Graphic Design Lecturer (Higher Education)

Wigan & Leigh College and University Centre; Wigan; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

EAP

Medicash

Counselling

Specsavers

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work

Discount schemes

Job summary

Wigan & Leigh College is seeking a HE Graphic Design Lecturer to lead the HE Graphic Design offer, teaching primarily across Higher Education and some Level 3 delivery. You’ll guide students in building sophisticated portfolios and developing professional judgement, with industry projects and live briefs to connect learning with practice.

You’ll shape the curriculum, bring your professional experience and industry relationships into the programme, and help learners progress to employment,

Qualifications

• A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification in Graphic Design, Visual Communication or a related discipline.
• Experience teaching Graphic Design or a closely related creative subject.
• Experience in Higher Education and/or Further Education.
• Strong contemporary knowledge of Graphic Design and visual communication.
• Experience supporting students to develop professional portfolios.
• Current industry knowledge and professional awareness.
• Strong communication, organisation and assessment skills.
• Professional Graphic Design experience or an active creative practice would be valuable.
• Strong industry relationships or networks would be a real advantage.
• A recognised teaching qualification, or willingness to work towards one where appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Teach primarily across HE Graphic Design, with some Level 3 delivery.
• Help students develop strong creative portfolios and professional confidence.
• Bring contemporary Graphic Design practice into learning.
• Develop live briefs and professional projects with industry partners.
• Build relationships with designers, studios, agencies and creative organisations.
• Support students preparing for employment, freelance practice or further study.
• Maintain high expectations for attendance, engagement and professional standards.
• Assess work and provide clear, constructive feedback.
• Help strengthen progression from Level 3 into Higher Education.
• Contribute to the development of the HE Graphic Design offer.
• Support exhibitions, end-of-year shows, open events and recruitment activity.

Skills

Graphic Design

Teaching

Higher Education

Portfolio development

Industry connections

Education

Degree in Graphic Design

Postgraduate qualification

Job description

Key Details

• Department: Art &design
• Employment Type: Full Time
• Location: Wigan & Leigh College
• Compensation: £31,699 - £42,540 / year
• Hours: 37 Hours per Week | Permanent | All Year Round

Develop the practice. Connect students with industry. Help the next generation of designers find their voice.

Good Graphic Design education should feel connected to the industry students want to enter.

This should give them space to experiment, challenge ideas and develop their own visual identity, while also helping them understand briefs, clients, professional standards and what it takes to build a creative career.

As our HE Graphic Design Lecturer, you’ll help create that experience and act as the course leader for our Higher Level courses.

You’ll teach primarily across our Higher Education Graphic Design provision, alongside some Level 3 teaching. You’ll help students develop sophisticated portfolios, stronger creative judgement and the confidence to progress into employment, freelance practice or further study.

This is a Lecturer A role, so you’ll also have the opportunity to help shape and develop the HE Graphic Design offer, bringing your professional experience, ideas and industry relationships into the curriculum.

We’re particularly interested in someone who can connect students with professional practice through live briefs, visiting practitioners, agency and employer relationships, networking, work experience and collaborative projects.

You may already combine teaching with professional creative practice. You may have spent time working in the industry before moving into education.

What matters is that you understand contemporary Graphic Design and can help students develop work that feels ambitious, relevant and professionally credible.

What you'll do

• Teach primarily across HE Graphic Design, with some Level 3 delivery.
• Help students develop strong creative portfolios and professional confidence.
• Bring contemporary Graphic Design practice into learning.
• Develop live briefs and professional projects with industry partners.
• Build relationships with designers, studios, agencies and creative organisations.
• Support students preparing for employment, freelance practice or further study.
• Maintain high expectations for attendance, engagement and professional standards.
• Assess work and provide clear, constructive feedback.
• Help strengthen progression from Level 3 into Higher Education.
• Contribute to the development of the HE Graphic Design offer.
• Support exhibitions, end-of-year shows, open events and recruitment activity.

What you’ll bring

• A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification in Graphic Design, Visual Communication or a related discipline.
• Experience teaching Graphic Design or a closely related creative subject.
• Experience in Higher Education and/or Further Education.
• Strong contemporary knowledge of Graphic Design and visual communication.
• Experience supporting students to develop professional portfolios.
• Current industry knowledge and professional awareness.
• Strong communication, organisation and assessment skills.
• Professional Graphic Design experience or an active creative practice would be valuable.
• Strong industry relationships or networks would be a real advantage.
• A recognised teaching qualification, or willingness to work towards one where appropriate.

What You’re Like

• Creatively credible. You know contemporary Graphic Design and can bring professional practice into learning.
• Ambitious. You want students to produce work they’re proud to show the industry.
• Industry-connected. You use professional relationships to create meaningful opportunities.
• Clear. You give feedback that helps students develop stronger ideas and better work.
• Curious. You keep up with changes in design, technology and creative practice.
• Supportive. You help students grow in confidence while keeping expectations high.
• Collaborative. You want to be part of an ambitious Creative Arts community.
• Professionally focused. You want students ready for the world beyond college.

Essentials

• You’ll need an enhanced DBS check. If you get the job, we’ll do this for you.
• You’re committed to safeguarding and inclusion.
• You can work across college sites and external locations where required.
• You’re flexible and happy to support exhibitions, open events and wider Creative Arts activity.
• You’re committed to maintaining current professional and subject knowledge.

Why work with us?

At Wigan & Leigh College, we want creative education to connect with what happens beyond the classroom.

That means giving students space to experiment and find their creative voice, while also exposing them to professional briefs, working designers and the realities of creative practice.

As our HE Graphic Design Lecturer, you’ll have the opportunity to influence that experience.

You’ll bring your professional expertise, creative ideas and industry relationships into the programme, helping students develop work that is ambitious, contemporary and relevant.

You’ll also work across FE and HE, helping students see a clear route from Level 3 study into higher-level creative education and ultimately into the industry.

Great people. Change lives.

Time to recharge

• Generous annual leave entitlement, including bank holidays, depending on your role
• Family-friendly leave policies

Wellbeing as well as work

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Medicash healthcare plan
• Occupational health support
• Confidential counselling
• Specsavers eye test vouchers
• A culture where people look out for each other

Financial peace of mind

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Salary sacrifice schemes, including Cycle to Work and buy tech
• Railcard and Tusker Green Car Scheme
• Local and national discount schemes

Clear progression routes

• Ongoing professional development
• Opportunities to build experience across apprenticeships, employer engagement and learner support
• Opportunities to step up, specialise or move across college teams
• Leadership pathways