Subject Lead: FE and Skills

Director of the Institute of Education and Skills

£59,688 to £74,610 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £85,802 per annum).

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise - to make a positive impact. Through our ground breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 - making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

At the University of Derby, our Institute of Education and Skills (IoE&S) is at the heart of shaping the educators, trainers, and leaders of tomorrow. We are dedicated to inspiring, developing, and empowering professionals across education, training, and lifelong learning to transform lives and communities.

We deliver high quality programmes that span teacher training, post 16 education, early years, educational leadership, and workforce development. By combining academic expertise with real world application, we prepare our students to make an impact in diverse educational settings.

Our staff are committed to innovation, inclusion, and excellence; engaging learners with cutting edge research, sector leading practice, and a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. We are proud to work with schools, colleges, training providers and employers across the region and beyond, ensuring that our teaching is grounded in the needs of society and industry; leading to our OFSTED rating of 'Outstanding' for our Initial Teacher Training and Education (ITTE).

Whether through developing the next generation of teachers, enhancing workforce skills, or advancing educational research, the Institute of Education and Skills plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of education.

About University of Derby Buxton

University of Derby Buxton is a vibrant and unique campus set in the heart of the Peak District, combining a rich history with a forward looking approach to education. Based in the iconic Devonshire Dome, the Buxton campus is home to specialist programmes such as hospitality, culinary arts, events, tourism, and hair and beauty.

The campus is designed to provide students with hands on, real world learning experiences, supported by industry standard facilities and strong links to local, national, and international employers. With its blend of practical training, academic expertise, and professional partnerships, Buxton offers an environment where students can develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel in dynamic and competitive industries.

Set within the stunning natural landscape of Derbyshire, the campus also offers an inspiring backdrop for study and personal growth. At Buxton, students are encouraged to explore, innovate and thrive, making it an exceptional place to learn and build a successful future.

University of Derby Buxton is rated 'Good'by OFSTED in all inspection areas, including teaching, learning & assessment, outcomes for learners, personal development, behaviour & welfare; and has a team of dedicated staff who take pride in supporting learners towards their study and career goals. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our team on our journey to becoming an outstanding provider.

Ambitious and forward looking, the IoES is entering an exciting phase of growth. We are expanding and strengthening our FE and Skills provision across Buxton, Chesterfield and the Nuclear Skills Academy, responding to regional and national priorities and working closely with industry to deliver future focused curricula.

Working in close partnership with the Director of IoES and senior colleagues, you will provide strategic leadership across our FE & Skills provision, driving exceptional student experiences and outcomes. You will lead and develop high performing teams, championing excellence in teaching, curriculum innovation, industry engagement and scholarly activity.

With a strong focus on impact and continuous improvement, you will oversee performance, inspire professional growth and ensure provision meets - and exceeds - sector leading standards. You will also play a key role in strengthening external partnerships, supporting academic enterprise and identifying new opportunities for growth and innovation.

This is a unique opportunity to lead change, influence practice and make a lasting contribution to FE & Skills at a progressive, values led university.

The Institute of Education and Skills is seeking an inspirational Subject Lead for FE & Skills to shape the future of our FE & Skills provision.

You will be an experienced and values driven leader with a strong track record in FE and Skills and a passion for delivering exceptional student outcomes. You will bring senior level leadership experience, with the credibility to lead, inspire and challenge teams across a complex educational portfolio.

You will have substantial experience of line management, curriculum leadership and quality assurance, with a clear understanding of FE/apprenticeship policy, regulation and performance frameworks. A collaborative and strategic thinker, you will be confident working with senior stakeholders, industry partners and central university teams, using data and insight to drive continuous improvement.

Essential for success in the role:

• Proven leadership and management experience within FE and/or Apprenticeship and Skills provision
• Strong understanding of quality, compliance and performance management
• Ability to lead people through change and inspire high performance
• Commitment to inclusive practice, professional development and the University's values

A relevant teaching qualificationand significant sector experience are essential, alongside the credibility to lead through teaching, scholarship and professional engagement.

This is an opportunity to join a university that is bold in its vision, collaborative in its culture and committed to innovation, impact and learner/apprentice success. If you want to help shape the future of FE and Skills within a supportive, high performing institute, the Institute of Education and Skills at Derby is the place to do it.

• Provide strong, inspiring and collaborative leadership, create a positive team spirit, maximise people potential and engagement across the Subject area and wider University, so as to foster a vibrant and innovative academic community.
• Enhance the full range of academic activities across FE & Skills provision, including teaching and learning, impactful research, professional development, industry engagement academic enterprise and scholarly activity.
• Undertake sector horizon scanning and benchmarking performance against competitors to enhance the strength and performance of FE & Skills provision.
• Lead the development of the FE & Skills curriculum and Business Plans, ensuring that curriculum has a clearly defined purpose and intent, promoting a culture of excellence in collaborative learning.
• Seek out and deploy, where appropriate, sector best practice in efficient and innovative delivery staff deployment, guiding and directing Curriculum Leaders to maximise efficiency while maintaining high standards.
• Maximise the efficiency of course delivery by utilising cross curriculum, shared delivery and where possible, module substitution to maintain agreed average cost/income ratios.
• Ensure that health, safety, wellbeing, safeguarding, Prevent, numeracy, literacy, British values, employability and other strategies are embedded into the operational and delivery plans for the FE & Skills curriculum; nurturing a culture of integration and inclusion.
• Working with the University Designated and Deputy Safeguarding Leads, ensure that practices and procedures are in place and maintained for safeguarding learners/apprentices and staff.
• Maintain and enhance the FE & Skills profile, reputation and innovative practice, through collaborative partnerships locally and where appropriate regionally and nationally.
• Represent our FE & Skills provision externally with commercial, industrial and political organisations.
• Actively foster collaborative relationships with the Registry and other Professional Support Service Departments to ensure the needs of the Subject areas within the Institute are being supported.
• To lead teams and activities to ensure a challenging and supported learner/apprentice experience which inspires them to achieve academically to their highest potential.
• Promote and embed the University's core values with specific emphasis on quality, employability, and social mobility.
• Actively contribute to the Institute Leadership Team to provide effective academic leadership.

Management

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