Programme Lead (Pre-Sessional English)

Arden University; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative university is seeking a dynamic leader to develop its inaugural Pre-Sessional English course. This exciting opportunity allows you to shape the academic structure and materials for a program designed to support international students. You will manage a dedicated team, ensuring a high-quality learning experience while aligning with strategic goals. Join a passionate team committed to making education accessible and impactful, and play a central role in expanding the university's international reach. This is your chance to influence the future of education and support students in their academic journeys.

Benefits

30 days holiday + bank holidays

Generous pension plan

Private Medical Insurance

Access to Perkbox benefits

Free Arden course for employees

Discount for family and friends

Golden Ticket for free education

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading or managing Pre-Sessional English courses.
• Strong understanding of UK Higher Education and international student transition.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of Arden University's first Pre-Sessional English course.
• Recruit and manage a team of EAP Lecturers for course delivery.

Skills

Academic leadership

Course design

UKVI compliance

Support for international students

Teaching and assessment

Education

Doctorate in Education or related field

Master's degree

Job description

Salary: £46,890 - £57,310 per annum

London weighting: £4,000 per annum

Employment type:Full TimePermanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Head of the English Language Hub

Department: Library and Learning Success Hub

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

This role will be a hybrid role with presence usually3 days a week to bebased at one of ourLondon Campuses or our Manchester Campus

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:

At Arden University, we’re dedicated to providing students with everything they need to excel in their studies—all in one place! Our Library & Learning Success Hub is a dynamic, 24/7 support service designed to help students thrive academically and achieve their goals.

• Library Portal – Instant, round-the-clock access to a vast digital library packed with essential academic resources
• Academic Skills Support – Engaging workshops and one-to-one sessions covering writing, referencing, research, maths, and more.
• English Language Hub – Tailored courses and resources for students studying in English as an additional language

About the Opportunity:

This is a brand new andexciting opportunity to lead the development and delivery of Arden University’s first Pre-Sessional English (PSE) course – an academic course designed to support our growing international student community. You will be responsible for designing the course from the ground up, including developing all learning materials and shaping the academic structure and approach.

In this pivotal role, you will recruit and lead a team of EAP Lecturers, manage the delivery of the programme on-campus, and ensure an outstanding learning experience for students. You will work closely with the UK International Working Groups and key internal stakeholders to ensure the programme aligns with Arden’s strategic goals and adheres fully to UKVI regulations.

You will play a central role in establishing the operational processes, academic policies, and quality standards that will underpin the PSE provision. This is a unique chance to shape an innovative and impactful programme while supporting the Head of the English Language Hub in expanding Arden’s international remit, distinct from the existing in-sessional provision.

** There may be some opportunity for working at home in the initial development stageuntil the course is running. However when the course is live, there is a requirement to be on campus at least 3 days a week, and more often as and when required.

About You:

We’re looking for a dynamic and experienced academic professional who is ready to take the lead in shaping Arden’s first Pre-Sessional English (PSE) course. To thrive in this role, you’ll need to bring:

• Proven experience in leading or managing a Pre-Sessional English course, with a strong understanding of its structure and demands.
• A solid background in working with international students and a passion for supporting their success.
• In-depth knowledge of UKVI compliance and relevant regulations affecting international students.
• A clear understanding of how international students engage with and transition into UK Higher Education.
• Academic leadership experience, including module design, delivery, and management.
• A significant and successful track record of teaching, learning, and assessment across different HE levels.
• Experience in line managing academic or teaching teams, with the ability to inspire and support colleagues.
• You’ll be organised, collaborative, and committed to delivering a high-quality student experience while shaping a new and impactful academic product.

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: Tuesday 27May

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 Student Experience roles 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.