Job Description

Description

Job Title:

Strategic Director of Education (Adults) - Maternity Cover

Department:

Principalship

Salary:

77,999

Job Type:

Fixed Term Contract until October 2026 (Maternity Cover)



The Strategic Director of Education (Adults) is a key strategic role, leading the implementation of a research informed post-19 pedagogy / andragogy across the college, that draws from international best practice whilst meeting regional and national priorities. The role will provide expertise in curriculum design and implementation that turns disadvantage to advantage for Adult students, delivering 'The Liverpool Way' into every aspect of the curriculum and learning space, removing barriers to engagement and learning through targeted, insight-based interventions and wrap around schemes of support. The post will collaborate with key stakeholders, employers, and industry and curriculum trailblazers, to

enhance the knowledge and skills of staff and students and develop the adult curriculum offer. Particularly, this will draw upon Liverpool's unique economic, cultural and social assets to bolster our curriculum and the student experience. The

role will also be a significant strategic lead in building upon the lessons learnt from the 'pandemic years' to take the best parts of a blended learning approach to support catch up learning, reinforcement and the stretch and challenge of all

learners.



The Strategic Director of Education (Adults) will be a supportive member of the Strategic Leadership Team which drives a culture of high performance and aspiration across all areas of the College. The post-holder will, from time to time, deputise for the Vice Principal Curriculum Development and Innovation, and directly support other College Directors, Heads of Faculty, and the Deans of Academic Studies and Higher Education in delivering an outstanding student experience for all students.



Responsible to: Vice Principal Curriculum Development and Innovation

Key Responsibilities

Lead the College's strategic and operational delivery of adult education across all College curriculum areas, with due account of the College's overall strategic plan and the social, economic, and educational context of the Liverpool City Region.

Lead and develop the College's pedagogical approach to post-19 delivery, ensuring it is research informed, drawn from international best practice and adapted to different types of learners across the College by age, vocation, background or need.

Ensure the effective planning, development and delivery of a diverse and responsive adult curriculum which responds to new and emerging industry practice and technologies and effectively meets student, employer and key stakeholder demand.

Lead the planning, development and introduction of curriculum areas and delivery models new to the College, including, for example, those funded within the National Skills Fund, ESOL learner alumni programmes, provision specifically developed to meet the needs of employers, and programmes starting throughout each academic year for individuals looking to upskill or reskill.

Support and promote the College's EDI strategy, translating this into strategic and operational actions that strengthen the approach and deliver meaningful accomplishments within adult education, developing learners and staff as advocates and allies.

Ensure high expectations, achievement and progression are effectively promoted and measured throughout the learner journey for all students, including the most disadvantaged and those with learning difficulties and / or disabilities, ensuring the College meets the strategic goal of turning disadvantage to advantage.

Lead the development and delivery of innovative and inspirational practice across adult education, working with other leaders to secure ground-breaking partnerships and implement new ways of working, including pedagogical best practice and interdisciplinary projects both generally, and specifically for post-19 curriculum.

Contribute to the College's strategic and business planning processes to ensure efficiency and high performance in adult education and support the development of 2,3 and 5 year plans which are informed by industry expectations and an expert understanding of upcoming knowledge and skill requirements across Liverpool City Region priority areas.

Drive high expectations and high performance to secure the College's position as 'best in class' in both curriculum delivery and support for adult learners.

Provide advice and input to the Strategic Leadership Team and College Executive on regional and national strategies and policies related to post-19 curriculum design, Teaching, Learning and Assessment, and delivery.

Develop and support strategic mechanisms that ensure individuals and teams within adult education are developed and challenged to secure the best possible student experience that leads to a positive 'next step'
and 'future steps' for the learner within the framework of higher education, further education, training or employment.


Engage in the clear, timely and robust self-assessment of quality across the College, particularly adult education, through proactive participation in quality assurance and improvement measures and represent the College in inspections and external audit processes.

Work closely with all Directors to ensure that the curriculum supports students' knowledge and skills beyond the academic, technical or vocational, through the development and effective implementation of a wide range
of personal development and progression opportunities linked to building confident and resilient students.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential Criteria

Proven ability to develop robust and researched-informed pedagogical approaches in post-19 curriculum that support all learners to succeed and thrive as individuals

Proven, consistent delivery of success as the accountable person for improving student outcomes over consecutive years as the leader of a curriculum or cross college department

Relevant qualifications and / or experience

Professional or teaching qualification

Good understanding of Adult OFSTED, SAR processes and quality inspection regimes, including successful experience of leading an inspection aspect

Robust knowledge of post-19 curriculum intent and implementation strategies and associated regional and national expectations and policies

Robust knowledge of the National Skills Fund and associated regional and national expectations and policies

Robust knowledge of research-informed approaches to addressing disadvantage and supporting adult learners to succeed

Ability to lead use of diagnostic tools and effective strategies in identifying learners' starting points and needs to support personalised progression over the lifetime of the learner

Proven ability to develop and lead on cross-college strategies, establishing credibility with a wide range of colleagues as part of an effective matrix management approach

Proven ability to challenge, mentor & coach - a developer of a high-performance culture, intolerant of underperformance and a track record of securing buy-in and support through constructive challenge

Ability to engage and influence a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders in order to develop and successfully lead research-informed employability strategies which meet the needs of different cohorts of adult learners

Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders regarding the development
and implementation of adult specific pedagogical models / andragogy


Resilient and comfortable with ambiguity - ability to operate under pressure in a fast-paced, evolving environment, and to support and inspire others to do the same

A positive role model and the ability to be a positive ambassador for the College

Innovative, creative - a critical thinker who is able to adopt a growth mindset that supports the College's aspirations around systems leadership and continuous improvement with regards to the end-to-end student experience.

