Apr 19, 2017 - development of higher level and degree apprenticeships and further ... blends education, research and pro
APPLICATION PACK
DEAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION April 2017
ABOUT US Located on our Colchester campus UCC offers a range of degrees, higher level and professional qualifications including Higher Nationals and Higher Apprenticeships and postgraduate study. Developed in partnership with employers and professional awarding bodies, our courses are designed to meet local and regional skills priorities and enable students to experience current industry practice.
WITH OVER 11,000 STUDENTS AND 1,200 STAFF, COLCHESTER INSTITUTE IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF GENERAL FURTHER EDUCATION,
For fifty years we have equipped thousands of students with the skills they have needed to realise their aspirations and helped students of all backgrounds exceed their potential.
HIGHER EDUCATION, AND SKILLS TRAINING IN THE REGION.
The 1,100 students who study at UCC, not only enjoy the use of their own building and study facilities but also have access to a range of social, sporting and study facilities at the University of Essex, just a few miles away. Students studying at UCC value their small teaching groups and ready access to academic staff who know their students well and provide individualised support and guidance.
We operate across three main campuses in Colchester, Braintree and Clacton, each with their own individual atmosphere and characteristics, along with a number of other learning sites in north Essex. In 2016 Colchester Institute successfully applied to deliver its degree provision under the name of University Centre Colchester (UCC), recognising fifty years of excellence in delivering degrees and the success of our employer-led, research driven courses.
Our main Colchester campus is located in the heart of Britain’s oldest recorded town and Roman capital. Just a five minute walk from the main town centre, it is easily accessible by road and rail via the A12/A120 and Colchester North station, which is served by direct trains from London Liverpool Street, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich.
The majority of our courses are validated by our partner university - University of Essex. We have ambitious growth plans which include a greater focus on the development of higher level and degree apprenticeships and further postgraduate study.
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THE ROLE OF THE DEAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION JOB TITLE: DEAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION REPORTING TO: EXECUTIVE VICE PRINCIPAL: CURRICULUM, PLANNING AND QUALITY ›› As one of the largest and most successful colleges in Essex, Colchester Institute is currently seeking an inspirational leader to undertake the role of Dean at the College’s University Centre (UCC), to lead on the development and delivery of its higher education curriculum. With approximately 11,000 students overall, the College is situated in North Essex, and benefits from excellent links regionally. As Dean of UCC, you will lead a dynamic curriculum offer incorporating undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, diplomas, professional awards and higher/degree apprenticeships. You will work closely with our validating partner, University of Essex, and with employers and other stakeholders, to ensure a high quality provision which addresses local, regional and national priorities and provides students with an outstanding Higher Education experience. The successful candidate will possess an excellent academic profile together with sound business skills and a proven determination to succeed. The ability to influence and motivate others is essential, as is a proven track record of successful achievement against performance targets. Closing Date: 19 April 2017 Interview Date: 27/28 April 2017
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THE ROLE OF THE DEAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION PURPOSE STATEMENT ›› The responsibility of the post holder will be to provide inspirational leadership and direction for the development, delivery and academic standards of Higher Education at University Centre Colchester (UCC), and to generate an academic culture that blends education, research and professional practice. The post holder will deliver the Higher Education strategic objectives, and be responsible for meeting related financial targets through effective business planning and informing marketing strategies. A priority will be to ensure a first class student experience and an employer-led Higher Education curriculum which attracts and retains students and provides appropriate progression into further study or employment, meeting local and national needs. As a member of the College Senior Leadership Team (SLT), to demonstrate strategic planning and operational and academic leadership for the Higher Education Schools and wider Higher Education staff.
