Job Title: Deputy Dean – Arts University Plymouth franchised courses
Reports to: Senior Academic Faculty Leader
Location: London - Canary Wharf
Salary: £56k - £62k per annum
Hours: Monday-Friday (9am-5pm onsite)
Deputy Dean Job Description
Due to VCAD’s ongoing development and growth within arts and design and creative business, we are now looking to recruit an experienced higher education academic for the new position of VCAD Deputy Dean for Arts University Plymouth (AUP) courses. This role represents an exciting opportunity to shape the future of creative education. The Deputy Dean will play a pivotal role in cultivating an innovative academic environment that supports both artistic practice and creative business, ensuring students develop strong conceptual and technical abilities alongside the creative and entrepreneurial mindset needed to succeed in today’s economy.
Working closely with senior leadership, the postholder will support the development and delivery of Arts University Plymouth (AUP) courses, championing excellence in teaching, industry engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the arts and design landscape.
This senior academic role within VCAD will include responsibility for the day-to-day academic management of our VCAD - AUP Programme Leaders, alongside oversight of teaching delivery, academic quality, and student outcomes. The Deputy Dean will ensure that institutional expectations, quality standards, and student-focused practices are consistently implemented across all programmes.
Working closely with the senior academic manager, the Deputy Dean will translate strategic priorities into effective operational delivery, ensuring the successful management and performance of academic programmes.
Key Responsibilities
Academic Operations and Programme Delivery
- Oversee the day-to-day delivery of the courses within the department
- Ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency in teaching, learning, and assessment practices
- Support Programme Leaders in the effective running of their courses
Line Management and Staff Performance
- Ensure Programme Leaders are effectively leading their teams to deliver high quality education in line with VCAD and Partners’ expectations, policies and procedures
- Lead regular staff meetings focused on performance, development, and support, ensuring appropriate actions are identified and implemented where improvement is required
Academic Quality and Enhancement
- Lead on the monitoring and review of programme, unit, module and annual monitoring reports, ensuring actions are implemented and tracked
- Oversee moderation and standardisation processes to ensure academic integrity and consistency
- Support the development and delivery of student feedback action plans (e.g. Surveys, evaluations)
- Work with the senior academic managers and Programme Leaders to contribute to the efficient and timely management of assessment boards
Student Experience and Engagement
- Ensure a high-quality student experience across all programmes
- Act as a senior point of oversight for student issues in line with institutional policies
- In collaboration with the Programme Leaders and appropriate teams, monitor student engagement, retention, and progression, ensuring appropriate improvements are identified and implemented
Operational Management
- Take ownership of the day-to-day running of the department’s academic activity
- Identify and take appropriate actions to resolve operational challenges effectively
- Support and lead the coordination of staffing, delivery, timetabling and resource use in collaboration with the senior academic managers and other appropriate Professional Services teams within VCAD
Staff Development and Academic Practice
- Support the development of the Programme Leaders through mentoring and guidance
- Contribute to staff development initiatives and CPD in collaboration with the senior academic managers and VCAD HR
- Promote high standards of teaching, learning, and creative pedagogical practice
Quality Assurance and Compliance
- Ensure programmes align with internal quality assurance processes and expectations
- Monitor compliance with the academic standards and policies of VCAD and our partners
- Support with partner-related requirements, programme and module / unit modifications and validation activity as required
Strategic Support
- Support with implementing and enhancing VCAD and faculty strategy
- Contribute to planning, curriculum development, and continuous improvement
- Deputise for senior academic managers where required, representing the VCAD academic faculties
Person Specification
- Demonstrated leadership and management experience within a Higher Education institution specialising in Arts and Design
- Proven experience in line management and staff performance management
- Strong understanding of academic quality assurance and enhancement processes
- Experience overseeing programme delivery and student outcomes
- Excellent organisational, leadership, and communication skills
- Ability to manage operational complexity and drive improvements
Desirable
- Experience working within partner-led or collaborative provision in Higher Education
Benefits
- Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
- Workplace pension scheme.
- Company Sick Policy.
- Statutory maternity/paternity pays.
- Career development opportunities
- Training and self-development opportunities.
- Gym membership discounts
- Retail discount schemes
- Cinema discounts
- Grocery discounts
- Cycle to work
- Investing and savings opportunities
- Financial wellbeing – personal debt advise.
- Financial wellbeing education
- My Mind Pal (mental fitness)