Programme Leader (Entrepreneurship and Innovation)

Job Title

Reporting to the Director – Strategy and TNE/ other members of SLT

Unit: EmpowerEdu.global

Location: Regional (responsible for multiple campuses)

About Empower Edu

Established in July 2024, EmpowerEdu.global was founded with the purpose of making world-class higher

education more accessible to students. Led by an experienced leadership team with strong academic and

industry expertise, the organisation is committed to building high-quality progression routes into international higher education. Guided by our core values of teamwork, integrity, commitment and leadership, EmpowerEdu.global aspires to be a trusted delivery partner for universities worldwide. Through these partnerships, we aim to prepare globally competent graduates and foster sustainable collaborations that deliver long-term educational impact.

The role

Programme Leader

development of the academic programme, ensuring its alignment with EmpowerEdu's strategic plan, core values, strategic priorities, policies, and regulations, as well as the requirements of external agencies, partner universities, and discipline-specific bodies. This position is instrumental in providing academic leadership and maintaining good collaboration with the partner university, offering direction and communication to module leaders to guarantee the quality of learning, teaching, and assessment across modules. Such leadership ensures that students receive a stimulating learning experience, which is vital for their academic and personal development. The Programme Leader is also responsible for the creation and updating of key documents, including timetables and programme handbooks, which support and clarify the programme structures for students, thereby enhancing their educational journey. Furthermore, the role involves working closely with module leaders and academics to ensure a consistent and coherent virtual learning environment across all modules within the programme. This includes the effective coordination and coherence of the programme itself, collaborating with students, staff, and external stakeholders to lead curriculum development and review. This process not only involves the innovation and enhancement of learning, teaching, and assessment practices but also the development of opportunities to enhance graduate attributes and employability skills. Engaging in scholarly activity within their subject specialist area, the Programme Leader uses this expertise to promote the integration of research-teaching linkages, supporting students through various academic processes and enhancing the programme's pedagogic practices. This comprehensive approach ensures the programme not only meets but exceeds the expectations of internal and external audits, maintaining high academic quality and performance standards.

The ideal candidate should be available during busy periods and weekends as needed, particularly during intake times. Please note that annual leave is generally not permitted during these periods. Some restrictions on annual leave also exist during other peak times.

Key Responsibilities

1. Providing academic leadership for UG Level 4 programme(s) in line with the EmpowerEdu’s

strategic plan, core values, strategic priorities, policies, and regulations and the requirements of

UK external agencies such as the QAA, OfS, Australia external agencies such as TEQSA, partner

university and discipline-specific bodies.

2. Maintaining good collaboration with partner university and provide leadership, direction, and

communication to module leaders to ensure the quality of learning, teaching and assessment

within the modules provides a stimulating learning experience for the students.

3. Develop and update documents, like timetables, programme handbooks etc., that support and

illuminate programme structures for the student.

4. Work with module leaders and academics to ensure a consistent and coherent virtual learning

presence for all modules within programme.

5. Communicate and work with module leaders and academics to ensure the effective coordination

and coherence of the programme.

6. Collaborating with students, staff from within and beyond the organisation, and external

stakeholders to support programme curriculum development and review, including the innovation

and enhancement of learning, teaching, and assessment.

7. Prepare for, coordinate, and manage induction activities for programme.

8. Engage and support students with applications for mitigating circumstances, suspending their

studies, academic appeals, etc.

9. Provide information for students to guide programme route choice e.g. option choices, module

choice and allocation to modules, where appropriate.

10. Utilise a range of evidence and feedback to integrate learning and teaching enhancements within

the programme.

11. Engaging in an initiative-taking approach to promote coordinated and innovative pedagogic

practices across the programme and ensure a coordinated programme-wide assessment and

feedback practice in line with the adopted assessment and feedback approach.

12. Ensuring that module leaders and academics correctly and accurately set up individual modules

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) sites according to the respective principles and regulations,

and that they are appropriately maintained, and that the programme and assessment landscape

are correct.

13. Communicate with and respond to, partner, moderator(s) and external examiner issues and

reports and respond to required programme enhancements.

14. Taking a pro-active role in the monitoring of academic quality and KPIs of the programme and

complete routine monitoring through the required annual returns. Assuming accountability for

programme performance in internal and external audits.

15. Support student engagement with student surveys and respond to survey results.

16. Represent the organisation at partner’ examination and progression boards.

17. Attend and chair relevant committee(s) and report regularly to the relevant board.

18. Provide academic leadership and support to colleagues within the programme team.

19. Line-manage a team of programme coordinators, student success officers and academics.

20. Ensure smooth running of academic operations for the related University partner.

21. Undertake scholarly activities to plan and develop programme and module documentation,

learning resources and assessments on the programme.

22. Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the Director – Strategy and TNE or other

members of the SLT.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

TRAINING AND EDUCATIONS

Essential

● A postgraduate degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience.

● Holding a Fellowship from Advance HE (formerly known as HEA) or in the process of achieving one.

EXPERIENCE

Essential

● Experience in higher education administration and/ or leadership, with a proven track record of

managing and overseeing academic programmes.

● Good level of understanding of UK and/or Australia regulatory requirements.

● Experience in leading and delivering strategic and operational change.

● Good understanding of the Higher Education landscape in the UK and/or Australia, including

comprehensive knowledge of relevant policies, regulations and compliance standards.

Desirable

● Hands-on experience of emerging technical and digital innovation (e.g. AI).

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

● Academic leadership skills and experience in motivating, empowering, and inspiring teams to achieve

common goals.

● Ability to develop and implement strategic plans that align with the EmpowerEdu's overall mission,

vision, and values.

● Good problem-solving and analytical skills to identify and resolve complex issues related to academic

programmes, teaching and learning, and student development.

● Good verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex information

clearly and effectively.

● Ability to draft high quality semester and annual monitoring reports, risk assessment and mitigation

plans and other strategic documents.

● Ability to produce high quality assessment briefs and teaching materials in respective subject field.

● Ability to engage with Programme and Module Specifications as well other programme related

documentation in a critical way.

BEHAVIOURAL SKILLS

Essential

● Commitment to a student-centred approach to education, emphasising holistic student development

and personalised learning support.

● Strong leadership qualities to effectively manage a team of professionals, including the ability to

inspire and motivate.

● Capacity to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities in a fast-paced academic environment.

● High ethical standards and a commitment to maintaining the integrity of academic records and

processes.

● Resilience and adaptability to manage the demands of a busy and challenging role.

● A leader role model for EmpowerEdu’s core values, which underpin our vision, mission and strategy.