Director of Studies; Postgraduate Music

Director of Studies (Postgraduate Music)

Department RBC:
Music Location Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Salary £62,364 to £70,564per annum Permanent Post Type Full Time Release Date 23 July 2026 Closing Date 23.59 hours BST on Sunday 23 August 2026 Interview Date Friday 04 September 2026 Reference RBC
26003

Please note: this opportunity is only available to current employees of the University

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from under-represented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire seeks to appoint a current member of RBC staff as Director of Studies (Postgraduate Music) to oversee this flourishing aspect of its portfolio.

The post-holder will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of our taught postgraduate Music provision, as well as for the associated quality enhancement processes. They will also provide strong leadership and strategic vision in the area of curriculum review and development, ensuring that courses continue to evolve to meet industry needs and those of 21st-century conservatoire postgraduates. They will play an active role in promoting taught postgraduate study at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire both internally and externally.

The successful candidate will have significant experience in teaching (including at postgraduate level) and administration in Music, alongside excellent communication, interpersonal and team‑working skills. They will be effective at handling numerous competing priorities. They will also have an established external profile, either through research and/or as a practitioner.

• A higher professional qualification, normally a doctoral degree.
• Proven academic leadership experience.
• A recognised profile in scholarship, research and/or leading-edge professional practice at a national, and preferably international, level.
• A strong track record of delivering and leading high-quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• An internationally recognised record of high-quality publications, research outputs or equivalent professional practice.
• Experience of making a significant contribution to the leadership, administration and wider activities of an academic institution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of audiences.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills.
• The ability to inspire, engage and motivate students through a variety of teaching and learning approaches.
• A demonstrable commitment to enhancing the student experience.
• Experience of developing curricula and leading quality enhancement within a higher education environment.
• Experience of successfully leading and managing people, resources and performance to achieve measurable outcomes.
• Experience of leading high-quality…