Head of Professional & Creative

Due to internal progression, we have a fantastic opportunity to lead our Professional & Creative provision. The role will oversee the Professional & Creative provision, ensuring that there is an engaging and innovative curriculum offer that supports students studying from Level 2 to Level 6. Professional & Creative is a varied and vibrant department made up of Hair & Beauty, Business, Catering, Travel & Tourism, Sport, Uniformed Public Services, Creative Industries, and Art & Design; therefore, experience managing a diverse academic provision is essential.

Responsibilities include:

• Implementing the Bradford College vision for an outstanding provision aligned to the 4-year strategy and informed by market research, staff and student feedback, the needs of external stakeholders, the community and employers.
• Planning the FE & HE curriculum to support the delivery of the College strategy and provide a responsive offer to the needs of the Study Programme.
• Optimising the efficient delivery of the curriculum to achieve targets.
• Constantly striving to improve the student experience to further extend opportunities and progression to further study or employment.
• Keeping abreast of national qualifications on offer, making decisions for the most appropriate qualifications for students.
• Responding to national, regional and local policies by developing innovative models of delivery and monitoring their effectiveness.
• Building strong links with relevant agencies, including employers, universities and schools to extend student enhancement and enrichment opportunities.
• Line management of curriculum area managers who will have teams reporting to them.
• Working in collaboration with Heads of Department to ensure effective delivery of the curriculum offer.
• Creating and maintaining outstanding learning environments that engage learners and demonstrate the value of Professional & Creative in relation to Higher Education, Employment and the wider community.
• Overseeing the management of commercial facilities within the provision.
• Overseeing the delivery of outstanding teaching and learning within FE & HE.
• Working in partnership with the Quality team to identify, develop and implement appropriate quality initiatives.

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will be a learner and quality-focused with a commitment to our vision of working together to transform lives. You should be able to contribute to our journey to Outstanding, creating a positive working and study environment, and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion should be embedded within your core values.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates who identify as Black, Asian or from an ethnic minority background, as these groups are currently underrepresented within our management roles.

Education & Training

• Degree or Level 5 professional qualification.
• A recognised teaching qualification.
• GCSE 4 – 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in Maths and English, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale.
• QTLS is desirable but not essential.

Experience

• Experience in curriculum development related to 16-19 Study Programmes.
• Working with employers and stakeholders to design and enhance the curriculum offer.
• Managing people and resources.
• Implementation of strategies to improve attendance and retention.
• Experience in engagement, pastoral and enrichment enhancements for students.
• Sound knowledge of funding in FE and/or HE settings.
• Experience in student pastoral care and positive behaviour procedures.
• Evidence of commitment to high standards of student attendance, punctuality and performance.
• Experience working with employers and community partners in setting up external courses is desirable, but not essential.

For an informal discussion about the role, please email recruit@bradfordcollege.ac.uk.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early depending on the level of interest and number of applications, so early application is advised.

Benefits of working at Bradford College:

• Generous annual leave entitlement – equivalent to 38 days of holidays, plus bank holidays.
• Additional college closure days, including a 2-week Christmas closure.
• Teachers’ Pension scheme, with a generous 23% employer contribution.
• Annual salary reviews.
• Career progression opportunities – 54% of all vacancies are filled internally.
• Free sports and gym facilities.
• Free wellbeing initiatives and access to our exclusive staff indoor and outdoor wellbeing space.
• Confidential employee assistance service and on-site mental health first aiders.
• Access to Bradford College benefits hub, offering retail, travel, leisure and dining discounts and cashback.
• Discounts on greener travel – cycle to work scheme & local MetroCard and Northern Rail discounts.
• Access to hair and beauty treatments in our student-led Signature Spa.
• On-site dining facilities, including our award-winning Grove restaurant.
• A host of training development opportunities.
• Fantastic campus facilities, a short walk to public transport links in the heart of the City of Culture 2025.
• The opportunity to work for an organisation that is truly committed to creating a better future for all through education and training.

If you have the drive to further develop your skills and abilities, you will be given the support and opportunities you need to enhance your career. This includes access to in-house training and CPD, professional and academic qualifications and mentoring.

Bradford College is committed to supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion amongst our staff and student body. We promote applications across all sections of the community, recognising the benefits a diverse workforce can bring and therefore particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with our statutory safeguarding requirements detailed in Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation, this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, employment references, health screening and social media search.

Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children and vulnerable adults.