Kanton Zürich
Zürich
4 weeks ago
Lead Psychologist (Deputy Head of Department StEF) 80 - 100%
- 23 January 2026
- 80 – 100%
- Zürich
Job summary
Join the Psychiatrisch-Psychologische Dienst in Zürich, a leading institution. This is a unique opportunity to shape forensic therapy and rehabilitation.
Tasks
- Collaborate on leadership within the StEF team for effective treatment.
- Lead social work and psychotherapy teams, ensuring quality care.
- Develop and maintain quality management in forensic settings.
Skills
- Recognized psychotherapist with experience in adult psychiatry.
- Strong communication skills and team leadership experience.
- Interest in forensic treatment principles and interdisciplinary work.
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About the job
Lead Psychologist (Deputy Head of Department StEF) 80 - 100%Justice Enforcement and Reintegration (JuWe) Zurich is an office of the Directorate of Justice and the Interior of the Canton of Zurich and employs around 1,400 people from diverse professions. JuWe is primarily responsible for the enforcement of court judgments and the execution of pre-trial detention. For the employees of the office, preventing recidivism and the successful social reintegration of offenders is of particular importance.
The Psychiatric-Psychological Service (PPD) is one of seven main departments of JuWe and one of the largest institutions for forensic psychotherapy and psychiatry in Switzerland. Around 70 professionals from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, milieu therapy, and administration are responsible for the treatment of offenders certified according to the ISO 9001:2015 quality standard. The broad range of services includes treatments in dyadic, group, and milieu therapeutic settings within the framework of court-ordered measures as well as disorder-specific therapies of basic psychiatric care. A focus of treatment is relapse-preventive offense-oriented psychotherapy for violent and sexual offenders in custody and in freedom. The PPD is recognized by the Swiss Institute for Medical Continuing and Further Education as a training center in forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy, category A.
In the area of inpatient adult forensic care (StEF), a treatment team of around 25 psychologists and milieu therapists cares for clients with court-ordered inpatient measures according to Art. 59 of the Swiss Criminal Code. Forensic treatment is embedded in a detailed quality management system and is built sequentially, with case-related work primarily carried out in the milieu therapeutic setting on the measure ward of the Forensic Psychiatric Department (FPA) in core teams.
Due to a change in function of the current position holder, we are looking for a Lead Psychologist (Deputy Head of Department StEF) to start immediately or by arrangement.
Your tasks
- Professional, conceptual, and organizational collaboration in the management team of the StEF area, consisting of three people
- Deputy to the head of the StEF area
- Personnel and professional leadership of the social work and psychotherapy specialist teams
- Ensuring the proper implementation of offense-preventive treatments in individual and group settings (including diagnostics, prognosis, reporting, documentation, and if necessary crisis intervention)
- Implementation and further development of comprehensive quality management in the StEF area
- Active cooperation and interdisciplinary networking, especially with the partners of the Pöschwies Correctional Facility and probation and enforcement services
Your profile
- Recognition as a federal psychotherapist with a professional practice license in the Canton of Zurich and health insurance approval
- Solid experience in adult psychiatry, preferably in a forensic context
- Deep interest in forensic issues and modern forensic treatment principles
- Competence and experience in cooperative leadership of a therapeutic team
- Strong communication skills and affinity for networked, interdisciplinary collaboration
Our offer
- Varied forensic-therapeutic field of work
- Careful introduction to your new area of work and leadership role
- Team-based working method with regular interdisciplinary supervision and intervision
- Extensive opportunities for (internal and external) further training
- A working atmosphere characterized by appreciation and mutual interest
- Employment relationship according to cantonal guidelines
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.
Do you have questions? Tabea Strässle, Head of StEF, is happy to be your contact person at 043 257 16 65.
Questions about the application process will be answered by the Recruitment & Assessment team at 043 258 34 28.
As part of the application process, JuWe uses an online assessment. Further information about our recruitment process and employment at JuWe can be found at Working at JuWe | Canton of Zurich (zh.ch).
