Academic Director

Arden University; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 78,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive higher education institution in Nottingham is seeking an experienced Academic Director. The role involves leading academic operations, enhancing student learning, and mentoring staff. Candidates must have a strong leadership track record and hold a doctoral degree. This position offers a competitive salary between £78,000 and £82,000 and a range of excellent employee benefits.

Benefits

30 days holiday + bank holidays

Aviva pension plan with 7% contributions

Private Medical Insurance

Access to Perkbox benefits

Free education for employees and family

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead an engaged faculty culture and enhance student learning experience.
• Oversee academic operations at the Nottingham Campus.
• Build relationships with local businesses and employers.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Mentoring

Student engagement

Problem-solving

Adaptability

Collaboration

Education

Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent)

Job description

Salary: £78,000 - £82,000 per annum

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Deputy Provost

Department: Academic Office

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

This role will be based full time from our Nottingham Campus

About Arden University

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.

About our Department

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.

About the Opportunity

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 Nottingham 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.

About You

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.

Why Arden

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%
• SimplyHealth plan option
• Private Medical Insurance
• Access to Perkbox benefits
• Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends
• Plus, other excellent benefits
• Our ‘Golden Ticket’ which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education

Our Values

Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.

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

Closing Date: Sunday 4th December

Application Process:

You will need to include a cover letter (no more than two sides of A4 as a guideline) outlining your experience and fit with the role.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date should we receive sufficient applications or in order to respond to business needs. In order to avoid missing an opportunity to apply please submit your application as early as possible.

If you are a current Arden student or have an upcoming course with us, you are not eligible to apply for Student Experience roles due to a conflict of interest related to system access.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that if you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you can indicate via the application form below. By doing so, you are also consenting for this information to be shared with the hiring team. For more details on what qualifies as a disability under the Disability Equality Act 2010, please refer to the guidance here.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.

Sponsorship statement

Please be aware that some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa under the points‑based immigration system. However, we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.