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- Tasks: Lead and innovate in creative education, shaping future arts and design courses.
- Company: Join a dynamic higher education institution focused on arts and design.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous annual leave, career development, and discounts on gym and retail.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' creative journeys and academic success.
- Qualifications: Experience in higher education leadership and a passion for arts and design.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 56000 - 62000 £ per year.
Due to VCAD’s ongoing development and growth within arts and design and creative business, we are now looking to recruit an experienced higher education academic for the new position of VCAD Deputy Dean for Arts University Plymouth (AUP) courses. This role represents an exciting opportunity to shape the future of creative education. The Deputy Dean will play a pivotal role in cultivating an innovative academic environment that supports both artistic practice and creative business, ensuring students develop strong conceptual and technical abilities alongside the creative and entrepreneurial mindset needed to succeed in today’s economy.
Working closely with senior leadership, the postholder will support the development and delivery of Arts University Plymouth (AUP) courses, championing excellence in teaching, industry engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the arts and design landscape. This senior academic role within VCAD will include responsibility for the day-to-day academic management of our VCAD - AUP Programme Leaders, alongside oversight of teaching delivery, academic quality, and student outcomes. The Deputy Dean will ensure that institutional expectations, quality standards, and student-focused practices are consistently implemented across all programmes.
Working closely with the senior academic manager, the Deputy Dean will translate strategic priorities into effective operational delivery, ensuring the successful management and performance of academic programmes.
Key Responsibilities
- Academic Operations and Programme Delivery
- Oversee the day-to-day delivery of the courses within the department
- Ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency in teaching, learning, and assessment practices
- Support Programme Leaders in the effective running of their courses
- Ensure Programme Leaders are effectively leading their teams to deliver high quality education in line with VCAD and Partners’ expectations, policies and procedures
- Lead regular staff meetings focused on performance, development, and support, ensuring appropriate actions are identified and implemented where improvement is required
- Lead on the monitoring and review of programme, unit, module and annual monitoring reports, ensuring actions are implemented and tracked
- Oversee moderation and standardisation processes to ensure academic integrity and consistency
- Support the development and delivery of student feedback action plans (e.g. surveys, evaluations)
- Work with the senior academic managers and Programme Leaders to contribute to the efficient and timely management of assessment boards
- Ensure a high-quality student experience across all programmes
- Act as a senior point of oversight for student issues in line with institutional policies
- In collaboration with the Programme Leaders and appropriate teams, monitor student engagement, retention, and progression, ensuring appropriate improvements are identified and implemented
- Take ownership of the day-to-day running of the department’s academic activity
- Identify and take appropriate actions to resolve operational challenges effectively
- Support and lead the coordination of staffing, delivery, timetabling and resource use in collaboration with the senior academic managers and other appropriate Professional Services teams within VCAD
- Support the development of the Programme Leaders through mentoring and guidance
- Contribute to staff development initiatives and CPD in collaboration with the senior academic managers and VCAD HR
- Promote high standards of teaching, learning, and creative pedagogical practice
- Ensure programmes align with internal quality assurance processes and expectations
- Monitor compliance with the academic standards and policies of VCAD and our partners
- Support with partner-related requirements, programme and module / unit modifications and validation activity as required
- Support with implementing and enhancing VCAD and faculty strategy
- Contribute to planning, curriculum development, and continuous improvement
- Deputise for senior academic managers where required, representing the VCAD academic faculties
Person Specification
- Demonstrated leadership and management experience within a Higher Education institution specialising in Arts and Design
- Proven experience in line management and staff performance management
- Strong understanding of academic quality assurance and enhancement processes
- Experience overseeing programme delivery and student outcomes
- Excellent organisational, leadership, and communication skills
- Ability to manage operational complexity and drive improvements
Desirable
- Experience working within partner-led or collaborative provision in Higher Education
Benefits
- Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
- Workplace pension scheme
- Company Sick Policy
- Statutory maternity/paternity pays
- Career development opportunities
- Training and self-development opportunities
- Gym membership discounts
- Retail discount schemes
- Cinema discounts
- Grocery discounts
- Cycle to work
- Investing and savings opportunities
- Financial wellbeing – personal debt advice
- Financial wellbeing education
- My Mind Pal (mental fitness)
Deputy Dean in London employer: Victoria College of Arts and Design
Contact Detail:
Victoria College of Arts and Design Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Dean in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those involved in arts and design. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the institution's values and recent projects. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their mission. We want to see you shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that Deputy Dean position. We’re all about making the process smooth and straightforward, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Dean in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Deputy Dean role. Highlight your leadership experience in higher education, especially in arts and design, and show how you can contribute to our innovative academic environment.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to illustrate how you've improved student outcomes or enhanced programme delivery.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We want to see your personality shine through, so let your passion for creative education come across!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you're serious about joining our team at StudySmarter.
How to prepare for a job interview at Victoria College of Arts and Design
✨Know Your Academic Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the current trends in arts and design education. Understand how VCAD's approach aligns with industry needs and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to shaping innovative academic environments.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples of your leadership and management experience within higher education. Highlight instances where you've successfully overseen programme delivery or improved student outcomes, as this role requires strong organisational skills.
✨Engage with Quality Assurance
Brush up on academic quality assurance processes and be prepared to discuss how you've implemented these in previous roles. Demonstrating your understanding of compliance and enhancement will show that you're ready to uphold institutional standards.
✨Emphasise Student Engagement
Think about ways you've enhanced student experiences in past positions. Be ready to share strategies for improving student engagement and retention, as this is a key responsibility of the Deputy Dean role.