Head of ESOL

Care to Join Us?
South Hampshire College Group is seeking an ambitious, innovative and inspirational Head of ESOL to lead, develop and transform our English for Speakers of Other Languages provision across the Group.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced educational leader to shape and deliver a strategic vision for ESOL across our campuses and community settings, ensuring learners receive an outstanding educational experience that supports progression into employment, further study and active participation in their communities.
As Head of ESOL, you will provide strategic leadership for ESOL provision across Southampton, Eastleigh, Fareham and community delivery locations, driving quality, growth and innovation while ensuring compliance with funding and awarding body requirements.
You will play a key role in strengthening community cohesion and inclusion across South Hampshire, working closely with local authorities, employers, charities, refugee support organisations and community partners to develop innovative learning opportunities that transform lives and support successful integration.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future direction of ESOL across a large and ambitious college group, creating a consistent curriculum, quality and assessment framework that influences provision across multiple campuses and community settings.
About the Role
Reporting to the Director of Adults, HE, Online and Commercial, you will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive ESOL strategy that strengthens learner outcomes, supports community integration and enhances the Group's reputation as a leading provider of ESOL across Hampshire.
You will work collaboratively with curriculum leaders, employers, local authorities, community organisations and key stakeholders to create responsive learning opportunities that meet local needs and support progression into employment, apprenticeships, vocational programmes, further education and higher education.
A key focus of the role will be developing employment-focused ESOL pathways that support learners into priority sectors, ensuring they can progress confidently into work, vocational training and further learning while contributing positively to their communities and the regional economy.
We are looking for a leader who can identify new growth opportunities, develop innovative provision and build sustainable partnerships that enable ESOL delivery to flourish across Hampshire.
We offer great benefits including:
Generous annual leave
Enhanced employer pension contribution
Regular training and development
Duties
Providing strategic leadership and direction for ESOL provision across the Group.
Developing and implementing a two-year ESOL growth and transformation strategy.
Establishing a consistent ESOL curriculum, quality assurance and assessment framework.
Driving improvements in achievement, attendance, retention, progression and learner satisfaction.
Developing employment-focused ESOL pathways linked to local skills priorities and labour market opportunities.
Building productive partnerships with employers, community organisations, local authorities, charities and civic partners.
Leading curriculum planning to ensure provision remains responsive to learner, community and employer needs.
Developing opportunities to expand and grow ESOL provision through community partnerships, employer engagement and funded programmes.
Managing budgets, resources, performance targets and quality improvement plans.
Ensuring compliance with funding regulations, awarding body requirements and Group policies.
Leading, motivating and developing staff to achieve excellence in teaching, learning and learner support.
Contributing to inspection readiness, self-assessment and…