Head of Department for Postgraduate Psychology

Arden University; London; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Head of Department to lead its Postgraduate Psychology program. This pivotal role involves shaping exceptional student experiences and fostering academic excellence. You will guide a passionate team, develop innovative teaching practices, and ensure alignment with industry standards. Join a forward-thinking institution that values accessibility and diversity, and be part of an exciting journey as they expand into new disciplines and locations. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in higher education.

Benefits

30 days holiday + bank holidays

Generous pension plan

Private Medical Insurance

Study discounts for family and friends

Access to Perkbox benefits

Free Arden course for employees

Golden Ticket for free education

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and management experience in academic settings.
• Strong track record of enhancing student experiences and outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovative teaching and assessment practices to drive student success.
• Design and oversee engaging course content and resources.

Skills

Leadership

People Management

Team Building

Curriculum Design

Teaching Skills

Research Skills

Education

MSc in Psychology

HE Teaching Qualification

PhD or Equivalent

Job description

Salary: £57,000 - 65,000 per annum

London weighting: additional£4,000 per annum (if London based)

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Dean - Faculty of Social Sciences &Technology

Department: Postgraduate Psychology

Click here to read thefull job descriptionand view our excellent benefits here

This role operates on a hybrid working arrangement that will require regular travel into our UK locations listed below when required. Travel each week will fluctuate in line with business requirements. The primary location for this role will be based nearest to your address.

Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

Travel will be required into the following locations:

• Coventry head office
• Birmingham campus
• Leeds campus
• Manchester campus
• London area (Tower Hill, Holborn & Ealing)

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:

Our Department of Psychology has grown significantly over the last few years, and our journey continues. Our academic team brings together extensive experience from academia, professional practice, and industry. Our goal is to equip our students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, ensuring they are fully prepared for employment upon graduation.

About the Opportunity:

We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Head of Department to lead the Postgraduate offering in our rapidly growing School of Psychology. You will play a pivotal role in shaping outstanding student experiences and outcomes, as well as developing academic and operational excellence within the department.

Key Responsibilities

As Head of Department, you will:

• Lead and embed innovative teaching, assessment, and feedback practices to drive student success.
• Develop and oversee engaging course content and virtual learning resources that challenge and stretch learners.
• Drive student progression and attainment by delivering outstanding rates of continuation and completion.
• Design programme curriculums aligned to industry standards, preparing students for employment or further study.
• Line manage academic staff, including Senior Lecturers, and ensure team performance aligns with strategic goals.
• Represent Arden University externally, promoting our programmes and values at key events.
• Contribute to teaching and academic activities.

About You:

Essential Skills & Experience:

• MSc (or equivalent) in Psychology, with Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• HE teaching qualification and/or Fellowship (e.g., PG Cert HE, SFHEA, PFHEA, QTLS/QTS).
• Proven leadership, people management, and team-building skills.
• A successful track record of leading academic programmes, achieving high levels of Student Experience, Outcomes, and Satisfaction (TEF metrics).
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative environments for teaching, research, and industry-focused activities.

Desirable Skills & Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent Level 7 qualification.
• Management training or qualifications showcasing leadership capabilities.

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 coverage (applies to certain job roles)
• 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: Monday 26th May 2025

Interviews to be held on week commencing Monday 2nd June 2025

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 this role 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.

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