Academic Director

Salary: £78,000 - £82,000 per annum

Employment type:Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Deputy Provost

Department: Academic Office

to read the full job description and view our excellent benefits here

We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.

The Academic Office at Arden University plays an important role in supporting academic governance, quality assurance, and student success. The department oversees key processes such as programme validation and approval, policy development, regulatory compliance, and assessment management.

Working closely with faculties, professional services, and external regulatory bodies, the Academic Office ensures that Arden’s academic standards align with sector benchmarks and accreditation requirements. It is also responsible for enhancing student experience by maintaining fair and transparent academic policies, supporting assessment boards, and facilitating effective learning and teaching practices

As the Academic Director, you will be responsible for leading an engaged faculty culture and enhancing the student learning experience by creating a positive and inclusive environment focused on student success. Overseeing academic operations at the Newcastle Campus, you will manage academic staff, ensure quality assurance, drive student engagement, and integrate technology and policies effectively.

Working closely with our campus staff, you will play a key role in delivering a student-centred experience and maintaining strong student outcomes. You will also build relationships with local businesses and employers to strengthen the university’s reputation as an employer-first institution.

We are looking for an experienced academic leader with a strong track record in managing academic staff and programmes, creating a positive and inclusive academic culture, and enhancing the student learning experience. You will have held leadership roles such as Programme Leader, Programme Director, or Dean and will be skilled in strategic planning, problem-solving, and adapting to the evolving higher education landscape.

• Proven leadership experience in academic roles such as Programme Leader, Programme Director, or Dean.
• Strong ability to manage and mentor academic staff, ensuring high performance and engagement.
• Experience in developing and implementing strategies to enhance student engagement, persistence, and satisfaction.
• Ability to articulate a vision, set clear expectations, and foster a collaborative academic environment.
• Familiarity with online and blended learning methodologies.
• Experience in planning, organisational development, and implementing educational initiatives.
• Adaptability to changes in the higher education sector and the ability to lead through evolving challenges.

Desirable requirements:

• Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in a relevant field.
• Experience in planning and implementing educational initiatives.
• Experience creating inclusive environments for staff and students.
• Knowledge of technological integration in academic settings.

At Arden, you will become a part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible. Our people work hard to ensure our students journeys are the best they can possibly be, as such we want to reward our people with fantastic benefits. Employees benefit from:

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure!
• A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
• Simply Health plan option
• Private Medical Insurance
• Access to Perkbox benefits
• Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all…