Committed to own continuous professional development - focused on the very best in pedagogy, a thorough understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion in action and an openness to critical and constructive feedback

Willingness & ability to engage with current technologies and embrace diverse and evolving technologies & pedagogy to ensure a modern and effective student experience, with a particular focus upon adult learners and curriculum

Please Note

This role may close earlier than the advertised deadline if we receive sufficient applications. Early submission is strongly encouraged.

Benefits

Why Join The City of Liverpool College?

As a valued member of our College community, you'll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, dedicated wellbeing support, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.

Here are some of the benefits available to you:

Generous holiday allowance

40 days annual holiday allowance, plus 1 annual wellbeing day

Pension Scheme

You'll be part of the Local Government Pension Scheme, with generous employer contributions of up to 20.20%.

Employee Benefits Platform

As part of your role, you'll have access to the COLC Employee Benefits Platform, a one-stop hub for a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and everyday savings. You'll be able to access discounts at major supermarkets, fashion and lifestyle retailers, tech stores, travel providers, and more. You'll also benefit from the Cycle to Work Scheme, cinema and leisure discounts and tech and home appliance discounts, with the option of spreading the cost through salary sacrifice. The platform is part of our commitment to supporting you in every aspect of your working life - and beyond.

Health and Wellbeing

As part of our commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing, all employees have access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - a completely confidential support service available 24/7, 365 days a year. Whether you're facing personal challenges, looking for advice, or simply need someone to talk to, Health Assured is here to help. Through Health Assured, you can access a 24/7 confidential helpline, face to face, online or telephone counselling, as well as structured support for a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, relationships, bereavement, legal and financial concerns.

You'll also have access to the online wellbeing portal, asecure, user-friendly platform offering a wide range of self-help resources, health assessments, articles, and guidance covering emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, and to the Wisdom App, which offers mood trackers and wellbeing tools, meditation guides, fitness videos, and self-help modules

as well as daily wellbeing tips.




You'll also be entitled to a free eye test through our voucher scheme with Specsavers, which covers a full eye exam (worth up to 25) and even includes 45 towards a pair of glasses. We also offer free flu vaccinations to help keep you feeling your best all year round.

Travel

We offer interest-free loans to help you buy annual travel passes from Merseytravel and Merseyrail. That means you can enjoy the savings of up to two months' free travel--without having to cover the full cost upfront. It's all about making your commute more affordable and less stressful.

Flexible Working

We offer flexible working options depending on business need to support our employee's work-life balance.

Professional Development

We're passionate about helping you thrive, offering a mix of formal and informal professional development opportunities--designed to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge, and accelerate your career.

College Benefits

Our excellent sports and fitness facilities can be used free of charge by staff. You can also access a range of discounted hair and beauty treatments at our Academy and Graduate Hair & Beauty Salons, and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.

About The City of Liverpool College

About The City of Liverpool College

The City of Liverpool College is a leading education provider for almost 12,000 students across the Liverpool City Region, from ages 16 and up.

Our passion for nurturing talent and personal approach to teaching makes sure all our students are fully equipped to realise their potential and be empowered to live out their career ambitions.

We believe in opportunity for all and offer access to both academic and vocational courses. From GCSE to degree level, our students achieve some of the highest exam results in the region.

As a recognised leader in skills and education, we are proud to have been named the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce 2024 Skills Provider of the Year, a testament to our deep-rooted commitment to delivering outstanding education that meets the needs of our students and the regional economy. We are also a proud member of the Chartered Institution for Further Education, reinforcing our position as a centre of excellence within the sector. Our recent Ofsted inspection rated us 'Outstanding' for Adult Provision and Personal Development, highlighting our dedication to providing life-changing education that empowers learners at every stage of their journey.

Our Mission

To provide high quality skills and education by delivering opportunities for growth to all people and businesses of the Liverpool City Region.

Our Goals

Deliver world class skills in business Provide an outstanding learning and student experience Develop the talent for sustainable employment

Safeguarding Our Students

The City of Liverpool College is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare our learners, and all staff will require an Enhanced DBS check.

Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Career?

Join a dynamic team shaping the future of education in the Liverpool City Region. With over 600 dedicated staff, five campuses, hundreds of courses, and more than 10,000 students, we're proud to be a leader in learning and innovation. Ready to make an impact? Apply now and become part of our journey.