Job Title: Head of Energy & Engineering Provision
Location: North East
Salary: Circa £60,000 per annum
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Start Date: ASAP
Role Overview
A prestigious Further Education group in the North East is appointing a Head of Energy & Engineering to lead their flagship Energy and Engineering provision. This senior leadership post is designed for an experienced engineering professional who began on the tools/shop floor—ideally through a formal apprenticeship—before transitioning into educational management.
Leading teams across Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Fabrication & Welding, you will oversee curriculum design, staff performance, workshop safety culture, and strategic employer partnerships to align technical training with regional industry demands.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across Electrical, Mechanical, Fabrication, and Welding departments.
- Line-manage, support, and mentor academic teaching staff, course leaders, and technical workshop teams.
- Drive curriculum evolution to ensure courses and apprenticeships reflect modern industrial techniques, green energy standards, and employer skills gaps.
- Build and sustain relationships with regional engineering, energy, and manufacturing employers.
- Spearhead improvements in pedagogy, learner outcomes, retention, and quality assurance (SAR / QIP).
- Enforce exemplary health, safety, and operational standards across all heavy engineering workshops and training bays.
- Drive a high-performance departmental culture with strong professional behaviours.
Requirements
- Essential Background: Practical engineering credibility—a time-served engineering apprenticeship (Electrical, Mechanical, Maintenance, or Fabrication) with hands‑on shop‑floor experience. (Not suitable for purely academic or office‑based profiles).
- Essential FE Experience: 5 to 10 years of experience within Further Education or technical training providers, including demonstrable leadership/management experience.
- Essential Qualifications: Recognised teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, Level 5 DET, or equivalent).
- Proven track record of improving departmental standards, quality metrics, and staff engagement.
- Strong working knowledge of engineering health and safety legislation (COSHH, PUWER, HASAWA).
Package & Staff Benefits
- Salary circa £60,000
- Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) / Local Government Pension Scheme
- Executive annual leave entitlement + bank holidays + seasonal college closures
- Structured executive leadership development and regional networking opportunities
Head of Energy in North East employer: Dovetail & Slate
Dovetail and Slate is an exceptional employer for those passionate about shaping the future of skilled trades. With a strong commitment to employee development, we offer ongoing training, a supportive work culture, and generous benefits including a robust pension scheme and wellbeing initiatives. Join us in a collaborative environment where your expertise in Fabrication and Welding can truly make a difference in the lives of apprentices.
