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APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF THE LIFELONG LEARNING CENTRE October 2014
ROLE SUMMARY
The University of Leeds has a strong commitment to finding different ways of opening up the University, its knowledge and learning opportunities, to wider audiences. The Lifelong Learning Centre actively promotes programmes, pathways and support for adult, part time and foundation level students – especially, although not exclusively, those from disadvantaged and under-represented groups.
The Centre operates both as a multi-disciplinary School running undergraduate programmes that support recruitment and progression, and as a Service with a range of functions to meet the needs of its various cohorts, including ‘non-standard’ students based in faculties, with the common aim and commitment of providing a first class student experience. Much of the Centre’s provision is targeted specifically at the local community, supporting both recruitment and public engagement
Following the resignation of Dr Stella Cottrell, who has left to take up a PVC role at the University of East London, we are looking for a dynamic, creative and committed individual to lead the Lifelong Learning Centre, maintain its success and provide a strategic vision which will continue to attract non-standard students in an increasingly competitive HE environment.
THE VISION
A member of the research-intensive Russell Group of Universities in the UK, Leeds believes that it is important to translate this excellence into its city and region and to make itself accessible to all those who can benefit from its provision. In this context, and in partnership with the University’s faculties, the Lifelong Learning Centre has brought together a committed and experienced team who provide the specialist support needed by adults returning to education and part-time learners, and who deliver a range of innovative award-bearing programmes to students from under-represented groups (defined by, for example, age, ethnicity, class and/or income), and to individuals whose personal circumstances make it preferable for them to study part-time.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The individual appointed must have a strong strategic capability and a demonstrable track record of vigorous and successful commitment to non-standard students. They will be able to demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities, creativity, and the ability to work at a senior level with employers and other external organisations, particularly in the city region.
The post reports directly to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education.
Main duties and responsibilities
The Director of the Lifelong Learning Centre will be responsible for:
the strategic direction of the Centre, and ensuring delivery of the vision for excellent academic provision and service delivery for non-standard students in the context of a research-intensive, international University;
the planning, co-ordination and development of the academic delivery and support functions of the Centre as outlined above;
providing inspirational and supportive leadership to the Centre’s academic and service staff;
maintaining and developing partnership working with Schools, Faculties and relevant services to promote and fulfil the University's commitment to widening participation and fair access;
delivering against the University’s widening participation targets, as defined in its Access Agreement;
playing an active role in the annual preparation of the Access Agreement (or its successor);
the management of resources, planning, budgets and allocations in respect of all types of account within the Centre, ensuring the control of expenditure in relation to the delivery of the strategy;
the support and welfare of staff in the Centre and students on programmes offered by the Centre;
the preparation of reports on the LLC to the University Council and Senate, as required;
ensuring the compliance of the Centre with the wider policies of the University (for example, finance, teaching quality, health and safety, purchasing, HR matters) and seeing that appropriate measures are in place to deliver such compliance, especially in teaching quality assurance;
representing the Centre on the relevant University committees and, as appropriate, representing the University on outside bodies.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The person appointed to the Director of the Lifelong Learning Centre should demonstrate the following experience and skills:
Essential
A track record of effective strategic leadership and change management in the field of widening participation in higher education, preferably in a large university;
A strong understanding of and commitment to ‘non-standard’ students (mature, P/T, foundation level, etc);
Demonstrably excellent leadership, communication and negotiating skills;
Management of staff, with evidence of team building, collaborative leadership and highly-developed interpersonal skills;
Experience of developing innovative programmes in response to changing markets and employer needs;
A track record of collaboration and team work, preferably including academics and academic departments in a higher education context, including senior managers;
A proven track record of working with a wide range of partner organisations, and of developing productive local and regional collaborations;
A proven ability to handle the financial aspects of the role;
Strong and demonstrable organisational skills;
Evidence of active engagement with and a thorough understanding of national debate and policies on widening participation and non-standard students.
Desirable
Experience of studying, researching and/or teaching in a research-intensive university;
Experience of both research-intensive and other universities may also be beneficial;
Experience of successful collaborative curriculum development to a first degree level;
Experience of innovation in flexible/distance learning;
Marketing skills and experience, preferably in a University context;
Evidence of active engagement with scholarship in the field, which might include a record of publication and research award.
HOW TO APPLY
Informal enquiries about the post may be made to:
Professor Vivien Jones Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education Tel: +44 (0) 113 343 5000 E-mail: [email protected]
To apply please send us the following:
Your CV.
A covering letter which should outline how your skills and experience match those we are looking for, your current salary and the names of three referees.
A completed Equal Opportunities monitoring form which can be found at http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/equality_monitoring_form.
Applications can be sent by email or post to:
Nicola Whitehead Human Resources Manager for Corporate Services Level 12 EC Stoner Building University of Leeds LS2 9JT Tel: +44 (0) 113 343 1614 Email: [email protected].
