Vice Dean for Teaching, Learning and Students

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university seeks a Vice-Dean for Teaching, Learning, and Students to provide strategic leadership in shaping priorities for teaching and enhancing the student experience. The ideal candidate will have a distinguished academic background, significant experience in higher education, and a commitment to equality and inclusion. This senior position will drive innovative curriculum design and promote student engagement, aiming to deliver a transformative education for a diverse and global student body. The role offers excellent benefits, including a market-leading pension scheme and extensive leave entitlements.

Benefits

Market leading Pension scheme

Employee health and wellbeing services

Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement

Additional paid closure over Christmas

Qualifications

• Distinguished academic record with significant experience in higher education.
• Proven leadership in teaching and learning.
• Strong understanding of quality assurance and regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Shape and enhance teaching and student experience priorities.
• Champion innovation in curriculum design and digital education.
• Drive initiatives to widen participation and support social mobility.

Skills

Leadership in educational innovation

Understanding of UK higher education landscape

Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Collaboration and stakeholder management

Education

Professorial level qualification

Job description

Applications are invited for the role of Vice-Dean for Teaching, Learning and Students (TLS) within the Faculty of Humanities. This senior academic leadership position is responsible for shaping, delivering and enhancing the Faculty’s priorities for teaching, learning and the student experience, in alignment with the University’s Manchester 2035 strategy.

The Vice-Dean for TLS will provide strategic leadership in developing and implementing the Faculty’s teaching, learning and student experience priorities. The postholder will champion innovation in curriculum design, assessment, digital education and inclusive teaching, fostering a culture of continuous improvement informed by data, student feedback and external benchmarks.

A key focus will be on advancing flexible, personalised and digitally enabled learning, and making partner-enabled learning a signature of every Manchester degree. The role oversees the quality and consistency of the student journey, from recruitment and induction through to graduation and employment, and promotes student engagement, co-creation and the integration of the student voice in decision-making.

The Vice-Dean will also drive initiatives to widen participation and promote social mobility, supporting the University’s ambition to deliver a transformative, values-led education for a diverse and global student body.

Working collaboratively across the Faculty and University, the Vice-Dean will represent the Faculty internally and externally at the highest level.

Applicants must be at professorial level, with a distinguished academic record and significant experience in higher education teaching and learning. They should demonstrate proven leadership in educational innovation and enhancement, a strong understanding of the UK higher education landscape, including quality assurance and regulatory frameworks, and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

For further details, please refer to the candidate pack via the link below :

How to apply : University of Manchester - Saxton Bampfylde - Global Executive Search & Leadership Consulting [saxbam.com]

Closing date : 12 January 2026

What you will get in return :

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working you can find out more here