At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the School of STEM, shaping innovative AI-integrated curricula and driving student success.
- Company: Join Arden University, a forward-thinking institution revolutionising higher education.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days holiday, a generous pension plan, and free courses for you and your family.
- Other info: Remote working with minimal travel; dynamic environment with growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming engineering and technology education for the future.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant field and proven leadership experience in academia required.
The predicted salary is between 83000 - 88000 £ per year.
Salary: £83,000 - £88,000 per annum
Employment type: Permanent
Hours per week: 37
Reporting into: Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology (FoSST)
Department: STEM
This role operates primarily on a remote working arrangement that will require little to no travel into our Coventry head office or Arden campuses. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.
About Arden University
We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education. There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.
About our Department
School of STEM sits at the forefront of Arden University's ambition to redefine higher education for the AI era. Bringing together expertise across computing, engineering, artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies, the School is building a distinctive model of education that is digitally mediated, AI-integrated and designed around the needs of modern learners and employers. Our mission is to develop graduates who are technically excellent, digitally confident and equipped to thrive in increasingly AI-enabled professional environments. Through innovative curriculum design, authentic assessment and close collaboration with industry, we are preparing learners to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of engineering and technology.
About the Opportunity
Reporting to the Dean, you will provide strategic and academic leadership across a diverse portfolio encompassing computing, engineering, AI and advanced digital technologies. You will:
- Drive outstanding student experience, outcomes and academic quality.
- Lead and inspire Heads of Department and academic teams.
- Shape innovative, AI-enabled curricula and authentic assessment.
- Champion research, scholarship and knowledge exchange.
- Build strong relationships with employers, professional bodies and external stakeholders.
- Deliver sustainable growth and manage School performance and resources.
- Position the School as a recognised leader in flexible, work-compatible engineering and technology education.
The role combines academic leadership with entrepreneurial thinking and offers the opportunity to influence the future of engineering and AI education in response to significant national skills priorities and the introduction of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
About You
We are seeking an exceptional and visionary academic leader to become Head of School - STEM. This is a pivotal appointment. The successful candidate will play a leading role in shaping the next phase of the School's development and establishing a distinctive, future-focused model of engineering and advanced technology education that is digitally mediated, AI-integrated, modular and employer aligned.
Essential requirements:
- A PhD or equivalent doctoral qualification in engineering, AI, digital technology or a closely related discipline.
- A recognised higher education teaching qualification and/or Fellowship.
- A strong track record of leading high-performing academic teams.
- Experience of delivering successful academic portfolios and driving student outcomes.
- Expertise across engineering, computing, AI, robotics or advanced technologies.
- Strong commercial awareness, including experience of budget and resource management.
- The ability to build effective relationships with employers, industry and external stakeholders.
- A passion for innovation and AI-integrated education.
Desirable requirements:
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
- Active engagement with professional bodies such as IET, IMechE, BCS or RAEng.
- Experience of cross-disciplinary academic leadership spanning engineering and AI.
- Experience gained within industry, SMEs or entrepreneurial environments.
Why Arden
At Arden, you will become a part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible. Our people work hard to ensure our students' journeys are the best they can possibly be, as such we want to reward our people with fantastic benefits. Employees benefit from:
- 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure!
- A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
- BUPA Cash Plan Private Medical Insurance coverage (applies to certain job roles)
- Access to Perkbox benefits
- Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends
- Plus, other excellent benefits
- Our 'Golden Ticket' which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education
Our Values Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you. There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines and locations.
Closing Date: Sunday 5th July 2026
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.
If you are a current Arden student or have an upcoming course with us, you are not eligible to apply for Student Experience roles due to a conflict of interest related to system access.
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.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.
Sponsorship statement
Please be aware that some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa, or fulfil the criteria we have for providing sponsorship. However, we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.
Head of School - STEM in Coventry employer: Arden University
Arden University is an innovative and award-winning institution that prioritises accessibility and inclusivity in higher education. As a remote-first employer, we offer a supportive work culture with generous benefits, including 30 days of holiday, a robust pension plan, and opportunities for professional development. Join us in shaping the future of STEM education while enjoying a flexible work environment that values your contributions and fosters growth.
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of School - STEM in Coventry
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