Kanton Luzern
Luzern
Head of Asylum and Refugee Services (a)
- 21 September 2026
- 100%
- Permanent position
- German (Intermediate)
About the job
The Asylum and Refugee Services department takes responsibility for people and society: As an experienced leader, you will shape perspectives for refugees with around 350 employees and make an important contribution to social cohesion in the canton of Lucerne. You will lead the department in a politically sensitive and dynamic environment, create orientation and trust, and represent clear, comprehensible decisions to politics, municipalities, the federal government and the public.
Your tasks
- You lead the department with around 350 employees across several hierarchical levels. You shape the leadership culture of the department, promote constructive collaboration and create clarity, stability and orientation even in challenging situations within a dynamic environment.
- The core of the role is to ensure lawful, respectful, safe and economical accommodation, care, employment and integration of refugees as well as the implementation of asylum emergency aid.
- With your professional expertise and extensive experience, you provide well-founded advice to the departmental management on all matters relating to asylum and refugee affairs.
- A flexible and efficient organisation of the department as well as the consistent further development of processes and employees—based on openness and trust—characterise your leadership daily routine.
- Trustful collaboration with municipalities, the federal government, cantons and other stakeholders is a key success factor of this role. You understand how to take on different interests, develop viable solutions and communicate constructively and confidently even in demanding situations.
Your profile
- You understand leadership as connecting, clear and development-oriented and create an environment where employees take responsibility and support change. With your forward-looking perspective, you contribute to the continuous development of the organisation.
- Your many years of experience in asylum and refugee affairs, social assistance or the social sector enable you to competently handle the complex tasks of this area.
- A university or university of applied sciences degree or an equivalent qualification, supplemented by solid further training, forms your professional foundation.
- With your strategic, networked thinking, your business understanding and your strong communication skills, you succeed in bringing together different interests and credibly representing the department.
- You have a keen sense for political processes and move confidently in the tension field between administration, municipalities, the federal government and the public. Resilience, pragmatism and the ability to make clear and responsible decisions and communicate them comprehensibly even in demanding situations complete your profile.
What you can look forward to
Our fields of activity are as diverse as we are.
Environment, infrastructure, finance, security, health, education and much more – together we shape the canton of Lucerne.
Environment, infrastructure, finance, security, health, education and much more – together we shape the canton of Lucerne.
With us, you will progress.
We offer attractive and exciting career and development opportunities – both in leadership and for specialists.
We offer attractive and exciting career and development opportunities – both in leadership and for specialists.
We work flexibly and smartly.
Mobile-flexible working is highly valued here. More than half of our employees work part-time and realise their professional goals in harmony with their private commitments.
Mobile-flexible working is highly valued here. More than half of our employees work part-time and realise their professional goals in harmony with their private commitments.
You benefit with us.
Attractive further training offers, discount platforms for employees, mobile and internet offers, Next Bike, fleet discounts, and other benefits.
Attractive further training offers, discount platforms for employees, mobile and internet offers, Next Bike, fleet discounts, and other benefits.
Your employer
Working for the Canton of Lucerne means shaping the future – that of the canton, its residents and not least your own. More than 7,000 employees in 200 different professions contribute daily to the excellent quality of life in our canton.
The Asylum and Refugee Services Department (DAF) of the Health and Social Department is responsible for the strategic and operational management of asylum and refugee affairs in the canton of Lucerne. With its approximately 400 committed employees, the DAF ensures not only accommodation and care but also social assistance for persons from the asylum and refugee sector and promotes their integration into society and the labour market.
The "a" in the job title stands for "all". The canton of Lucerne stands for diversity and variety.
The Asylum and Refugee Services Department (DAF) of the Health and Social Department is responsible for the strategic and operational management of asylum and refugee affairs in the canton of Lucerne. With its approximately 400 committed employees, the DAF ensures not only accommodation and care but also social assistance for persons from the asylum and refugee sector and promotes their integration into society and the labour market.
The "a" in the job title stands for "all". The canton of Lucerne stands for diversity and variety.
Your contact
Government Council
Michaela Tschuor
Government Councillor GSD
Michaela.Tschuor@lu.ch
Department Secretariat
Cornel Kaufmann
Department Secretary
+41 41 228 63 85
Cornel.Kaufmann@lu.ch
