"Dean of Student Experience"

Scholars School System (SSS) is seeking to appoint a Dean of Student Experience to play a key role in supporting the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Management in bringing leadership, vision, coordination and a strategic approach to policies, practices, and support services for students.

The Dean of Student Experience will support the Senior Executive Team and Department Heads to provide strategic and operational leadership to the institution’s student experience agenda, with a strong emphasis on driving innovation, communicating best practice and promoting a vibrant culture that supports the student academic experience within the institution.

Working closely with the Dean of Teaching and Learning, other senior academic colleagues across the institution and Student Representatives, the Dean of Student Experience will provide the academic leadership for personal tutoring, academic advising and related academic support, and personal growth for students. They will be responsible for implementing the Student Code of Conduct and associated policies as part of an inclusive and careers-led learning experience.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Dean of Student Experience is pivotal in fostering a supportive environment to enhance student retention, progression and attainment measures. He/She will oversee, coordinate, and enhance academic support and support co-curricular programming in collaboration with The Dean of Teaching and Learning and other academic colleagues of the Business Management, and Health and Social Care Departments to complement, extend, and enrich the academic curriculum, fostering students' personal, social, and intellectual growth.

The roles and responsibilities of the Dean of Student Experience will include but not limited to the following:

• Work collaboratively with colleagues in the Teaching and Learning Department across the institution to share and harmonise good practice, which ensures consistency, efficiency and effectiveness of our educational practices and processes to develop and enhance the student experience.
• Continually review and develop student-facing policies to ensure that the Scholars School System is consistently adhering to OfS and UKHE standards, and operating as a sector leading and transformational educational institution.
• Work closely with students, professional and academic staff to promote academic and pastoral support for students to build a strong and supportive learning community.
• Work collaboratively with the Associate Dean of the Student Activities, Wellbeing and Safeguarding Department to assess opportunities offered by the institution to support the student successful outcomes.
• Lead, coordinate and oversee all student communications, annual planning and enhancement of student experience to optimise engagement and impact.
• Work collaboratively with the Associate Deans of Teaching and Learning, and Student Activities, Wellbeing and Safeguarding Departments to support improved students’ B3 outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with student representatives across the different campuses to ensure the student voice is embedded into all aspects of teaching and learning.
• Coordinate the completion of the Degree Awarding Body’s Programme Enhancement Grid, Annual Programme Review Report and the Quarterly Review Report as the institution’s annual collaborative Operational Delivery Plan Template cataloguing the department’s actions, outcomes and indicators for supporting student B3 outcomes.
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of relevant OfS/UKHE drivers and requirements to inform planning and identify risk and opportunities, whilst developing and utilising a range of external networks to inform student experience planning.
• Periodically line management staff in the student experience department, review their performances, and contribute to their personal development and career progression.
• Periodically act as chair of a relevant sub-committee, panel or working group and contribute actively to effective operation, planning, reporting and management.

Strategic Responsibilities

• Provide expertise and leadership in student experience matters, and contribute to the strategic management and development of the institution.
• Contribute to the delivery of the academic objectives as outlined in the institution’s five-year strategic Plan.
• Contribute to the institution’s strategic decision-making processes via the relevant sub-committees, Quality Audit Committee, and the Corporate and Academic Board Committee.
• Support the strategic student experience development initiatives of the institution and respond to the needs of our diverse student population.
• Proactively promote and support effective communications across departments to facilitate and enhance faster response to student needs.
• Lead the initiative in encouraging academic staff to engage in internally and externally funded projects geared towards improving and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, and student academic experience.
• Work closely with the Senior Executive Team to design the student experience strategy consistent with OfS and UKHE accredited standards.
• Design strategy to promote external networking/relationship with other Higher Education Institutions, and coordinate and encourage student experience staff participation in internal and external conferences/seminars.

Essential Criteria and Requirements

Qualifications

• Doctoral level qualification in a relevant academic discipline with significant teaching experience in Higher Education.
• A record of research and/or professional achievement in one aspect of the faculty’s provision.
• Membership of appropriate professional bodies.
• Senior or Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy or willingness to participate and seek membership.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ experience at a senior leadership level, with a clear vision of student experience and the ability to engage others in that vision.
• Demonstrable managerial experience of student life, student experience and student B3 outcomes.
• Experience of chairing departmental panels/committees and/or working groups.
• Experience in developing and implementing strategy, demonstrating ability to think and plan strategically, articulate priorities, and deliver change.
• Awareness of changes in government and OfS/UKHE/IHE/CUC regulations, and understanding of how to operate within these frameworks.
• Ability to assess opportunities for income generation from scholarship, CPD, consultancy and/or professional practice.
• Creative thinking and willingness to try new approaches to problem-solving.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the management of OfS B conditions, standards, procedures, and regulations in higher education.
• Minimum 10 years of experience dealing with OfS and QAA issues.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in developing, implementing, and managing effective systems/processes, policies, and procedures, including planning and monitoring outcomes.
• Ability to manage and effectively coordinate research and research-funded projects.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.

Terms of Appointment

Remuneration & Conditions

• The salary for this role ranges from £80,000 to £95,000, depending on the candidate’s level of experience.
• 3% annual increase per year on completion from your start date of service and on meeting KPIs.
• Holiday entitlement is 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• This is a full-time, permanent position based on-site, with standard working hours of 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday (40 hours per week).
• Complimentary lunch provided as part of the staff benefits.
• Trips away from the office are often required to other campuses, all travel expenses reimbursed.