Head of Department for Business Management Pathways in London

This role operates on a hybrid working arrangement that will require regular travel into our UK locations listed below when required. Travel each week will fluctuate in line with business requirements. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

Travel will be required into the following locations:

• Coventry head office
• Birmingham campus
• Leeds campus
• Nottingham campus
• Manchester campus
• London area (Tower Hill, Holborn & Ealing)
• Newcastle

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

The Head of Department will lead the Department of Business Management Pathways within the School of Business Management and Creativity. This Department is home to a suite of programmes which offer students the opportunity to specialise in one area as part of a core Business Management programme, such as Marketing, HRM or Accounting and Finance. In addition, students in this Department also study joint programmes combining Business with subjects such as law and computing. The Department is also responsible for teaching on business and management apprenticeship programmes.

About the Opportunity

You will focus on providing academic leadership within the department of Business Management Pathways, and be accountable for achieving outstanding quality features within Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Outstanding Quality Features within Student Experience

• Embedding outstanding teaching, feedback, and assessment practices to support students' learning, progression, and attainment.
• Inspiring and engaging course content (including physical and virtual learning resources) and delivery that stretches learners to develop knowledge to their fullest potential.

Outstanding Quality Features within Student Outcomes

• Tailored departmental approaches for learners in and progress beyond their studies.
• Delivering outstanding departmental rates of continuation and completion for learners as well as setting programme curriculums that provide learners with the right skills, knowledge, and behaviour to progress into managerial or professional employment, or further study.

You will also line manage Senior Lecturers and potentially other members of the academic team. You will be responsible for recruitment of outstanding academic staff in their department and potentially undertake teaching and related duties on programmes relevant to their area of expertise, where possible.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and academic leadership to shape the vision, growth, and excellence of our courses.
• Oversee curriculum innovation, ensuring relevance to global business challenges and emerging technologies.
• Lead, mentor, and develop academic staff to foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and research-informed teaching.
• Strengthen partnerships with industry and professional bodies to ensure programmes deliver real-world impact.
• Drive innovation in delivery modes, including blended and digital learning.

About You

• A strong record of teaching, programme development, and leadership within Business education, including experience of apprenticeship delivery.
• A forward-looking mindset with an understanding of the opportunities presented by digital innovation and AI.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and people management skills.
• The vision and energy to shape the next generation of transformative leaders.

Qualifications

• Masters (or equivalent)
• HE teaching qualification and/or Fellowship (e.g., PG Cert HE, SFHEA, PFHEA, QTLS/QTS).
• 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.

Why Arden

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure!
• A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
• 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.

Closing Date

5th January (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.

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 under the points-based immigration system. 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.