Course Leader

Course Leader

dBs Institute | Academic Leadership

Location: Manchester
Salary: £38,000–£42,000 (FTE)
Hours:37.5 hours per week

Reports To: Quality Lead

Key Relationships: Module Leaders;
Head of Campus; other Course Leaders;
Student Support;
Academic Services;
Executive Head of Student Experience and Campus Life
External Relationships: Falmouth University; industry partners; students; professional bodies

We are looking for a Course Leader with expertise in music composition, performance, production, or a closely related discipline to lead and coordinate the academic student journey across our degree programme. This is a pivotal academic leadership role responsible for ensuring students experience a coherent, inclusive, and industry relevant course that supports progression, achievement, and professional development. Working closely with Module Leaders, student support services, and quality colleagues, you will provide academic leadership across the programme, oversee curriculum coherence and assessment standards, and act as the primary academic point of contact for students.

Alongside course leadership responsibilities, you will contribute to teaching within your area of expertise and help ensure the curriculum remains aligned with current industry practice and the evolving needs of the creative sector.

You will take ownership of the academic coherence and delivery of a degree programme, ensuring students receive a joined-up and supportive learning experience from start to finish.

• Lead and coordinate the academic delivery of the programme, ensuring students experience a coherent, engaging, and high quality learning journey that supports progression, achievement, and professional development.
• Act as the main academic point of contact for students, providing guidance on academic progress, assessment, optional module choices, and working closely with support services to promote student success and wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively with Module Leaders and colleagues to maintain curriculum quality, oversee assessment and quality assurance processes, and drive continuous course enhancement informed by student feedback and industry developments.
• Deliver teaching within your area of expertise, ensuring learning remains inclusive, industry relevant, and aligned to current professional practice.
• Build strong relationships with industry partners and contribute to recruitment, admissions, and student engagement activities, helping to enhance employability opportunities and promote the programme to prospective students.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated academic or industry professional with expertise in music composition, performance, production, or a related discipline. You will have a passion for supporting student success and creating an engaging, inclusive learning environment that prepares students for careers in the creative industries.

The ideal candidate will bring experience of teaching, training, mentoring, or curriculum development within a higher education, further education, or professional setting, alongside strong organisational and communication skills. You will be confident working collaboratively with colleagues, students, and industry partners, and able to balance academic leadership responsibilities with teaching and student support.

You will have a good understanding of contemporary industry practice and a commitment to maintaining professional currency within your specialist area. Experience of course leadership, quality assurance, curriculum enhancement, or assessment processes within higher education would be advantageous, as would an understanding of inclusive and accessible approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment.

• A flexible fractional or full-time role (minimum 3 days per week)
• The opportunity to shape and lead a flagship creative degree programme
• Strong institutional support and a collaborative cross-campus academic network
• A creative, industry-facing environment with real student impact
• Opportunities for professional development and academic progression