Head of School - Art Provision

We are looking for an engaging and passionate Head of School to join our Bradford School of Art on a fixed-term contract until 31st July 2025.

This is an important Curriculum Management role that will have responsibility for all operational matters within both the FE & HE Curriculum. This role has a clear focus on curriculum development and delivery as well as performance management. You will ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of students, the business, and the community and that students receive an outstanding learning experience while ensuring quality, recruitment, staffing, and financial targets are met. As a manager leading a curriculum area, you will provide inspirational leadership for staff and students and embed our values: Trustworthiness, Inclusivity & Excellence.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead the curriculum team to develop, deliver and sustain a curriculum that meets the needs of students, stakeholders and the community.
• Develop an outstanding student experience for all learners, working with student support services to ensure all learners are supported to achieve their potential.
• Work to develop and sustain stakeholder partnerships to raise the profile of the School and enhance the student experience.
• Lead the development of innovative courses which diversify the School’s portfolio and are inclusive in their content, delivery and market appeal.
• Ensure the School develops its position as a key regional partner in the cultural landscape of the Bradford region – working to support Bradford 2025 and its legacy and to raise the profile of careers in the creative industries.
• Work with the Head of Department to meet the college’s strategic priorities through the business planning cycle.
• Constantly strive to improve the student experience to further extend opportunities and progression for further study internally/externally or into employment.
• Through a network of internal and external partners, ensure high-quality student enhancement and enrichment opportunities.
• Responsibility for the day-to-day expenditure of the School in line with the budget allocation, to ensure the resources are in place to offer students a quality experience.
• Maximise student enrolments each academic year and achieve planned growth.
• Identifying new business opportunities and developing innovative strategies to maximise recruitment and boost income streams.
• Work closely with the Marketing Department to build innovative and creative marketing strategies

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will be learner and quality-focused with a commitment to our vision of working together to transform lives. You should be able to contribute to our journey to Outstanding, creating a positive working and study environment, and, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion should be embedded within your core values.

Education & Training

• A relevant first degree, Level 6 professional qualification.
• A recognised teaching qualification or willingness to work towards this in the first 12 months of employment
• GCSE 4 – 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in Maths or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability and then if appointed achieve within an agreed timescale
• GCSE 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in English or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability and then if appointed achieve within an agreed timescale

Experience

• Experience of working with young people in an arts or education setting
• Experience in successful programme design and development
• Experience leading teams in evaluating quality and performance and in self-assessment.
• Experience in an academic, industrial or commercial setting
• Experience managing human, financial and physical resources.
• Experience working with employers, e.g. about employer engagement or curriculum enhancement/development.

For an informal discussion about the role, please email recruit@bradfordcollege.ac.uk

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early depending on the level of interest and number of applications so early application is advised.

Bradford College

At Bradford College, our ambition is to transform the lives of our learners, help them to aim higher and support them to achieve their goals.

Located in the heart of Bradford, we offer a wide range of courses at varying levels, with something to suit everyone. Undergraduate to postgraduate and professional qualifications to distance learning and short community courses.

We aim to attract and retain knowledgeable, passionate and focused individuals who can inspire, motivate and support both learners and colleagues. With a can-do attitude and desire for continuous self-improvement, you could make a difference in the lives of everyone at Bradford College.

Benefits of working at Bradford College:

• Generous annual leave entitlement – equivalent to 44 days of holidays, plus bank holidays
• Additional college closure days, including 2-week Christmas closure
• Teachers’ Pension scheme, with a generous 23% employer contribution
• Annual salary reviews
• Career progression opportunities – 54% of all vacancies are filled internally
• Free sports and gym facilities
• Free wellbeing initiatives and access to our exclusive staff indoor and outdoor wellbeing space
• Confidential employee assistance service and on-site mental health first aiders
• Access to Bradford College benefits hub, offering retail, travel, leisure and dining discounts and cashback
• Discounts on greener travel – cycle to work scheme & local MetroCard and Northern Rail discounts
• Access to hair and beauty treatments in our student-led Signature Spa
• On-site dining facilities, including our award-winning Grove restaurant
• A host of training development opportunities
• Fantastic campus facilities, a short walk to public transport links in the heart of the City of Culture 2025
• The opportunity to work for an organisation that is truly committed to creating a better future for all through education and training.

*If you have the drive to further develop your skills and abilities, you will be given the support and opportunities you need to enhance your career. This includes access to in-house training and CPD, professional and academic qualifications and mentoring.

Bradford College is committed to supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion amongst our staff and student body. We promote applications across all sections of the community, recognising the benefits a diverse workforce can bring and therefore particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with our statutory safeguarding requirements detailed in Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation, this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, employment references, health screening and social media search.

Please be aware it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children and vulnerable adults.