Skarðshlíðar Nursery School is looking for an ambitious department manager for a 100% position. 

Skarðshlíð Leisure School is a new four-unit school that meets modern standards for nursery education. The nursery is located at Hádegisskarði 1, just a 4-minute drive from the Reykjanesbraut via Kaldárselsveg.

The school's philosophical foundation is based on a Professional Learning Community, where everyone learns together and the emphasis is on active participation in developing a strong school programme. We emphasise democracy, initiative and a zest for life in our daily interactions, and aim to enhance the children's skills and abilities through play. The school's policy is based on Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences and Responsive Education. We want to create a good working atmosphere where everyone can enjoy themselves and contribute. 

The nursery's motto is: RESPECT – CARING – JOY

The nursery shares a building with a primary school, a music school, a sports hall and a library, which offers a diverse and ever-developing range of collaborations. 

The nurseries of Hafnarfjörður have introduced improved working hours, based on a 36-hour working week for all staff. Staff in the Association of Early Years Educators and the Association of Occupational Therapists have opted for an arrangement whereby their academic year is comparable to that of primary school teachers. These staff members therefore take reduced working hours around Christmas and New Year, during the winter break in primary schools, in the week before Easter, and with longer periods off in the summer.

Key responsibilities and duties:

• Works on and is responsible for the upbringing and education of nursery children in accordance with the duties of the department manager.
• Responsible for the management, planning, implementation and evaluation of the department's professional work.
• Manages the daily work of the department and is responsible for the communication of information within the department, between the nursery's departments, and between the head teacher and the department. 
• Responsible for ensuring the school curriculum is followed and that all children receive teaching, care and/or special tuition as required.
• Responsible for ensuring that parents/guardians are informed about the child's development and well-being, and the activities that take place on the unit.
• Organises collaboration with the parents/guardians of the children on the unit, e.g. settling-in, daily communication and parent-teacher conferences.
• Other tasks as per the job description and as assigned by a superior.

 Educational and competency requirements:

• Teacher's licence (Licence to accompany application)
• Experience as a nursery manager is desirable. 
• Communication and teamwork skills
• Initiative, independence in working methods and professional ambition
• Good computer skills
• A good command of Icelandic is required – C1 proficiency level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Job benefits:

• Fitness grant
• Travel grant 
• 75% discount on nursery fees
• Priority for nursery school
• Library card
• Swimming map

A condition of employment is that the applicant has a clean criminal record.

If staff with a teaching qualification cannot be found, it may be considered to appoint a university graduate or an individual with experience of working with children, in accordance with Act No. 95/2019. We encourage interested applicants to apply, even if they do not have a teaching qualification.

Salary is in accordance with the collective agreement between the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities and the Association of Early Childhood Educators.

Further information about the job is provided by Berglind Kristjánsdóttir Nursery manager on 527 7380

The application deadline is 25 June 2026.

Attention is drawn to the policy of the City of Hafnarfjörður to equalise the gender balance in employment with the city and to ensure that its workplaces reflect the diversity of the community.