for the benefit of all children.

You must build on what exists – and dare to challenge

Tjørnehuset has engaged staff, a high level of responsibility and many strong professional competencies. You will come to a house that already has something to be proud of.

We seek a leader who respects what works well, and who wants to learn the house, the staff and the culture. At the same time you must dare to ask questions, challenge habits and create reflection on pedagogical practice.

You must be able to translate professional knowledge, observations and reflections into concrete actions and be focused on how the staff’s different competencies are best utilized around the children.

You lead through professionalism, trust and clarity

We are looking for a present and trusting leader who respects the staff’s professionalism and gives space for initiative and responsibility without micromanaging.

You are visible and approachable in the house, interested in the children’s everyday life and not afraid to go onto the floor when needed. You listen to the staff and create a culture characterized by dialogue, participation and shared responsibility.

At the same time you are clear in your leadership. You dare to set direction, make decisions and have the difficult conversations. You can balance staff involvement with your responsibility as a leader and create security and transparency around the decisions that are made.

You have ambitions on behalf of both the children and the staff and support a daily life where professionalism, engagement and well-being can flourish.

Play, relationships and child communities

In Tjørnehuset play is central. We work purposefully with learning environments and opportunities for participation and are focused on how adults create frameworks for play, contemplation and development.

We use among other things Marte Meo and NUSSA in our pedagogical work. Outdoor life also occupies a lot, and we actively use the playground and the local environment as pedagogical learning spaces.

As a leader you must be able to keep sight of what happens for and with the children, and support the staff’s continued professional development.

Who are you?

We imagine that you

• are educated as a pedagog and have experience from the day care sector.
• have strong pedagogical expertise and an interest in quality development.
• can set direction and create reflection on pedagogical practice.
• meet the staff with trust and respect and give space for responsibility and initiative.
• have strong relation skills and can create following.
• are present, clear and decisive.
• dare to have the difficult conversations and contribute with good humor.
• want to develop yourself as a leader and join a strong leadership community.

You do not necessarily need to have experience as a leader

We are also very open to you who are facing your first leadership job. Perhaps your pedagogical practice and professional engagement have sparked a desire to take the next step into leadership.

The most important is that you have the desire, courage and ambitions to take responsibility for people, professionalism and development. We are ready to support you in the leadership role through coaching and collaboration in our leadership community.

You will become part of Area West

Tjørnehuset is part of Area West in Næstved Municipality, which consists of 13 day care facilities.

You will become part of a professional leadership community where we share knowledge, challenge each other and learn across. We work, among other things, with child communities, participation opportunities, learning environments and strong work communities.

You will have the opportunity to both set the direction in Tjørnehuset and contribute to the joint development of the day care sector.

Maybe it is you we are looking for?

If you are motivated by the question

How do we create even better pedagogical quality for the children?

And you want to lead an engaged staff with professionalism, responsibility and a desire for development, we would love to hear from you.

You are also very welcome to visit Tjørnehuset, meet the staff and experience the house before you apply.

We look forward to meeting you.

Salary and terms of employment

Salary and terms of employment are according to the applicable collective agreement.

Information about starting salary and expected salary range

Via the link here you can see information about the relevant salary range for the specific position. In the overview select Næstved Municipality, which job category (collective agreement) you are applying for and further which position you are applying for. In the table below you can see the relevant information for the specific position.

Application deadline 19 November 2026

Two interviews will be held, the first on 25 November and the second on 27 November.

Start date 1 January 2027

Want to know more

If you have questions, or wish to visit the institution, please contact Maiken Højgaard Toftholm, area leader at tel. 29 10 43 02.

Relevant educational certificates should be attached.