Director of Studies

Education First; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global educational organization is seeking a Director of Studies in Cambridge. This full-time permanent role involves leading the academic department, ensuring high-quality management and development of staff. The ideal candidate will be DELTA or MA TESOL qualified, with extensive experience in teaching English at international language schools. Strong leadership and team management skills are essential. Join a vibrant community focused on education and cultural exchange while enjoying a supportive working environment.

Benefits

Continuous professional development

Regular social events

Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications

• 5 years’ experience teaching English at an international language school.
• Highly motivated, energetic and positive.
• A flexible approach to work & hours is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management of the Academic Department.
• Develop new academic content & lead professional development sessions.
• Manage the academic budget for training and materials.

Skills

Academic management experience

Team leadership

Quality management

Teaching English at international schools

Education

DELTA or MA TESOL qualified

Job description

Director of Studies

Cambridge

Full Time Permanent Role

Are you looking to develop your academic career whilst gaining experience within a truly global organisation? Are you ready to take on ownership of a school’s academic mission? EF Cambridge invites you to take on this challenge in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities. This role begins in December 2025/January 2026.

Careers at EF | Open the world with us

EF Education First’s mission is opening the world through education. A career with EF combines the support and opportunity of a large international organisation, with the spirit and energy of a small business. We look for thinkers and doers – creative, collaborative, and motivated people who are excited by education, communication, and travel.

When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries. In the UK and Ireland, our core presence is felt at our international language campuses and summer schools, where we welcome students from around the world to participate in language learning and cultural exchange. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and encourage you to open the world through education.

Your Role

You will manage the Academic department by leading from the front and implementing the course programmes as planned. You have overall responsibility for academic management and quality, training, and development of the academic team. As we are working in a very fast-paced environment, we are looking for a self-starter who can apply their previous knowledge and experience to continue the successful growth and development of the school.

Responsibilities

• Providing overall leadership and management of the Academic Department
• Leading from the front: is passionate about teaching and ready to teach as and when required themselves
• Setting the direction of the Academic Department: is responsible for academic planning and objective setting, ensuring those objectives are met, and supporting staff in meeting them
• Developing new academic content & leading professional development sessions for the teaching team
• Recruiting and managing the academic team including ADoS, Senior Teachers, full time and part time teachers
• Overall management of the University Pathway (UP) program and supporting the UP ADoS in their role to grow the program and support the students journey
• Timetabling of students, teachers, courses, and classrooms to meet the needs and expectations of students and to achieve the course objectives
• Correspondence with EF Sales Offices in over 50 countries globally
• Ensuring that the academic team are compliant with all aspects of school accreditation and EF policies and procedures
• Managing the academic budget for training and materials
• Working towards whole school goals and targets for KPIs and student satisfaction rates
• Taking part in an on-call emergency rota

Requirements

• DELTA or MA TESOL qualified (or in the process of obtaining qualification)
• Academic management experience, specifically team leadership and quality management
• 5 years’ experience teaching English at an international language school (desired)
• Highly motivated, energetic and positive
• A flexible approach to work & hours of work undertaken is essential
• Friendly & approachable manner is key as well as being sensitive to needs of international students
• Clear background check and two references
• Right to work in the UK

Why you will love EF Cambridge

• Continuous professional development for all staff
• Work in a truly international environment
• Regular social events
• Ambition is nurtured and career enhancement opportunities are provided
• Staff are encouraged to innovate, take ownership of their ideas and bring them to fruition
• Training and development sponsorship opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• External trainings on safeguarding and mental health first aid
• Warm and friendly working environment

Testimonies

• ‘Being able to use a great educational product really enables me to develop students and really see their progress over time’
• ‘Able to meet, work with, train and develop a large number of interesting people from all walks of life’
• ‘I have enjoyed the opportunity to forge my skills in a management position’
• ‘Fantastic international students and good customer service’

EF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. References will be followed up and will ask specifically whether there is any reason that the applicant should not be engaged in situations where they have responsibility for, or substantial access to, persons under 18. Upon interview all gaps in CVs must be explained satisfactorily and proof of identity and, where applicable, qualifications will be required. Appropriate suitability checks will be required prior to confirmation of appointment.