Academic Dean, SAE UK & Athens

Location: Based in London with ability to travel to Oxford and occasionally to other SAE campuses.

Reports To: General Manager & Managing Director, SAE UK & Athens

Direct Reports: Programme Leaders, Student Services Manager, Learning and Teaching Manager, Registrar

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

• General Manager and Managing Director.
• Executive Leadership Team.
• Operations Manager.
• Directorate of Academic and Student Services Team (“DASS Team”).
• Campus Managers, Academic Managers and Faculty.
• Local industry, sector peak body, and education network.

ORGANISATION BACKGROUND

SAE Institute was founded in 1976 and is a globally operating higher education provider focused on creating a talent pipeline for the creative media industries. The SAE network of campuses spans over 28 countries on six continents with more than 40 campuses. SAE Institute in Europe is Part of the AD Education group of companies, delivering industry-focused creative education to more than 32,000 students.

SAE comprises 27 campuses across Europe, in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. SAE offer industry-focused Creative Media Degrees, Diplomas, and short courses across eight subject areas – Audio, Content Creation & Online Marketing, Film, Game Art Animation, Games Programming, Music Business, Visual Effect and Web Development. Students come from diverse social, cultural, educational, and artistic backgrounds and all have access to industry-grade facilities, expert staff, and nurturing campus environments.

The SAE vision is to be the world’s leading educator for the creative media industries.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Dean’s primary role is to provide leadership for the overall direction, strategic development, operational management and ongoing improvement of SAE’s academic function. As a member of SAE’s Senior Management Team, the Dean also has direct input and influence on the management and wider strategic development of the business.

Through the Directorate of Academic and Student Services (DASS), the Dean leads on the UK / Athens Product Development, Education, Regulatory and student outcome strategies, through oversight of the academic functions throughout the student life cycle and working closely with the Campus Managers and other key stakeholders.

As a member and/or chair of the relevant committees, the Dean assumes specific responsibility for learning, teaching and assessment across the SAE academic portfolio ensuring timely reporting to external partners and Academic Board.

SAE SAE Education Educat on Ltd. LimitedRegistered in England No. 06647488 Registered Office: SAE Institute, Georgia House, 38 Pall Mall, Liverpool, L3 6AL

The Dean is the Quality Nominee for the academic function and will provide the team with oversight of all matters of quality assurance, annual review, improvement planning and programme development/approval. The Dean will work closely with colleagues to ensure that quality assurance and administrative support is appropriately integrated.

The Dean provides leadership, project management and delivery of:

• Achievement of student outcomes, retention, and engagement.
• Academic governance committees.
• Programme validation and relationship with partner University (ies).
• Local accreditation strategies, where appropriate and aligned to company vision.
• Curriculum/product development, content, and delivery plans.
• Quality and engaging learning and teaching activities.
• The Institute’s Access & Participation Plan (APP) through co-ownership with Marketing and Operations.
• The Institute’s Student Protection Plan through co-ownership with Operations.
• Admissions/ recruitment activities, i.e., academic assessments, recognition of prior learning, access, etc.
• Academic governance and quality assurance policy implementation and reporting to regulatory frameworks, legislation, and agencies.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Management

• Lead the Academic Team, contributing to the day-to-day strategic and operational direction and senior oversight of the academic function.
• Lead on the design, delivery and review of the academic operational plan.
• As a member of the Senior Management Team contribute to the wider strategic and operational management and development of the business
• Membership of the Academic Board, with specific responsibility for learning, teaching and assessment and as the academic function’s Quality Nominee.
• Development of the learning, teaching and assessment practices and assuring that LTA strategic objectives are being consistently met across the provision.
• Line manage the Programme Leaders, Student Services Manager and other designated reports to ensure relevant corporate and academic strategic objectives are implemented and achieved.
• Model the management behaviours expected of senior managers, managing performance through the appraisal process, and supporting direct reports in building their own capacity for leadership and management.
• Oversee matters relating to Human Resources and Management and, as required, the search, recruitment and selection of academic postholders.
• Contribute to the strategic development and expansion of the academic portfolio through programme review and validation projects in line with the portfolio development plan.
• Lead on the development and implementation of relevant academic development projects and initiatives that ensure the ongoing improvement of the student experience.
• Lead on the resource allocation, financial planning and oversight of the academic provision, and support the team as appropriate in the day-to-day management of budgets.