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THE ROLE OF THE DEAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAIN DUTIES Strategic ›› To drive development and delivery of a high quality, innovative, Higher Education curriculum to include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees; higher diplomas and certificates; professional qualifications and higher/degree apprenticeships. ›› To cultivate an academic culture and Higher Education community able to deliver the strategic aspirations of UCC and Colchester Institute. ›› To plan and market Higher Education provision effectively to ensure that College growth targets for all Higher Education streams are met. ›› To set high level income and expenditure budgets and to ensure that financial targets are reached. ›› To develop the Higher Education Strategic Plan to ensure that HE provision is sustainable and dynamic and is responsive to Government policy, LEP strategy, employer needs and in line with the wider aspirations of the College and its validating partner. ›› To chair a range of academic and strategic meetings and prepare reports, business plans and proposals for Committees including College Executive, Academic Boards and Governing Body Committees. ›› To work with the Head of UCC Operations, to liaise with external agencies and funding bodies, including HEFCE, QAA, OFFA and OiA to provide returns, assurances, agreements and other requirements as appropriate. ›› To manage partnerships associated with the delivery of Higher Education. ›› To contribute to the broader academic and strategic leadership of the College and to undertake other senior leader duties as required.
Performance and Resource Management ›› To provide leadership to the Management Team and the wider Higher Education staff in UCC and to ensure staff working within UCC are recruited, managed and developed to meet the needs of the organisation. ›› To undertake performance and development reviews with direct reports; to ensure the effective implementation of development reviews with the wider staff; and to ensure staff development is directly aligned and measured against key priorities. ›› To champion the engagement of staff in all aspects of academic life, leading by example, to ensure a strong and entrepreneurial culture which supports excellence in teaching, learning and assessment and secures new and sustainable income streams. ›› To lead a high performing team within UCC with a clear focus on recruitment, continuation, achievement and destinations, in line with agreed College targets. ›› To work with the Marketing Department to ensure a robust marketing strategy for Higher Education provision is regularly reviewed, in order to meet recruitment targets.
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THE ROLE OF THE DEAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAIN DUTIES Learning, Teaching and Assessment ›› To promote and assure effective learning for every student through high quality teaching and assessment which is innovative, flexible, and which meets the needs of a wide range of learners including those with specific identified needs. ›› To work with the Assistant Principal, Quality and Teaching and Learning, to evaluate and enhance the quality of teaching and assessment, through processes such as peer observation, student evaluation, sharing of practice and professional development. ›› To ensure a comprehensive range of student support to enable barriers to learning or to physical access to be overcome. ›› To lead development of flexible delivery and assessment models to meet the needs of employers, particularly with regard to higher and degree apprenticeships.
Quality Assurance and Enhancement ›› To ensure that quality assurance measures secure positive outcomes in the Teaching Excellence Framework and the Annual Provider Review, and provide readiness for any other external quality review. ›› To promote a culture of continuous quality improvement, ensuring that best practice is disseminated and shared and that teaching and assessment is of the highest standard. ›› To promote and develop research, scholarly activity and professional practice to assure the effective delivery of education up to Level 7, with particular attention to the enhancement of the quality of the student experience and employability. ›› To undertake regular external performance benchmarking across the full range of Higher Education provision, both against other Further Education Colleges and Universities and in comparison with ‘best in sector’, to inform continual improvement. ›› To work with the Heads of School and the Vice Principal Curriculum and Delivery to achieve good levels of internal progression to meet College target.
Curriculum Development ›› To ensure the development of a high quality curriculum and progression offer to meet the needs of students, employers and the local community, and which improves employability for UCC Graduates. ›› To align, deliver and evaluate the Higher Education Curriculum Plan in order to ensure that it provides a dynamic and sustainable curriculum offer including articulation with our own or our partner university’s postgraduate offer. ›› To build strong and sustainable business partnerships through employer panels and other employer links, which result in increased student recruitment and employability skills. ›› To develop strong links with Higher Education Institutions and stakeholder groups and work collaboratively to ensure the College contributes to the achievement of local and national education and training targets.
