Leeds
Company: William College (Leeds Campus) Job Title: Dean (Leeds Campus) Location: ON-SITE, Leeds, UK Employment Type: Full-time Salary: Competitive, based on experience and qualifications Reports to: Director/Senior Leadership Team Position Overview The Dean provides senior academic leadership for ensuring our new validated higher education programmes are delivered successfully at William College (Leeds Campus). Working collaboratively with the College’s wider academic leadership, the post-holder ensures institutional alignment, quality and compliance across all aspects of programme delivery. The role acts as the principal academic link between William College and our university partner, ensuring that all teaching, learning, assessment and student support meet the standards and expectations set by the University, Office for Students (OfS) and other relevant regulatory bodies. This post combines academic leadership, partnership management and operational oversight, ensuring that William College fulfils its responsibilities under our partnership agreement while maintaining academic integrity and student success. Key Responsibilities Strategic and Academic Leadership: • Provide strategic leadership for the academic development and operational delivery of university-validated programmes at Leeds Campus., • Champion academic excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement in teaching, learning and assessment across partner-delivered programmes., • Lead on the alignment of William College’s academic frameworks, policies and procedures with university’s regulations and expectations., • Represent the partner at internal, partner, management committees and other relevant governance forums., • Collaborate with the College’s senior leadership team to ensure the validated provision contributes positively to William College’s broader academic strategy. Programme Direction and Quality Assurance: • Serve as the named lead on behalf of the College under the Partnership Agreement., • Ensure all teaching, learning and assessment activities comply with university’s programme specifications, assessment regulations and academic standards., • Lead the preparation and submission of annual programme monitoring reports, self-evaluations and data returns required by the university partner., • Coordinate the partner’s participation in quality assurance cycle, including external examiner processes, periodic review and annual monitoring., • Oversee responses to feedback from university partner, external examiners, and the Designated Quality Body, ensuring effective follow-up and enhancement planning., • Maintain and regularly update risk registers and action plans linked to student outcomes, academic quality and compliance. Partnership and Stakeholder Management: • Act as the principal liaison between university partner and William College for all academic and relevant operational matters., • Ensure that communication channels between both institutions are clear, consistent and timely, particularly regarding admissions, assessment and student casework., • Support the management of the partnership in line with OfS Subcontracting Condition E8 (or successor), ensuring William College provides all required data, reports and access to information for university and regulators., • Facilitate collaboration between academic and professional service teams to achieve shared goals for student experience and programme quality. Student Experience and Outcomes: • Monitor student recruitment, retention, progression, attainment and satisfaction data, identifying trends and risks., • Lead initiatives to improve student engagement, inclusive practice and academic success, consistent with Access and Participation plans., • Oversee the effective handling of student complaints, academic appeals and academic misconduct cases in line with university’s procedures., • Ensure the provision of accurate programme information, handbooks and VLE resources, maintaining compliance with consumer protection legislation (CMA). Faculty and Staff Development: • Provide leadership, mentoring and professional development opportunities for academic staff teaching on programmes., • Ensure that all teaching staff meet university’s approval requirements and maintain the expected professional and pedagogic standards., • Promote engagement with Advance HE, encouraging colleagues to achieve Fellowship or Senior Fellowship., • Support staff participation in peer observation, scholarly activity and enhancement initiatives aligned with learning and teaching strategy. Governance, Reporting and Compliance: • Oversee the implementation of all contractual and regulatory obligations under the Delivery Partner Agreement., • Submit required reports to university’s committees and/or groups, including updates on programme performance, staffing and risk., • Ensure compliance with relevant conditions of registration, including OfS B conditions (quality, standards, outcomes), E6 (harassment and sexual misconduct) and E8 (subcontracting)., • Maintain accurate academic records and documentation to support university’s rights of audit, inspection and data reporting., • Contribute to William College’s Academic Board and internal committees to align institutional priorities with programme delivery and reporting., • Work with other senior academic colleagues to ensure coherent governance, consistent quality assurance and alignment across all higher education provision. Resource and Financial Management: • Contribute to the development and monitoring of academic budgets associated with the delivery of validated programmes., • Ensure that financial planning supports sustainability, compliance and continuous improvement of the partnership., • Identify opportunities for resource optimisation and income generation consistent with the partnership agreement and institutional priorities. Person Specification Essential: • Undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in a relevant discipline, i.e. law, business; and Doctorate (PhD or EdD) or equivalent professional standing., • Significant experience in higher education., • Demonstrable understanding of UK HE quality assurance frameworks, including OfS Conditions B and E, QAA Quality Code, and general university regulations., • Proven experience of leading programme delivery, assessment, and enhancement in partnership with a university awarding body., • Excellent organisational, communication and stakeholder-management skills., • Ability to analyse performance data and implement effective improvement strategies., • Familiarity with virtual learning environments (Moodle or equivalent), online libraries, and student management systems. Desirable • Experience of managing or leading a university programme, preferably including oversight of franchised or validated provision., • Fellowship of Advance HE (or commitment to achieve within 12 months of appointment)., • Experience of working with regulatory bodies such as the OfS, QAA, OIA, or UKVI. Personal Qualities • Collegial and collaborative, with the ability to lead through influence and trust., • Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in teaching and leadership., • Integrity, transparency and accountability in all decision-making., • Strong problem-solving ability and resilience under pressure., • Genuine enthusiasm for student success and partnership-based 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 advise., • Financial wellbeing education, • My Mind Pal (mental fitness)