Learner Engagement Manager

ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

At our ARU Writtle campus, we specialise in animal, environmental, agricultural and horticultural courses, for learners aged 16 to 18, adult learners, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Are you an experienced pastoral or safeguarding professional with strong leadership skills? We are seeking a Learner Engagement Manager to join our Learner Engagement and Safeguarding Team at Writtle College.

This is a key leadership role, providing day-to-day line management and operational oversight of a team of Learner Engagement Assistants. You will lead the delivery of high-quality pastoral support, oversee caseloads, develop and support your team, and ensure learners receive timely interventions that promote wellbeing, attendance, engagement and achievement.

Working collaboratively with curriculum colleagues, students, parents/carers and external agencies, you will coordinate support for learners, helping to remove barriers to learning and create an inclusive environment where students can thrive. You will also contribute to the continuous development of learner engagement, safeguarding and inclusion practices across the College.

As Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), you will help manage safeguarding referrals, respond to emerging concerns, and ensure safeguarding responsibilities and College policies are consistently upheld.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys leading people, driving high standards and making a positive impact on the student experience.

To be successful in this role, you will have experience in a pastoral or safeguarding leadership role within an FE college or similar educational setting, with proven day-to-day line management experience. You will have a strong understanding of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, and current safeguarding legislation and best practice, with a commitment to delivering outstanding support and positive outcomes for learners.

You will have a degree and appropriate level of experience and evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role or be part qualified in a relevant professional qualification appropriate to the specific role being appointed to. And appropriate level of experience and evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.

Informal enquiries can be made to Philip Grant, Principal at

Find out more about working with usandhow we recruit.

We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit ourbenefitspage for full details.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that…