SEN Teaching Assistant

Gbs Uk; Shotton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Wales is seeking an L&T Lead to oversee and enhance the quality of teaching and learning. The role focuses on supporting lecturers in improving their pedagogical skills and managing training initiatives to ensure a high-quality educational experience for students. Ideal candidates will have substantial teaching experience in higher education and be committed to innovative practices aimed at improving the learning experience. The position offers benefits including annual leave, a pension scheme, and a discretionary performance bonus.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Pension scheme

Tuition reimbursement

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in teaching mature widening participation students in a UK HE or FE context.
• Experience of leading improvements to teaching and assessment through teams of academic staff.
• Evidence of a deep commitment to innovate within education.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the delivery of teaching and learning across the faculty.
• Support lecturers in bridging pedagogical practice gaps.
• Contribute to a teaching environment promoting outstanding learning outcomes.

Skills

Teaching experience with mature learners

Strong communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Change management

Job description

Role Purpose

The L&T Lead will oversee, coordinate and drive the delivery of excellent teaching and learning across the faculty, ensuring academic staff deliver a high‑quality educational experience to students and that GBS meets the expectations of its regulators and awarding bodies for the quality of its learning, teaching and assessment. They will have oversight of teaching quality, with a specific focus on observing and upskilling existing academic staff to assure a consistently high‑quality academic experience for students. As a focussed project, this work will run alongside and in the context of the usual teaching observation and enhancement activities of the Centre for Academic Excellence. The postholder will ensure that academic staff deliver effective teaching to our students, recognising our particular student demographic and their learning needs, and will manage the development, implementation and review of training and development initiatives that are aligned with GBS strategic priorities in learning and teaching and the student experience. The role will particularly suit candidates with experience of working with mature learners from under‑represented communities, who can bring their practical knowledge of teaching and learning, curriculum development, and student‑centred approaches to improve the classroom experience of learners.

Responsibilities

• Assess the pedagogical skills of lecturers through regular classroom visits and assessments of teaching.
• Support lecturers to bridge gaps in their pedagogical knowledge and practice through structured interventions and one‑to‑one support, including modelling effective classroom strategies, assessment practices and use of feedback.
• Support, with the Centre for Academic Excellence, the development of teaching resources, curriculum materials and assessment tasks that promote critical thinking, applied learning and academic rigour across the programmes.
• Contribute to the development of a teaching environment that promotes outstanding learning outcomes for students.
• Maintain and operate appropriate processes for enhancing and assuring the quality and standards of learning and teaching in the faculty in accordance with GBS policies, national benchmarks and professional/regulatory requirements (where appropriate).
• Oversee audit and monitoring processes and documentation specific to the project.
• Promote innovation and professional development in learning, teaching and assessment.
• Draft reports and contribute to documentation on learning and teaching activities, including progress on enhancement initiatives.
• Share and embed examples of good practice in pedagogy, including approaches drawn from FE and HE.
• Foster a culture of quality enhancement across the faculty, including the promotion of innovation in learning and teaching and sharing of best practice.
• Support the delivery of staff development sessions in teaching, learning and assessment, and actively contribute to GBS's environmental policy by minimising environmental impact in the performance of the role.
• Assist with Health and Safety responsibilities to ensure a safe and secure working environment for staff, students and other visitors to the campus.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in teaching mature widening participation students in a UK HE or FE context.
• Experience of leading improvements to teaching and assessment through teams of academic staff.
• Ability to work under pressure whilst maintaining a positive attitude and approach.
• Knowledge of current practices and innovations in education.
• Experienced at managing challenging conversations.
• Evidence of a deep commitment to innovate within education.
• Working knowledge of the OfS's conditions of registration for quality, reliable standards and positive outcomes for students.
• Strongly self‑motivated, bringing credibility, energy, resilience and commitment.
• High‑level communication skills, with the ability to advise and support other members of academic staff effectively.
• Ability to work positively with others, both internal and external, to achieve outcomes and deliver change through people.
• An understanding of working in an institution that supports widening participation students.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as per teaching timetables.
• Experience in the evaluation and enhancement of higher education teaching.
• Staff development and teaching enhancement management experience.
• Experience in fostering strong collaborative working relationships with academic colleagues.
• UK teaching and higher education experience.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Change management experience.
• Project management skills.
• Conflict management.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus 8 public holidays.
• 1‑day extra leave per year of service, up to a maximum of 5 days.
• Workplace pension scheme.
• Tuition reimbursement for career development courses.
• Flexible benefits: cycle to work, workplace nursery, tech scheme and more.
• Perks@Work discount platform, well‑being centre and more.
• Reward and recognition programme.
• £500 award employee referral scheme.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus.