Dean of Higher Education (University Centre Leeds)

We have a fantastic opportunity for someone to join us in a strategic leadership role at the University Centre, Leeds, as Dean of Higher Education.

The Dean of Higher Education (HE) at the University Centre plays a key strategic leadership role, both within the Luminate Education Group and externally. This role focuses on growing and aligning the University Centre’s curriculum with regional and national priorities while increasing student numbers and stakeholder engagement. As part of the Luminate Senior Leadership Team, the Dean will drive improvements in outcomes, quality, and student experience, fostering a culture of excellence and ensuring strong financial performance.

This is an exciting time to join us, as with construction underway, we prepare to move into new purpose built premises situated in Mabgate in the next couple of years.

What You Will Do

• Provide visible and effective leadership both at University Centre and across the group.
• Ensure that the academic and regulatory infrastructure meets OfS and QAA. requirements in order to achieve/maintain relevant awarding powers.
• Represent the University Centre on regional and national committees. 
• Lead on the design and organisation of the curriculum.
• Ensure the continued development and implementation of an active research community.
• Ensure effective marketing and a strong reputation of University Centre regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement.

About You

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent.
• Hold a Masters or other relevant Postgraduate qualification.
• An excellent understanding of pedagogy, particularly in relation to HE.
• Recent, successful experience of operating at a senior level in higher education provision and developing and leading highly effective teams to secure good, outstanding/excellent and/or improving outcomes as well as improving teaching, learning and assessment.
• An excellent understanding of all relevant quality requirements including Ofsted, OfSQAA and associated improvement strategies.
• Strong financial acumen.

INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE IN LEEDS ON 4TH OCTOBER 2024

For further information about the role please contact Bill Jones -  bill.jones@luminate.ac.uk

Benefits

We offer a range of great benefits, including:

• Generous Annual leave entitlement - If you work full time, you'll get at least 39 days holiday plus bank holidays. This includes closure days at Christmas (pro rata for part time staff).
• Support Staff 39 days
• Academic 44 days
• Senior Management 44 days
• Excellent Pension schemes
• Teachers’ Pension Scheme 
• Local Government Pension Scheme 
• Memberships and discounts - employees can sign up to various membership cards and discount schemes such as TOTUM card (formerly NUS card). 
• Travel and commuting - discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.
• Learning and development opportunities - including staff development days
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities - this will vary depending on role requirements

About Us

University Centre Leeds, through its forerunner colleges, has been delivering high quality higher education provision since 1997 when it started delivering a small number of Higher National Diplomas. The provision developed over the years with expansions to the programme portfolio both in response to market demand and to provide suitable progression opportunities for Leeds City College’s Level 3 provision.

Higher Education (HE) is a significant aspect of the mission of Luminate Education Group (Luminate). Luminate is a national provider of education, skills, training and employability opportunities and has developed extensive provision which is not provided elsewhere through more traditional HEIs. UCLeeds' HE Strategy is based on a sound vision for HE, fully aligned to the vision and mission of Luminate, and a self-critical review and assessment of current performance which has led to the creation of achievable, realistic business/operational plans for HE.

UCLeeds has held Foundation Degree Awarding Powers (FDAP) since 2019 and has recently been successful in its application to extend these powers to include Bachelor Degrees (BDAP).

UCLeeds consistently performs highly in the National Student Survey (NSS) with 2023/24 results being particularly strong in Teaching (92%), Learning Opportunities (89.3%), Assessment and Feedback (88.8%) and Academic Support (89.1%).  

Following the gaining of FDAP the transition of validating arrangements for the FD provision was managed carefully, as a result of which external validating arrangements now primarily cover a single 3- year undergraduate award, ITT and Masters provision. The validating partner for this provision is the Open University, with this partnership being established in 2017. This has proven to be a successful partnership which has facilitated support for the development of UCLeeds' academic infrastructure, which was commented positively on during the BDAP process and confirmed as being effective.

UCLeeds celebrated receiving a ‘Good’ grade from Ofsted for its teacher training provision in March 2023. The report praised the organisation’s specialist teachers and mentors for the quality of the curriculum, which ensures that trainees meet the requirements and expectations of professional teachers. The report also noted that trainees are well supported and developed as teachers across the group and understand how they can promote equality and inclusion through their work. 

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow the Safer Recruitment requirements and best practice as set out within Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recruitment is key to our Group’s values. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, where every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and equity. Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure equal opportunities, remove bias, and promote a diverse talent pool. We continually assess and improve our practices to ensure that every individual, regardless of background, has an equal chance to succeed. By championing EDI, we aim to create a workforce that reflects the richness of our communities and drives innovation through diverse perspectives. To find out more about what our commitment to EDI means to us please Click here to learn more about our EDI objectives.