Please contact Nicola directly should you have any queries about the application process.
The closing date for the post is 5pm Friday 7th November 2014.
It is anticipated that shortlisting will take place in November. The recruitment process will be split into two stages comprising an initial interview and an assessment centre. It is anticipated that the initial interview will take place during week commencing 24th November and that the assessment centre will take place during week commencing 8th December or week commencing 15th December for selected candidates.
The role comes with a competitive salary
A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE
The Leeds City region has a diverse economy with some 100,000 businesses, generating around £52 billion a year. The city is the UK’s second largest financial and legal centre after London, employing almost 90,000 people within the financial and business services sector.
Leeds is also great value as a place to live, with the average price of a semi-detached house in the city coming in at around £154,000 and a detached £278,000. This compares favourably with the national average of £200,000 and £330,000 respectively. (Land Registry of England and Wales, Crown copyright. Jan-Mar 2013)
Whatever your interests, Leeds and the surrounding area offers something for you. From world-class theatres and fascinating museums to stylish shopping, fine dining and great live music, you can’t fail to find something to match your tastes. The city centre itself is compact, easy to explore and only a ten-minute walk from our campus.
Find out more about what our city has to offer you at http://www.visitleeds.co.uk/
A short drive or train ride out of Leeds will take you into the unparalleled Yorkshire countryside. Famously, the picturesque moors around Ilkley and Haworth were the setting for many of the novels by the Bronte sisters, and the stunning Yorkshire Dales are ideal for outdoor activities such as walking, horse riding, climbing and mountain biking.
Learn more about the region’s attractions at http://www.yorkshire.com/
Further afield, the sights of London are just over two hours away by train. Manchester can be reached in less than an hour and, should the fancy take you, you can fly to destinations such as New York, Dublin, Barcelona, Amsterdam and even Islamabad from Leeds Bradford International Airport.
A GREAT PLACE TO WORK
The University of Leeds is one of the UK’s largest universities, and is placed in the top 100 in the QS World University rankings. With an annual turnover of £540 million, over 30,000 students and over 7,000 staff, the University has developed a distinctive ability to integrate world-class research, scholarship and education through which it is seeking to secure a place amongst the top 50 universities in the world.
Integrating research and learning and teaching is at the heart of our strategy. Our courses are taught by staff who are engaged in world-class research and cutting-edge professional practice.
We invest in helping organisations turn university research into world-class products and services. From the invention of the Ultracane which helps blind and visually impaired people, to a spin-out company which provides expert services and new technologies for the biopharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, we are at the forefront of innovation.
Our size and international reputation enables us to offer one of the widest ranges of academic courses in the UK and our graduates are highly sought after by employers and go on to succeed in all walks of life and become leaders in their field.
OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
We have 31,324 students from 147 countries.
The local community benefits from our 2,000 student volunteers.
We have a global network of alumni and are in regular contact with more than 220,000 alumni from 186 different countries.
Our students include 1,455 from EU countries and 5,391 from other international countries.
We have staff of 102 different nationalities.
With 7,517 staff we are the third largest employer in Leeds.
We contribute around £1.23bn a year to the local economy – students add a further £211m through rents and living costs.
OUR STRATEGY AND VALUES
To encapsulate how we intend to achieve our vision and embody our purpose, we have created a ‘strategy map’, created in 2005 and refreshed in winter 2009/10 after extensive consultation with our staff, students and stakeholders (http://strategy.leeds.ac.uk/).
The University’s values are an integral part of our strategy and guide our decisions and how we work together. Our values are:
Academic excellence which includes knowledge, academic freedom, critical independence, creativity, innovation, world-class performance.
Community which includes public service and citizenship, collegiality, teamwork and mutual respect.
Integrity which includes openness, transparency and honesty.
Inclusiveness which includes diversity, equal opportunity and access.
Professionalism which includes provision of effective and efficient customer focused services in all aspects of our work (internally and externally).
BENEFITS
All of our staff have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:
25 days paid holiday a year and an additional 15 days statutory holiday which incorporate Christmas and New Year closure
Generous pension scheme
An exceptional relocation package for those moving to take up posts
Staff car parks
Significant savings on trains and buses in the West Yorkshire area
Flexible working options
Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
A range of policies designed to support your work/life balance including compassionate and domestic/carers leave
Bright Beginnings campus nursery
Childcare vouchers offering genuine financial savings
Staff & Departmental Development Unit offering a wide range of training and support
Occupational health and staff counseling services
An innovative and sector leading staff wellbeing agenda
A huge range of staff discounts with local businesses
Prayer and contemplation facilities on campus e.g. Muslim prayer room and chaplaincy
Flexible support available for disabled staff
Support for international including a resource site built specifically for universities, containing a wealth of information for international staff relocating to the UK: www.internationalstaff.ac.uk
Outstanding campus sports facilities including The Edge sports centre with its fantastic 25m eight lane swimming pool and the largest fitness suite of any UK university
