Academic Director - Distance Learning

Arden University; Coventry; Remote; GBP 79,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Coventry is looking for an Academic Director (Distance Learning) to shape online education. This role demands strategic leadership, fostering innovation, and enhancing student experiences. Candidates should be skilled in collaboration and have a robust academic background, with the ability to drive engagement and quality standards in learning delivery. A comprehensive benefits package is offered, focusing on educational accessibility.

Benefits

30 days holiday + bank holidays

Generous pension plan

Private Medical Insurance

Free education for employees and discounts for family

Access to Perkbox benefits

Qualifications

• Influential academic professional with experience in leading teams.
• Skilled in fostering a positive, inclusive culture.
• Experience in implementing engagement strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop academic teams for continuous improvement.
• Drive student engagement through innovative approaches.
• Oversee academic quality and standards.

Skills

Academic leadership

Collaboration

Innovation in education

Partnership building

Student engagement

Education

Relevant academic qualifications

Job description

Salary: £78,065 per annum

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Director of Distance Learning

Department: Centre for Distance Learning

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

This role operates primarily on a remote working arrangement that will require little to no travel into our Coventry head office or Campus locations. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

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 Centre for Distance Learning (CDL) leads the strategic transformation of Arden University's distance learning provision, driving innovation, enhancement, and measurable improvements in student success. Established as part of the Distance Learning Improvement Plan (DLIP), the Centre coordinates a cross-university effort to improve continuation, completion, and student experience, ensuring our provision exceeds sector benchmarks and contributes to Arden's ambition for excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Working across academic schools and professional services, the CDL provides thought leadership in online education, pioneering evidence-based approaches to design, delivery, and student engagement. It is home to our standardised learning model that underpins all module design and fosters active learning, belonging, and confidence among distance learners.

Innovation sits at the heart of the CDL. The Centre leads the testing and evaluation of emerging technologies, including AI-enhanced teaching tools, immersive simulations, and data-driven learning analytics. Through these innovations, we create flexible, inclusive, and future-focused learning experiences for our global student community.

By empowering staff through professional development, supporting communities of practice, and embedding continuous improvement, the CDL ensures distance learning remains a defining strength of Arden University and a driver of institutional innovation that informs and enhances blended learning delivery.

About the Opportunity

This is a brand new Academic Director (Distance Learning) position, which plays a key role in shaping the future of online and distance education at Arden University. Reporting to the Director of Distance Learning, this position is responsible for driving academic excellence, fostering faculty engagement, and enhancing the overall student experience across our distance learning provision.

As a strategic and collaborative leader, you will champion innovation in teaching and learning, build strong partnerships across the institution and with industry, and ensure the continued delivery of high-quality, employer-focused education.

In this role, you will

• Lead and develop academic teams to create a culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Drive student engagement and success through innovative, inclusive, and evidence-based approaches.
• Oversee academic quality and standards, ensuring our programmes remain rigorous, relevant, and aligned to institutional goals.
• Strengthen relationships with employers and external partners to enhance Arden’s reputation as a leader in accessible, career-focused higher education.
• Champion the effective use of digital tools and learning technologies to enrich teaching and student support.

This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary academic leader to make a significant impact on the future of distance learning and student success at Arden University.

About You

You will be an influential and collaborative academic professional with the ability to engage, motivate, and support colleagues to deliver high-quality outcomes for students. You will have experience of building strong relationships based on credibility, communication, and trust, enabling you to influence academic practice and foster a positive, inclusive culture across teams and disciplines.

You will be skilled at articulating a clear vision, setting shared expectations, and promoting excellence in teaching, learning, and student support. A focus on student success and a genuine commitment to enhancing the overall learning experience are essential, as is the ability to work effectively with academic and professional services colleagues to embed best practice.

You will also have substantial experience in implementing strategies that drive student engagement, persistence, and satisfaction. Your strengths in planning, collaboration, and the delivery of educational initiatives will enable you to make a meaningful contribution to continuous improvement and innovation within a dynamic learning environment.

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

3rd November 2025

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.