Head of School - Foundation Degrees (FdA and FdSC)

Salary: £78,000

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Director of Academic Persistence

Department: Academic Persistence

Travel will be required into the following locations:

• Coventry head office
• Birmingham campus
• Leeds campus
• Nottingham campus
• Manchester campus
• London area (Stratford, Holborn & Ealing)
• Newcastle campus

Closing Date: 3rd May (midnight)

About the Opportunity

The Head of the School of Foundation Degrees is responsible for the three Foundation Degrees we have in the university. The Head of School will be required to help drive student outcomes across the multiple versions of the Foundation Degree (in FdA Business & Innovation, FdSc Health and Care Management and FdSc Computing & Digital Futures) and deliver impact in key areas that support the strategic development of the Centre.

The Head of School will provide academic leadership within the school and line manage the relevant Head of Departments(s) and potentially other members of the academic team. They will be accountable for recruitment of outstanding academic staff to the various departments.

They will drive outstanding quality features within Student Experience including teaching, feedback, and assessment practices, course content and delivery. They will also look to achieve fantastic student outcomes, measured across rates continuation and completion for learners as well as setting tailored departmental targets for Head of Departments to achieve outstanding student progression.

About You

Key skills / experience:

• Masters' level and/or Professional qualification relevant to the School.
• Recognised HE teaching qualification and/or Fellowship (e.g.: PG Cert HE, SFHEA, PFHEA QTLS/QTS Secondary).
• A clear vision of academic excellence within the ethos of the school.
• Up-to-date knowledge of current trends and policy within field of academic skills in higher education.
• A successful track record of leading academic portfolios at different levels/modes of study, ensuring relevant portfolios deliver high levels of Student Experience and Student Outcomes (TEF metrics), as well as Student Satisfaction (internal and external surveys).
• Proven track record in leadership and people management skills, encompassing managing high-performance professionals, team building, direction setting and change management.
• Experience of successful budget and resource management including P&L responsibilities.
• In-depth understanding of the professional development market within the overarching school portfolio.
• Established professional and external networks and experience of effective collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Proven experience of building strong relationships and engaging productively with a diverse range of stakeholders in the public, private, corporate, and voluntary sectors.
• Credibility in a relevant academic discipline. A track record of scholarly work, consultancy and/or relevant professional experience at an appropriate level.
• Experience of working outside the HE sector in a corporate, SME or entrepreneurial environment, in an area relevant to the School.
• A demonstrable understanding of the way big data and digital technologies are impacting upon the sectors and industries relevant to the School.
• In-depth understanding of the current challenges to the HE sector and how these can be addressed in the context of the School.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• A PhD or other Level 7 qualifications
• Management training/qualification demonstrating the ability to lead others.

Why Arden

At Arden, you will become part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible.

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure!
• A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
• SimplyHealth plan option
• Private Medical Insurance coverage (applies to certain job roles)
• Access to Perkbox benefits
• Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends
• Plus, other excellent benefits
• Our 'Golden Ticket' which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education.

Our Values

Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.

Sponsorship statement

Please be aware that some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa under the points-based immigration system. However, we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.