Quality Assurance, Academic Standards and Regulatory Compliance

• Lead the academic team in key matters of institutional improvement, especially in relation to B3 metrics and student satisfaction.
• Monitor and analyse data on an ongoing basis, reporting into relevant committees and working groups on the actions taken to address underperforming areas.
• As the academic function’s Quality Nominee, assume oversight of all matters of quality assurance, annual review, improvement planning and programme development and approval.
• Effective design and implementation of the Quality Assurance framework, including Partner University regulations, annual monitoring, external examining, self-evaluation/periodic review, peer review, etc.
• All regulatory reporting and returns completed in time, to associated bodies i.e., OfS, HESA, and across all campuses.
• Oversee the development and implementation of academic governance and reporting, including Learning & Teaching and Quality committees, Programme Committee activities and assessment boards, ensuring timely reporting to external partners and Academic Board.
• Implement, review, and revise the learning and teaching plans including co-owning the Access and Participation Plan with Marketing and Operations.
• Work with the Programme Leaders to oversee the Programme Annual Monitoring process, including the production of the Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Report for the University of Hertfordshire.
• Guide the Programme Leaders and their teams in action planning, initiatives and interventions, establishing and meeting set targets for SAE’s performance in continuation, progression, completion, Graduate Outcomes, NSS, attendance and engagement.
• Ensure a comprehensive understanding of all internal and external quality and regulatory requirements, compliance and metrics, identifying trends and areas for development, and ensuring that strategic and operational attention is aligned with our quality and regulatory priorities.
• Ownership of the Student Management System (SMS) and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to ensure accuracy of record keeping and an engaging digital experience for our students and staff.
• Lead the Industry Advisory Council initiatives, reporting on findings and trends to feed into new product offering proposals.
• Lead and develop appropriate plans to enhance our positioning in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
• Chair Academic Misconduct Panels, designated Complaints or Disciplinary Hearings.

Student experience

• Contribute where appropriate, and within an agreed specified allocation of hours, to taught delivery and assessment activity in your specialist area.
• Develop a strategy that drives continuous improvement for targets around student metrics e.g., student satisfaction (National Student Survey), retention, attendance, progression, graduate outcomes, destinations, etc.
• Develop robust learner analytics to inform decision making and student engagement initiatives.
• Support colleagues in making any necessary improvement interventions in the delivery of the programmes and module.
• Monitor the student experience through analysis of the relevant feedback and data, making leadership interventions as necessary and on an ongoing basis.

Other duties

• Engage in appropriate CPD, research, scholarly and professional practice that enhances the operation of the role, the esteem of the institution, contributes to the student experience, or aids additional revenue generation.
• Develop CDP strategies, opportunities and resources for academic staff. Ensuring that research, scholarship and professional practice is an embedded aspect of the academic culture and that appropriate leadership of scholarly activity is maintained.
• Ensure that collaborative relationships are developed within the campus and region, working and exchanging information with colleagues and functions to share best practice.
• Attendance at Graduation Ceremonies, Open Evening/Days and other student or staff facing events.
• Liaising as appropriate with professional bodies and other external organisations as required.
• Representing SAE at external events as required.
• Any other duties appropriate to the role.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications/Training  

• A Masters’ qualification, or higher, in either creative media, education, business or cognate discipline (essential).
• Strong academic credentials or evidence of esteem such as Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, or engagement with external networks, boards, or committees; or publications (essential).

Experience  

• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and review (essential).
• Record of accomplishment in diverse educational environments and ability work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders (essential).
• Leadership experience managing academic teams and fostering a collegial working environment across disparate locations, inspiring and encouraging positive communications, motivation, trust, and professional standards.
• Experience of leading change through and positively thrives in exciting dynamic environments, demonstrating resilience with ability to prioritise.
• Industry experience in a creative discipline on offer at SAE Institute (desirable).
• Experience in using technology in learning, including virtual learning environments (desirable).
• Demonstrated student-centric approach and orientation.

Knowledge  

• Deep understanding of academic metrics and their application to improve the student experience and learning & teaching activities (essential).
• Knowledge and experience of educational quality assurance and processes in HE and vocational education (essential).
• Knowledge of learning and teaching technologies and their application to the delivery of programmes (essential).
• Understanding of scholarship and innovation in creative media(desirable).
• Understanding of anti-discrimination, sexual harassment, access and equality, and other relevant legislation (essential).
• Understanding of the Access & Participation agenda

Skills & Abilities

• Natural strategic planner, experienced in creating, developing, and contributing to goals and plans, who critically assesses own performance and welcomes feedback.
• Personal integrity, honesty, reliable, resilient, tolerant, and determined; an empathic communicator with the ability to see things from other perspectives;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to present ideas and information tailored to the audience, and confident presentation and negotiation skills which adapt to business need internally and externally.
• Flexible and adaptable to work as required and resilient; able to organise and prioritise responsibilities, time-manage appropriately, work under pressure and deliver to deadlines.
• Strong team player who excels at motivating and supporting others, embracing collaborative working and achieving results both individually and as part of a team.
• Professional appearance and demeanour, personable, confident, friendly and approachable.
• Must have the right to work in the UK.

Please apply via the ‘Apply’ button above