Director of Education - Someron kaupunki - Somero, Finland

Apply for the position of Director of Education in the rural town of Somero. Somero is located less than two hours' drive from approximately two million Finns. It is a small town with a population of just under 8,500, radiating authenticity, where cooperation, community spirit, and entrepreneurial mindset flourish. Somero offers both urban life and rural tranquility, attracting thousands of holiday home residents. The Director of Education in Somero plays a central role as the leader of the education sector and a member of the city management team. The education sector includes administration, basic education, secondary education (high school), adult education (Somero Institute), library services, leisure services (sports, youth, and cultural services), and early childhood education. Somero provides quality education from early childhood to high school. The educational pathway in Somero begins with high-quality early childhood education and continues through to high school. The high school is small, allowing for personalized teaching, which is reflected in student satisfaction and excellent learning outcomes. Diverse vocational further education opportunities are available nearby in Salo and Forssa. Helsinki and Tampere, university cities, are just over an hour away by car, and Turku is less than an hour away. The Somero Institute offers general adult education and open university courses. The key responsibilities of the Director of Education include: 1. Leadership of the education sector: strategic and operational management. 2. Acting as a senior manager in leadership and development tasks. 3. Preparation and implementation tasks for the Education Committee. 4. Decision-making related to organizing basic education and compulsory education; guidelines for teaching and support, and administrative decisions related to students' schooling. As the Director of Education in Somero, you will ensure the development of the service network and operations in accordance with the city’s strategy and financial plan in a changing environment. This also involves developing cooperation with various educational and well-being actors. What we expect from you: - A suitable higher university degree, financial and administrative skills, and leadership experience. - Understanding of municipal administration; knowledge of the municipal and education sector, and familiarity with political decision-making. - Sufficient leadership experience; personnel management, financial skills, and managing broad entities. - Interest and ability to develop, experiment with new opportunities, supporting strategy. - Preparation, implementation, and follow-up skills. - Good interpersonal skills, natural ability, and courage to actively collaborate within the city and in inter-municipal networks. - Experience in a similar role is considered an advantage. We hope you are motivated by the diversity of the work and the changing environment with development needs. You see challenges as opportunities and can inspire everyone to participate. You can lead yourself and prioritize your tasks. The key is your competence, suitability for the role, and desire to work for the benefit of the people of Somero. Your work community consists of: A competent, motivated management team and administration. Somero has a total of over 300 employees. General information related to the position: The position is permanent, with a desired start date in autumn 2026. Interested? If you have a positive attitude, a suitable development-oriented personality, and find the role interesting, contact us. We will discuss with you informally and help you familiarize yourself with the position in more detail. This is a very interesting and responsible role. Come and work for the benefit of the residents of Somero. Together we succeed. Before taking up the position, the selected candidate must provide an acceptable medical certificate of health. The position is subject to a six-month probationary period. Salary is determined according to KVTES. The current total salary is €6,397.12/month. The personnel committee has decided to approve a plan whereby the total salary for the Director of Education would be €7,050/month starting from October 1, 2026.