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- Tasks: Lead and innovate in Engineering & Motor Vehicle education, ensuring high-quality learning experiences.
- Company: Lakes College, a vibrant technical vocational college in West Cumbria.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension scheme, professional development, and great facilities.
- Other info: Join a friendly team dedicated to innovation and student success.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while shaping the future of engineering and motor vehicle skills.
- Qualifications: Teaching qualification and Level 3 vocational qualification required; management experience preferred.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK’s leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
About the College
Lakes College is a technical vocational Further Education College delivering education and training to full-time and part-time learners and apprentices to degree level. We have a vibrant campus in West Cumbria with state of the art vocational workshops and resources, including the National College for Nuclear Northern Hub. Our mission and purpose are to: 'Enable people to recognise and develop their potential'. We are a people business and our mission applies as equally to our staff team as to our learners and employers. We are a Good college and have ambition to be Outstanding by together developing our culture, standards and expectations. We encourage innovation, collaboration and reflection to lead to new ideas and methods. We gather, evaluate and use data to drive operational improvement.
About the Role
Lakes College West Cumbria is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Department to lead the development, quality and growth of our Engineering & Motor Vehicle skills provision. This is a senior role with significant influence, combining curriculum leadership, quality management, partnership working and teaching. You will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality learning experiences that meet local, regional and national priorities - particularly supporting the engineering and motor vehicle industry - while driving innovation, performance and continuous improvement across Further and Higher Education. Reporting to the Assistant Principal, you will lead on operational strategy, curriculum development and quality assurance for externally delivered and partnership provision, ensuring outstanding outcomes for learners, employers and partners.
Key elements of the role include:
- Curriculum & Quality Leadership
- Lead and implement quality management systems to deliver high retention, achievement and success rates.
- Develop innovative curriculum aligned to local and regional priorities and nuclear industry needs.
- Monitor provision performance against business plans, KPIs, self-assessment and quality improvement plans.
- Lead curriculum validation, accreditation and approval with HEIs and awarding bodies.
- Undertake teaching, assessment and learning observations to drive teaching excellence.
- Strategic & Operational Management
- Deliver operational plans aligned to the College’s strategic and business plans.
- Work collaboratively with senior leaders, Directors, curriculum teams, marketing and admissions to achieve growth targets.
- Lead, motivate and line manage staff, ensuring effective deployment, timetabling and staff development.
- Ensure compliance with data, MIS, audit, funding and awarding body requirements.
- Partnerships & Industry Engagement
- Develop and sustain strong relationships with employers, HEIs, awarding bodies and strategic partners.
- Support and grow external and partnership delivery across FE and HE.
- Represent the College at operational and strategic partnership meetings.
- Teaching & Professional Contribution
- Contribute directly to teaching, learning and assessment within nuclear and externally delivered provision.
- Maintain up-to-date industry knowledge and educational best practice.
- Support the College’s wider mission, values, sustainability goals and cross-college initiatives.
You will hold a recognised teaching qualification (such as CertEd, PGCE or equivalent) alongside a minimum Level 3 vocational or professional qualification. You will have up-to-date literacy and numeracy skills to at least Level 2 and be committed to continuing professional development. Applicants must bring recent and substantial experience of teaching, training and instructing within the engineering or motor vehicle industry, with a strong track record of good or outstanding teaching and learning observation outcomes. It would be advantageous if you hold a recognised higher-level management qualification such as ILM or CMI, or relevant professional membership. Experience of managing staff, projects and budgets within an FE or HE environment would be welcomed, as would previous involvement in teaching and learning observation cycles and quality improvement processes. We would also value experience of successful course and programme management, including curriculum innovation, validation and external scrutiny, as well as a working knowledge of FE and HE funding systems.
If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.
What We Can Offer You!
- Generous annual leave - 40 days plus 8 days bank holiday plus 2 discretionary days
- Automatic entry into the Teachers pensions Scheme.
- A dedicated and friendly team of professionals who are keen to develop and learn.
- Excellent CPD opportunities to grow and development through mentorship and coaching.
- Free onsite parking.
- Subsidised onsite restaurant.
- A cycle scheme tech scheme and discounted gym membership.
- Fantastic facilities to resource our ability to teach our students.
Application Requirements
To ensure compliance with safeguarding guidelines, all applicants must complete the application form in full. This includes providing:
- A full employment history from the time you left full-time education, with details of any gaps in employment explained.
- Information on all relevant education and qualifications.
Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered. Your co-operation helps us maintain the highest standards of safety and care for children and young people.
Qualifications
- Level 3 or equivalent vocational professional qualification essential
- Hold a recognised teaching qualification essential
- Minimum Level 2 literacy & numeracy qualifications & be willing to update skills essential
- Hold or be willing to work towards a Leadership/Management related qualification essential
- Relevant Professional Membership desirable
- Accredited higher level management qualification e.g. ILM, CMI is desirable
Skills Experience
- Recent and relevant industry experience in sector essential
- Recent relevant teaching experience with good or outstanding observation grades essential
- Demonstrable in-depth knowledge of subject area essential
- Experience in post 16 education / training including curriculum design, delivery, assessment and evaluation essential
- Knowledge of and proven ability to deliver the curriculum successfully essential
- Demonstrate a student-centred approach to teaching and learning essential
- Involvement in implement and monitoring of college policy essential
- Experience of course management essential
- Management of staff & projects
- Experience of FE funding systems
- Involvement in seeking out new funding initiatives
- Developing new courses to meet employer needs
Head of Department- Engineering & Motor Vehicle in Workington employer: Lakes College West Cumbria
Contact Detail:
Lakes College West Cumbria Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Department- Engineering & Motor Vehicle in Workington
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the engineering and motor vehicle sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential employers on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio that highlights your achievements, projects, and any innovative curriculum you’ve developed. This is your chance to demonstrate how you can lead and inspire others in the role of Head of Department.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Before any interviews, do some mock sessions with friends or mentors. Focus on articulating your vision for the department and how you plan to drive quality and innovation in teaching and learning. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Lakes College. Don’t wait too long; the sooner you apply, the better your chances!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Department- Engineering & Motor Vehicle in Workington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for engineering and motor vehicles shine through! We want to see how your experience aligns with our mission to develop potential in both learners and staff.
Be Specific: Use concrete examples from your past roles to demonstrate your skills and achievements. Whether it's about curriculum development or quality management, we love seeing how you've made a difference in your previous positions.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Head of Department role. Highlight your leadership experience and how you can contribute to our ambition of becoming an Outstanding college.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us directly and helps us keep track of all applications efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Lakes College West Cumbria
✨Know Your Curriculum Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends and requirements in engineering and motor vehicle education. Familiarise yourself with local and regional industry needs, especially those related to the nuclear sector. This will help you demonstrate your ability to align the curriculum with current demands during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your experience in managing staff, driving quality improvement, and achieving growth targets. Be ready to discuss how you motivate and develop your team to ensure high retention and success rates.
✨Engage with Partnerships
Think about your previous experiences in building relationships with employers, HEIs, and other strategic partners. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you’ve fostered collaboration and engagement, as this role heavily relies on strong partnerships to enhance learning experiences.
✨Demonstrate Your Teaching Excellence
Since teaching is a key part of this role, be ready to discuss your teaching philosophy and methods. Bring along evidence of your good or outstanding observation outcomes and be prepared to talk about how you maintain up-to-date industry knowledge and educational best practices.