Head of Health Service 80 - 100%

02 February 2026
80 – 100%
Dietikon

Job summary

Join the Leitung Gesundheitsdienst team in Zurich's justice system. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact health care for incarcerated individuals.

Tasks

Lead the health services at GFL and GFH with 450 positions.
Ensure psychosomatic care for incarcerated individuals effectively.
Foster teamwork and collaboration among health professionals.

Skills

Diploma in nursing with extensive experience, preferably in emergency care.
Strong communication and strategic thinking skills are essential.
Ability to work in a diverse and intercultural setting is vital.

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About the job

Head of Health Service 80 - 100%

Correctional Services and Reintegration (JuWe) is part of the Directorate of Justice and the Interior of the Canton of Zurich and is responsible for penal and measure enforcement as well as the implementation of various types of detention. For our 1,400 employees from around 40 professions, the successful social reintegration of offenders and the prevention of recidivism are of particular importance.

The newly created Medical Service main department ensures the medical-somatic basic care for incarcerated persons in all correctional institutions of the Canton of Zurich. As a central organizational unit, it guarantees a harmonized and high-quality health care according to the equivalence principle and works closely with the Psychiatric-Psychological Service and the JuWe institutions.

One of these institutions is the Limmattal Prison (GFL), located in the district building Dietikon, which together with the Horgen Prison Department (GFH) offers 121 places for inmates. In addition to a department for adult inmates, the GFL has a strictly separated youth department as well as a crisis intervention department.

We are looking for a competent leader who will actively lead and support the health service of both institutions, GFL and GFH. The position is limited until 31.12.2031.

This is your field of activity
- You take over the personnel and professional management of the health service at both locations (Dietikon and Horgen) with a total of 450 full-time equivalents
- Together with your team, you ensure the psychosomatic basic care of the incarcerated persons
- You coordinate the collaboration within your team and strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation within the institutions
- You work closely with internal and external partners
- You ensure administrative tasks such as documentation, reporting, and information management
- You contribute to the further development of the health service department and thus to progressive pre-trial detention

Your profile
- You have a diploma as a nursing specialist and bring several years of practical experience – preferably in emergency care, forensics, or psychiatry
- Ideally, you have already gained some leadership experience or are motivated to develop further in this area
- You like to take responsibility in a heterogeneous and intercultural context
- Strong communication skills, strategic thinking, high social competence, de-escalation ability, and a willingness to innovate complete your profile
- Ideally, you have a driver’s license and your own car to move efficiently between the two locations
- You have an impeccable reputation (no entries in the criminal record and debt enforcement register)

Our offer
- A demanding, interesting, and versatile task in an unusual working environment
- Careful induction into your new area of responsibility as well as a reliable supportive team
- Attractive employment conditions according to cantonal guidelines await you

Your application
Take the next step in your professional career with us and send us your application via our online tool. We look forward to receiving your dossier!

Any questions? Daniel Bosshart, prison director, is happy to assist you at 043 258 21 00. For questions about the application process, the Recruitment & Assessment team is happy to help at 043 258 34 28.

JuWe uses an online assessment as part of the application process. Further information about our recruitment process and employment at JuWe can be found at Working at JuWe | Canton of Zurich (zh.ch).