Deputy Head of Department - Engineering

UCS College Group; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension scheme

Free Teacher Training

Competitive holiday entitlement

Training and development programmes

All PPE and workwear

Two-week Christmas closure

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

The UCS College Group invites applications for the Deputy Head of Department role in Bridgwater. You will lead the Engineering Department, design and deliver outstanding provision, and coordinate operational delivery in collaboration with the College Management Team.

You will shape strategy to meet regional and national priorities, influence climate action, digital transformation, and EDI. The post requires strong leadership, teaching excellence, and the ability to develop talent across

Qualifications

• Experience leading curriculum teams and managing departments.
• Strong communication and people management skills.
• Ability to develop and lead teaching & learning initiatives.
• Excellent classroom practitioner with pedagogical leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the Engineering Department.
• Support the Assistant Principal in achieving departmental KPIs and the curriculum plan.
• Lead teaching, learning initiatives and pedagogical practice across teams.
• Collaborate with industry partners and college management to align local priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum design

Communication skills

People management

Team collaboration

Job description

The person appointed to role of Deputy Head of Department will have an integral role in designing and delivering outstanding provision across the Curriculum, through excellent leadership of curriculum teams and coordinating the operational delivery of provision. Working collaboratively with the Assistant Principal and other members of the College Management Team, you will be a key figurehead in managing and supporting the continued success of the department.

At the heart of the role is supporting the College to deliver its vision: achieving the overarching strategic aims that have been developed in response to the current context of local, regional and national priorities. In addition, the role will influence our response to the climate emergency, digital transformation, and our continued work to strengthen equality, diversity, and inclusion for all.

You will play a critical role in overseeing the operational day to day running of the department, whilst supporting the Assistant Principal in achieving departmental KPIs, appropriate financial contribution and implementing a robust curriculum plan that allows for growth, while meeting the needs of our students and local, regional & national skills priorities.

This is an exciting time for the College and our high-performing departments, and we are seeking a proactive, dynamic and experienced practitioner to join the College Management Team and continue to proactively pursue the highest standards and outcomes for our students. We are passionate about teaching, learning and assessment and, critical to this post, the post-holder will need to be an excellent classroom practitioner, with the ability to develop and lead teaching & learning initiatives and pedagogical practice.

The role requires outstanding communication and people management skills. The ability to motivate, develop talent and unlock the potential of individuals and teams is critical. Being a strong team-player who is positively solution focused, with the ability to work collaboratively with leaders and managers across different areas, is essential.

The Engineering Department at Bridgwater College is dedicated to developing the next generation of skilled engineers by equipping learners with the technical knowledge, practical expertise, and professional behaviours required for a rapidly evolving industry. Through a forward-thinking curriculum, industry-standard facilities, and strong partnerships with employers such as Müller, Yeo Valley, Hinkley Point C, and a wide range of local and regional SMEs, the department remains highly responsive to employer needs and regional skills priorities. By working closely with industry, the department fosters innovation, problem solving, and sustainability, ensuring students are prepared to meet the demands of modern engineering and play an active role in shaping the future of manufacturing, infrastructure, and low carbon technologies.

Backed by significant investment in state-of-the-art facilities and industry‑standard equipment, the department offers an exceptional learning environment where students can develop hands-on experience with the latest engineering technologies. Modern laboratories, cutting-edge machine shops and advanced training spaces ensure that learning is practical, relevant, and aligned with the evolving needs of the sector.

Passionate, collaborative, and future-focused, the Engineering Department is dedicated to creating outstanding learning experiences that develops the innovation, critical skills, and real-world impact.

UCS College Group offer a range of fantastic employee benefits including:

• Generous defined benefit pension scheme, including employer contribution
• Free Teacher Training
• Competitive holiday entitlement
• Dedicated training and development programmes
• All PPE and workwear
• Two-week Christmas closure
• Discounted Golf membership
• Employee Assistance Programme

UCS College Group is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and communities. We are also a disability confident employer and we’ll do all we can to help with your application. Please let us know if you need to request any adjustments to the recruitment process. We encourage everyone to apply who wishes to and we believe that everyone should have an equal opportunity.