The Purpose

To lead a defined academic Centre that brings together a portfolio of related programmes into a coherent, high-performing, and externally relevant area of provision.

The Head of Centre is responsible for the development, positioning, and performance of the Centre, including the growth of its overseas partnerships and pathways. The role provides leadership across the Programme Directors within the Centre and contributes to School strategy. The Centre and the Head of Centre report to the Dean, while academic governance and defined functional oversight, such as operational oversight, sit with the Vice Dean.

The Role

The Head of Centre leads the development and performance of a defined Centre spanning more than one programme and, in most cases, more than one related subject area, with a particular focus on building and growing international partnerships and overseas provision.

The Head of Centre line-manages the Programme Directors within the Centre, supporting their development and holding them to account for programme performance, while Programme Directors retain ownership of day-to-day delivery.

Formal academic governance for the Centre's programmes — External Examiners, Examination Boards, the Annual Programmes Report, moderation, and Recognition of Prior Learning — sits with the Vice Dean. The Head of Centre contributes to validation and revalidation in partnership with the Vice Dean, but does not own these processes.

Where the Centre's discipline has a defined PSRB, the Head of Centre owns the day-to-day accreditation relationship within the Vice Dean's governance framework; where none exists, they identify and embed relevant industry certifications or standards where they add recognised value.

The Head of Centre may also act as Programme Director for part of the portfolio, retaining direct ownership of one or more programmes, and will be expected to undertake some teaching responsibilities.

The Person

You are an experienced academic leader with strong subject credibility and a track record of delivering high-quality programmes and leading improvement across more than one programme or area.

You are comfortable moving between programme detail and broader academic direction, and you are confident leading and line-managing the Programme Directors within your Centre. You bring real experience or strong potential in building external and international partnerships, and you are motivated to grow a clear and distinctive academic area with a meaningful overseas dimension.

Key Responsibilities

Centre leadership and portfolio coherence

• Provide leadership for the Centre as a whole, ensuring coherence across its programmes, pathways, and levels.

• Lead a portfolio spanning more than one programme and, in most cases, related subject areas.

• Develop a clear academic identity and direction for the Centre, aligned with institutional priorities and market needs.

• Advise the Vice Dean and Dean on opportunities, risks, and development priorities as part of School strategy and portfolio planning.

• Support alignment between programmes so students experience a coherent journey across the Centre.

Leadership across Programme Directors

• Lead, coach and mentor the Programme Directors within the Centre, building their capability and confidence as academic leaders.

• Partner with Programme Directors on programme performance, providing constructive challenge and support to drive continuous improvement.

• Enable Programme Directors to plan, prioritise, and resolve cross-programme issues such as timetabling, assessment readiness, and faculty coordination.

• Work with the Vice Dean on matters requiring formal academic governance decisions.

Programme performance and oversight

• Where appropriate, retain direct ownership of one or more programmes as Programme Director.

• Monitor Centre performance — recruitment, retention, progression, outcomes — raising issues with the Vice Dean and Programme Directors.

• Agree and implement improvement actions with Programme Directors where performance is at risk.

• Step in to stabilise delivery where needed, particularly during growth, change, or underperformance.

Partnerships, external profile and visibility

• Where the Centre has a defined PSRB, own the day-to-day accreditation relationship — submissions, criteria compliance, ongoing liaison — within the Vice Dean's governance framework. Where none exists, identify and embed relevant industry certifications or standards.

• Develop and maintain the Centre's external and international partnerships, working with colleagues and institutional leads.

• Strengthen the Centre's external profile and reputation through events, networks, and engagement.

• Build awareness of the Centre's programmes with prospective students, employers, and partners.

• Represent the Centre with external and overseas partners, including occasional travel.

• Contribute to international recruitment and partnership activity.

Learning experience and development

• Promote a consistent, high-quality learning experience across the Centre's programmes.

• Support assessment, feedback, and curriculum enhancement in line with standards set by the Vice Dean.

• Use data, feedback, and insight to inform improvement across the Centre.

• Contribute to validation and revalidation in partnership with the Vice Dean, who owns these processes.

Growth, portfolio development and innovation

• Identify opportunities for programme development, expansion, or repositioning.

• Contribute to the design of new programmes or pathways where appropriate.

• Support provision across different modes, including blended, online, and CPD.

• Drive improvement and innovation in response to student, employer, and market needs.

Collaboration and leadership

• Work with the Vice Dean so the Centre operates within School academic standards and governance.

• Work with Programme Directors, Faculty Managers, and professional services to support delivery and resourcing.

• Contribute to the development and mentoring of academic staff within the Centre.

Key Outcomes

• A coherent, multi-programme academic Centre with a clear identity and direction.

• High-performing programmes with improved recruitment, retention, and student outcomes.

• A growing and more diverse set of overseas partnerships and pathways, developed against agreed objectives.

• A consistent and high-quality learning experience across the Centre.

• Effective leadership across Programme Directors, supporting strong programme delivery within the School structure.

Culture 

• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual respect across the team and the College;

• Champion a collaborative, high-performance ethos across departments to achieve shared goals;

• Act as a role model for professionalism, approachability, and collegiality, encouraging open communication and constructive feedback among staff;

• Build strong working relationships with colleagues across departments to support shared goals;

• Lead by example in upholding the organisation’s values in all internal and external interactions;
  Recognise and celebrate the contributions of team members and encourage continuous professional development to enhance individual and team performance.

Skills & Expertise

Essential

• A Master’s degree (Level 9 or equivalent) in a relevant discipline

• Substantial experience leading academic programmes or clusters within higher education

• Detailed awareness of PSRB regulatory requirements and their implications for programme design, delivery, and accreditation. 

• Strong understanding of programme performance, student experience, and academic delivery

• Experience contributing to programme development, review, validation, or revalidation

• Ability to interpret data and insight to drive improvement across programmes

• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to support and challenge colleagues constructively

• Experience leading and developing academic and professional teams

Desirable

• A PhD (Level 10) or equivalent advanced qualification, where appropriate

• Direct experience managing a PSRB accreditation relationship, including submissions and criteria compliance. 

• Experience contributing to portfolio-level planning or subject area development

• Familiarity with QQI standards or comparable frameworks

• Experience engaging with industry, professional bodies, or external partners

Attractive Benefits Package

Salary Band: 67,500 - 75,000

Pay Frequency:

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This job description is a guide to the work the post holder will initially be required to undertake. It may be amended from time to time to meet changing circumstances by mutual agreement. It is expected that the job description will be reviewed regularly by the post-holder and their manager.

DBS is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. If you require any adjustments or additional support within the recruitment process, please contact us directly.