Head of Department for Psychology and Counselling

Remote-based work within the UK with very occasional travel to one of our UK Campuses (Birmingham, Leeds, London or Manchester) or our Coventry Head Office.

About Arden University
Arden University is an award-winning institution with a bold vision to disrupt the higher education sector. We are passionate about innovation, digital education, and ensuring lifelong learning is accessible to everyone, everywhere. As we expand into new disciplines, forge global partnerships, and open new locations, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Head of Department to lead the Blended and Distance Learning offering in our rapidly growing School of Psychology. With a focus on counselling psychology, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping outstanding student experiences and outcomes, as well as developing academic and operational excellence within the department.

Key Responsibilities
As Head of Department, you will:

• Lead and embed innovative teaching, assessment, and feedback practices to drive student success.
• Develop and oversee engaging course content and virtual learning resources that challenge and stretch learners.
• Drive student progression and attainment by delivering outstanding rates of continuation and completion.
• Design programme curriculums aligned to industry standards, preparing students for employment or further study.
• Line manage academic staff, including Senior Lecturers, and ensure team performance aligns with strategic goals.
• Represent Arden University externally, promoting our programmes and values at key events.
• Contribute to teaching and academic activities relevant to your area of expertise.

About You
We are looking for a collaborative, student-centred leader with a strong academic and professional background in Psychology, specifically counselling psychology.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• MSc (or equivalent) in Psychology, with Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• HE teaching qualification and/or Fellowship (e.g., PG Cert HE, SFHEA, PFHEA, QTLS/QTS).
• Post-Graduate qualification counselling.
• Industry experience in counselling psychology.
• Proven leadership, people management, and team-building skills.
• A successful track record of leading academic programmes, achieving high levels of Student Experience, Outcomes, and Satisfaction (TEF metrics).
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative environments for teaching, research, and industry-focused activities.

Desirable Skills & Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent Level 7 qualification.
• Management training or qualifications showcasing leadership capabilities

Closing Date: 5 January 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date should we receive sufficient applications or in order to respond to business needs. In order to avoid missing an opportunity to apply please submit your application as early as possible.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that if you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you can indicate via the application form below. By doing so, you are also consenting for this information to be shared with the hiring team. For more details on what qualifies as a disability under the Disability Equality Act 2010, please refer to the guidance here.

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