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THE ROLE OF THE DEAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAIN DUTIES Research and scholarly activity ›› To undertake personal and institutional research that underpins and informs the curriculum offer. ›› To foster and develop an HE community with research, scholarly activity and professional practice at its heart, to assure the effective delivery of education with particular attention to the enhancement of the quality of the student experience and employability. ›› To ensure that the Higher Education curriculum is research-led, and provides the academic rigor outlined in the strategic aims of the College and its validating partner. ›› Undertaking such other duties as may reasonably be required by or on behalf of the Colchester Institute provided that they are consistent with the nature of the post. ›› Work to promote and apply the College’s Equality and Diversity Policy and Practices. ›› Work to promote and apply the College’s Safeguarding policy and practices. This job description is a guide to the duties that the postholder will be expected to undertake. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive and will be subject to change as working requirements dictate and to meet the organisational requirements of Colchester Institute.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS/ TRAINING ESSENTIAL ›› Masters Degree ›› PGCE or other relevant teaching qualification
DESIRABLE ›› PhD or Professional Doctorate
KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL ›› Significant management and leadership experience across the full breadth of the qualifications framework ›› Significant experience of strategic leadership and a successful track record of collaborative working internally and externally ›› Experience of leading and managing cultural change within an education environment ›› Proven track record of management of a large and diverse team, including appraising and developing staff ›› Experience of strategic planning to deliver sustainable organisation improvement against College targets ›› Experience of all aspects of quality processes including assurance and enhancement, including a thorough understanding of the QAA Code and its practical implementation. ›› Experience of effective resource deployment to meet both quality and financial sustainability ›› Experience of business planning and budget management
DESIRABLE ›› Experience of development of higher and degree apprenticeships ›› A demonstrable track record of publication (academic or professional) and/or evidence of professional standing
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PERSON SPECIFICATION SKILLS/ABILITIES ESSENTIAL ›› Excellent interpersonal, leadership and high level communication skills, including the ability to support, influence, motivate and inspire teams and individuals ›› Experience of successful leadership of academic and business support staff to deliver high quality education and training ›› Demonstration of curriculum development linked to employer needs and student employability ›› Proven ability to bring new ideas and initiatives that enhance the curriculum offer and the student experience ›› Excellent strategic planning skills and the ability to think creatively to provide solutions ›› Very good analytical and written communication skills and the ability to produce written reports for a range of audiences to a high standard. ›› Proven skills in presenting information and ideas in a clear and convincing manner to internal and external stakeholders. ›› Ability to manage change and act as a role model for leadership
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL ›› A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults ›› A commitment to upholding the College’s Equality and Diversity agenda. ›› Willing to work flexibly ›› Willing to undertake travel as required ›› Participating in occasional out of hours activity such as Evening Management Duty
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FURTHER INFORMATION
SALARY
or by post to: Human Resources Colchester Institute Sheepen Road Colchester CO3 3LL
Circa £55k
HOURS Full Time, 37 hours per week
Interviews will be held on 27/28 April 2017
STAFF BENEFITS Access to the Teachers Pension Scheme, a defined benefit pension scheme, annual leave of 35 days plus bank holidays. In addition, access to a childcare voucher, cycle to work scheme, as well as access to retail discount schemes locally and nationally. Discounted bus and train travel is available for staff as part of our Travel to Work scheme. We have an active Staff Association Scheme and Staff Wellbeing programme, access to a range of staff development initiatives, including staff discounts for Colchester Institute, UCC and University of Essex courses. There is also access to an extensive range of on site services including award winning restaurant facilities.
APPLICATIONS Applications can be submitted on a Colchester Institute application form, see www.colchester.ac.uk/jobs for further details, or by sending a CV with a covering letter. Please submit by post or email no later than 1pm on 19 April 2017, quoting reference 16 -120 to:
[email protected]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Colchester Institute is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will also be asked to declare activities since leaving school, plus declaration or not of criminal convictions, as required under the College’s commitment to safeguarding and safer recruitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. You must therefore disclose spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings. The amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’ and are not subject to disclosure, and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found at the Disclosure and Barring Service website. If offered the post, we will need to obtain a Disclosure and Barring check satisfactory to us. Thank you for your interest in joining Colchester Institute.
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