Head of Department for Psychology and Counselling

Salary: £59,660 - £70,507 per annum

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Head of School - Psychology

Department: Blended and Distance Learning

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

This role operates primarily on a remote working arrangement that will require little to no travel into our Coventry head office or Campus locations. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

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

Our School of Psychology, part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology, is committed to providing high-quality, applied psychology education. Our diverse academic team includes experienced academics, practitioners, and industry professionals, all focused on preparing students with discipline knowledge and practical skills for real-world careers.

About the Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Head of Department to lead and develop relevant programmes and partnerships across our Blended and Distance Learning provision, within our rapidly growing School of Psychology. The Head of Department will work collaboratively with three other Department Heads, each with their own portfolio, and they will join the School's Leadership Team, which is led by the Head of School.

With a focus on developing applied and practitioner programmes, as well as leading on the development of collaborative home and international partnerships, the appointee will play a pivotal role in shaping outstanding student experiences and outcomes, as well as leading academic and operational excellence within the Department.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and embed innovative teaching, assessment, feedback, supervision, and pastoral care practices to drive student success within applied, practitioner, collaborative and accredited programmes.
• Lead the development of innovative course content and learning resources (both in the blended and online-only spaces) that challenge and stretch learners within applied, practitioner, collaborative and accredited programmes.
• Drive student progression and attainment by delivering outstanding rates of continuation and completion.
• Lead the design, development and delivery of programme curricula aligned to industry and accreditation standards, preparing students for employment or further study.
• Line manage senior academic staff within the Department and foster a sense of community across all colleagues within the Department and wider School.
• Represent Arden University externally (including internationally), promoting our programmes and values at key events, and forging collaborative partnerships and the development of new programmes both at home and internationally.

About You

We are looking for a strong academic leader who fosters collegiality at all levels and who places students at the heart of their innovations.

Essential Skills & Experience

• MSc (or equivalent) in Psychology, with Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• HE teaching qualification and/or Fellowship (e.g., PG Cert HE, SFHEA, PFHEA, QTLS/QTS).
• Proven record of senior academic leadership, people management, and team-building skills.
• Successful track record of leading the development and delivery of high-quality academic programmes, and achieving high levels of student experience, outcomes, and satisfaction (TEF metrics, or equivalent).
• A proven track record of leading the development and/or operation of high-quality collaborative and/or international partnerships.
• A proven track record of working effectively with accrediting bodies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative environments for teaching, research, and industry-focused activities (such as placements).

Desirable Skills & Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent Level 8 qualification.
• Management training or qualifications showcasing leadership capabilities.
• Senior or Principal HEA Fellowship.
• Leadership in the development and/or high-quality delivery of accredited applied and/or practitioner psychology and/or healthcare programmes (e.g. BPS, HCPC, BACP).
• Experience in the development and delivery of programmes with embedded placements.
• Evidence of delivering high quality outcomes in a rapidly moving environment.
• Proficiency in, or desire to lead, innovation via the appropriate application of artificial intelligence.
• A profile of externality commensurate with leadership experience.

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 17th March

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.

Application Process

As part of the application process you are required to submit a cover letter, which needs a clear introductory paragraph, and then includes two to three paragraphs which address:

• Your motivation for applying. Why you are interested in this particular role.
• Your suitability for the position. How your experience, skills and qualifications meet the requirements outlined in the job advert.
• Your interest in Arden University and why you want to work within the Department

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that 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.