erijuht

Erijuht is an Estonian compound noun meaning “special leader” or “leader of a special operation.” The prefix eri- denotes something special or extraordinary, while juht means a leader or manager. The term is used in Estonian-language contexts to describe a person who directs a task or operation that is considered exceptional, urgent, or outside ordinary procedures. It is not a universal, official title across all organizations; rather, it is a descriptive label that can apply in public safety, civil protection, corporate projects, or media representations when a single person is responsible for coordinating action.

In practice, an erijuht would typically be responsible for setting objectives, organizing and directing resources, coordinating with other agencies or teams, assessing risks, and communicating with stakeholders and the public. The authority and scope of an erijuht depend on the organizational framework: in many cases the role is temporary and situational, with clear delegation from a higher authority, and may be accompanied by deputies or liaison officers.

The term also appears in cultural or journalistic contexts to describe leadership in crisis situations or during high-profile events. In such usage, erijuht denotes the person who acts as the central point of decision-making for the operation at hand.

See also: incident command, crisis management, emergency management, special operations.