Academic Dean

Are you a highly experienced senior academic with excellent knowledge of learning & teaching and quality assurance with a strong commercial awareness?

Have you got experience of the management of at-scale online programmes, as well as face-to-face delivery and the management of international students?

We wish to appoint an Academic Dean, a senior academic management role with a key responsibility for the management of learning & teaching and quality assurance. The role holder will deliver clear leadership, a strong strategic vision and adopt an evidence-based approach to judgements and decisions.

The role holder will lead and advise on the strategic development and enhancement of the curriculum and student experience and bring extensive experience of both distance learning/online and face-to-face pedagogy.  They will have an academic background in a curriculum area central to the institution’s portfolio.

The successful candidate will work with staff within the institution and with external stakeholders, reporting to the Provost, and will have strong intercultural awareness, with significant experience in academic partnerships, corporate partnerships and international higher education. A solid commercial awareness will be central to the role.

Your Tasks:

• In delivering the institution’s strategic and business plans, to ensure that paramount consideration is given to (1) the student experience and student success in the development and delivery of qualifications, curriculum, and teaching; and (2) the demands of external regulation.
• To be an active member of the senior leadership team of the Institution, by collaboratively shaping and influencing institution-wide strategic objectives, initiatives and projects.
• To Chair key academic committees and working groups.
• Leading on institution-wide projects to deliver strategic objectives.
• To use a variety of leadership and influencing behaviours to support the development and management the institution to ensure the delivery of its teaching and research strategies through effective planning and management of resources.
• To line-manage academic and professional services staff.
• To provide leadership for academic innovation.
• Enhancing the of the institution by representing the institution externally, and by encouraging and facilitating other academics to act likewise, to ensure that the Institution has strong academic credibility and standing in the eyes of key external stakeholders.
• To ensure that appropriate structures, tools and processes exist throughout the Institution whereby standards for quality assurance and compliance are maintained at required levels and implementing mitigating actions to manage risks.
• To be familiar with and keep up to date with the UK HE landscape and understand how to position the Institution and its academic endeavours to the best possible advantage within this.
• To identify opportunities for income generation, through diversification of sources and streams in line with Institutional strategy and priorities. 

Based: London/Home Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.  

Your Profile

• Education:PhD in a discipline relevant to the institution plus a PGCE/PGCHE or equivalent qualification or award (e.g. SFHEA). 

• Experience:  Proven track record in senior management at a UK university, with:
  • demonstrable strong commercial awareness in the UK HE context;
  • excellence in teaching and management of teaching, and deep understanding of the student experience and quality assurance gained in a UK university context.
  • evidence of success and innovation in teaching and in the development, design, validation and introduction of new curriculum and delivery models.
  • extensive experience of successfully line-managing academic staff.
  • academic excellence in scholarship demonstrated by relevant publications and/or track record of research and scholarship excellence.
  • experience of successfully developing and managing at-scale online programmes in the UK.
  • experience of leading and managing complex projects involving multiple participants and of working in academic partnerships.
  • proven ability to develop networks and strategic relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
  • demonstrable understanding of leading and managing people to deliver high performance.
  • experience of managing international student cohorts and successfully delivering excellent engagement and outcomes;
  • knowledge of UKVI requirements and experience of successfully managing these 

Please see Job Description for full list of duties and attributes - See button (right or below)  

If you are passionate about helping students on their academic journey and enjoy a role where you can truly make an impact, we would love to hear from you! 

Please send us your application including your CV, a cover letter explaining your suitability for the role, your earliest possible start date and your salary expectations to recruitment@libf.ac.uk via the 'Apply' button. Please note that CVs without a covering letter will not be considered.

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Please note that depending on the applications we receive; we may close the advert early. Due to the high volumes we receive, it may not be possible to respond to all applicants who are unsuccessful.

As part of your salary and benefits package, you’ll receive:

• Buddy scheme
• Buying and selling of annual leave (discretionary and decided on an annual basis)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Generous holiday entitlements, which increase after 2 years service and after 5 years’ service
• Employee assistance scheme
• Employee Volunteering Scheme allowing one free day per year for volunteering
• Exceptional absence days
• Flexible working arrangements
• Free eyesight tests and vouchers towards the purchase of glasses
• Life insurance
• Mentor scheme
• Occupational sick pay
• Onboarding Promise
• Paid time off for appointments
• Pension plan
• Perkbox membership offering employee benefits and discounts
• Private Medical insurance (dependent on job family)
• Season ticket and health club interest-free loans (after successful probation)
• Service recognition
• Social activities
• Training and development opportunities
• ImpAct group (focusing on sustainability)
• Social Committee (events include bowling, karaoke, games nights, quizzes and Summer and Christmas parties)
• Wellbeing Group ( We have worked towards a Wellbeing commitment and activities have included Pilates; Massages; Mindfulness; celebrated Mental Health Week; Breakfast Mornings;  Tea and Cake afternoons etc.)
• Business Member with The Marlowe Theatre 

Closing Date: 22 January 2025

Interview Date: 23/24 January 2025