Program Leader for Kindergarten Teacher Education
About the company
About the Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages The Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages aims to promote good growing-up conditions for children and young people, and to deliver research-based teaching and excellent research. The faculty has a strong linguistic profile and is a recognized and preferred partner regionally, nationally, and internationally within upbringing, learning, and languages. Interdisciplinary expertise in the academic environments contributes to shaping policy and practice, and we target national and international research environments.
Research at the faculty covers a wide range within languages, teacher education, and the upbringing of children and young people; the majority takes place in the faculty's interdisciplinary research groups. The academic environments represent the university college's priority area "Language in Education" and constitute a significant part of the university college's interdisciplinary priority area "The Digital Society." The faculty's study portfolio includes teacher professional education aimed at kindergarten, primary school, and upper secondary school. In addition, we have bachelor's and master's studies, one-year studies, and continuing education aimed at language subjects, the upbringing of children and young people, and teacher education. The faculty has a large offering of studies in English, French, German, and Spanish. The faculty is a pioneer in professional digital competence in teacher education and offers a range of online studies (“digital campus”).
The Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages was established in 2021 after Høgskolen i Østfold received a new academic organization. The faculty is still developing in terms of teaching, research, dissemination, and organizational culture. The Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages has approximately 200 employees and approximately 2700 students distributed across three institutes and one center: Institute for Language, Literature and Culture, Institute for Pedagogy, ICT and Learning, Institute for Real, Practical-Aesthetic, Social and Religious Studies, and the Foreign Language Center - National Center for English and Foreign Languages in Education. The faculty is located at the Halden campus.
This is Høgskolen i Østfold Høgskolen i Østfold creates and shares research-based knowledge for the future through research, education, and collaboration with working life and society. Our goal is to educate competent candidates and contribute to sustainable development regionally, nationally, and internationally.
With campuses in Fredrikstad and Halden, we offer a wide range of socially relevant and profession-oriented educations from bachelor's and master's levels to doctoral degrees. The educations are research-based and developed in close interaction with the needs of working life and society.
The university college's academic environments are organized into three faculties: Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organization, Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages, and Faculty of Information Technology, Engineering and Economics.
Høgskolen i Østfold has approximately 7,000 students and 700 employees, and is a central knowledge institution and partner in the region. Through research, education, and innovation, we contribute to developing the competence society needs, both today and in the future.
Your tasks
About the position At the Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages, we have a vacant position as Program Leader for Kindergarten Teacher Education. As Program Leader, you have the operational and academic responsibility for the kindergarten teacher education programs, which constitute one of the pillars of the faculty's study portfolio. You ensure the high academic quality of the programs and a good student environment. You will also be responsible for further developing the programs in line with societal development, national guidelines, and internal objectives - all in close cooperation with the professional field. In addition, you have an important responsibility for interaction with the professional field in connection with continuing and further education. The Program Leader reports to the Dean and is part of the faculty's management group.
Responsibilities and tasks The Program Leader is given a special responsibility for the study portfolio aimed at kindergarten teacher education and grant schemes, but may also be assigned responsibility for other study offerings at the faculty.
Central tasks will be to
- operate and further develop the programs in accordance with their interdisciplinary character, strategies, goals, and regulations
- conduct project work in the professional field related to the grant scheme for collective competence development and continuing education aimed at kindergarten
- ensure a good, holistic, and inclusive learning environment for the students
- work purposefully with study program quality in accordance with the university college's quality system
- maintain personnel responsibility for employees related to the kindergarten teacher education
- contribute to good cooperation with institute leaders, the program leader for primary school teacher education, and across institutes, faculty, and administration
- develop study plans and stimulate active cooperation with the professional field
- follow up on suitability cases in cooperation with the university college's suitability officer
- ensure good participation and good cooperation with student representatives
- cooperate with the Dean's office and institute leaders on relevant research projects that support the programs and subjects
- work proactively with innovative learning processes, internationalization, as well as national and externally funded initiatives
In cooperation with institute leaders, the Program Leader shall ensure a robust academic environment with an updated and future-oriented competence profile. It is expected that the Program Leader cooperates closely with the faculty's institute leaders and subject coordinators to ensure good planning and implementation of the studies.
Requirements
We are looking for you who wish to realize the ambitions of the university college and the faculty. You are an academic driving force and are clearly present when meeting students and employees. You have an involving leadership style and are concerned with cooperation, participation, and diversity in projects and processes.
For appointment to the position, you must have
- higher education at minimum master's degree level with relevance to kindergarten teacher education
- experience from kindergarten or pedagogical leadership in kindergarten
- good digital competence and knowledge about digitalization of education
- outstanding cooperation and communication skills, both oral and written, in Norwegian (minimum B2 level) and English, as well as an inclusive way of working
In addition, we wish that you have
- experience with teaching or teaching management from higher education
- experience with personnel management
We are looking for you who
- are a confident and inspiring leader with experience in operational and strategic management
- create enthusiasm and support for common goals
- are inclusive and have outstanding cooperation and communication skills
What we offer
- Become part of a strong and developing academic environment with engaged students and skilled colleagues.
- Good opportunities for competence exchange, cooperation, and continuous professional development.
- An active and inclusive working environment with social events, gatherings, and fitness offers.
- Practical daily benefits such as electric car charging and free taxi from the train station to the Halden campus.
- Favorable schemes for pension, home loans, and insurance through Statens pensjonskasse.
- The position is remunerated as 1473 study leader, from NOK 970,000 - 1,170,000. The salary range will be adjusted slightly upwards in relation to the 2026 salary settlement. Salary placement depends on competence, experience, and a market-based assessment.
How to apply
Submission of application You submit your application via our recruitment system Jobbnorge. All attached documentation must be in a Scandinavian language or English.
Contact persons
- Dean Martin Hollmann, e-mail: martin.hollmann@hiof.no
- HR Partner Andreas Westby, e-mail: andreas.westby@hiof.no
Other
The university college's study offerings are organized at our two campuses in Halden and Fredrikstad. Your main workplace will currently be in Halden, but presence at both campuses may become relevant.
Other information Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview.
Desired commencement date is 01.03.2027 or commencement by agreement.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25, 2nd paragraph, information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to be listed on the applicant list.
Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The university college works to achieve a balanced gender composition and to recruit persons with immigrant backgrounds. Furthermore, we desire employees with different competencies, combinations of subjects, life experiences, and perspectives.
We will facilitate for employees who have a need for it. If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds, we shall call at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview.
The appointment is carried out according to the principles in statsansatteloven and legislation regulating the export of knowledge, technology, and services. Applicants who are in conflict with these regulations will not be considered qualified for the position.