Responsible To: the Chair of Swarthmore Council

Job Description: Director of Swarthmore

Responsible to: The Chair of Swarthmore Council

Hours: 36 hours per week

Salary: Competitive

Conditions: Swarthmore Conditions Apply

Swarthmore is a registered charity originally established in 1909, with historic links to the Quaker movement. The centre is one of the oldest Quaker settlements named after the original Quaker meeting place. One of the oldest independent adult education centres in the country, Swarthmore had 1809 part-time student members enrolled in 2016/17 and is committed to user participation.

Swarthmore offers a distinct learning atmosphere characterized by an encouragement of “friendly learning”. We offer a unique range of integrated learning opportunities for adults and young people with over 150 courses per year including Counselling, Arts and Crafts, Computing, Health and Wellbeing and Music as well as English and Maths and a full time Study Programme for young people who require High Needs Support. There are courses to engage adults back into learning and courses leading to qualifications as well as “leisure courses”. We offer a wide range of chances to make a first step, improve career prospects, develop confidence and skills, and to make new friends while learning. We also deliver provision across Leeds and have worked in different venues across the city as well as at Swarthmore during 2016/17 targeting those areas experiencing greatest disadvantages.

Swarthmore offers a wide variety of specialist leisure and other courses and as a result has a significantly higher proportion of sessional tutors than would be typical for the sector.

The post holder will be expected to carry out his/her duties in the context of the Centre’s vision, mission and policies.

Leadership

• Take overall responsibility for leading, managing and developing all staff
• Prepare and implement development strategies for Swarthmore in consultation with Trustees, colleagues and Centre members, ensuring that Trustees are kept fully informed at monthly meetings
• Take budget responsibility for all directly funded and sub-contracted contracts ensuring effective budget monitoring processes are in place
• Lead on developing, implementing and monitoring effective performance management and quality assurance processes to ensure high standards, continuous improvement and focus on the learner experience
• Identify funding and successfully apply to access opportunities to maximise income generation to help ensure Swarthmore’s future sustainability
• Implement the range of policies and procedures needed and to comply fully with current legislation and ensure that the Centre’s principles are upheld
• Perform such other duties as reasonably correspond to the general character of the post, including appointment as Company Secretary
• Reviewing and redesigning working practices in response to new technology and existing and emerging challenges
• Initiating, researching and preparing briefings and reports to alert Trustees and management to emerging issues

Education & Delivery

• Lead and manage all aspects of Swarthmore’s Learning service and other services and assets and provide professional leadership with direct line management responsibility for the management team
• Develop and implement continuous improvement strategies and service plans to ensure Swarthmore is best shaped to anticipate and respond to local learning needs contributing to wider city strategies and outcomes
• Lead on quality assurance processes, including taking up the role of Ofsted nominee
• Take the lead role in preparing for external audits and inspections of the Learning service
• Sound understanding of the Common Inspection Framework and other standards frameworks e.g. Matrix, Investors in People
• Plan and direct improvements in consultation with colleagues to ensure that the curriculum is continually designed around learners’ needs
• Identify and direct initiatives to improve teaching and learning skills, retention, achievement and success rates of learners
• Initiating and implementing a range of service developments, integration and improvements to enhance learner and customer satisfaction and to drive efficiency

Networking/Raising Profile

• Proactively lead on working with a range of learning providers, partners and voluntary organisations to share best practice, maximise resources and develop the best possible learning opportunities and represent Swarthmore on citywide Management Boards
• Maintain links with regional and national professional bodies advising Trustees and managers of new developments and emerging agendas
• Make use of social and traditional media sources to maximise the status and profile of Swarthmore within the local area

Estates & Capital Projects

• Be responsible for the maintenance of a Grade 2 Listed Building and ensure it continues to be maintained to the agreed standard and is a fit for purpose environment
• Possess knowledge of funding legislation and be prepared to initiate fund raising for capital projects
• To identify short, medium and long-term major issues that may affect the quality and functionality of Swarthmore’s assets
• Implementing all procedures related to Health & Safety coordination and planning

Person Specification:

The post holder must have the necessary general management skills to oversee a wide range of human, physical and financial resources on behalf of Swarthmore Council, an elected voluntary Management Committee.

Qualifications & Experience

Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Degree or equivalent professional qualification / 
Certificate of Education/teaching qualification or teaching experience / 
Management experience in an education setting / 

Leadership

Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Evidence of leading improvement in teaching and learning to raise standards / 
Possession of outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to inspire, lead, motivate and manage staff teams / 
Experience of strategic and financial management / 
Effective organisational and administrative skills to support learning and quality assurance processes, awarding body requirements and Swarthmore Council requirements / 
Ability to prioritise conflicting demands and to delegate tasks appropriately / 
Ability to interpret and analyse national and local trends and initiatives, predicting their impact on the Centre and identifying opportunities for innovative developments / 
Exploring and identifying new ways to fund provision and developments / 
Experience of delivering broad-scale training / 
Experience of managing change and cultural development within an organisation / 

Education & Delivery

Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Personal experience of developing and delivering learning provision / 
Experience of working in and developing a quality improvement environment / 
Experience of monitoring and evaluating teaching and learning / 
Experience of managing and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data / 
Knowledge of appropriate management information and performance management systems / 
Understanding of funding methodology and procurement processes of Government bodies / 
Experience of external inspections / 
Experience of operating as an Ofsted nominee / 
Sound understanding of the Common Inspection Framework and other standards frameworks e.g. Matrix, Investors in People / 
Good understanding of post 16 funding, the changing landscape and learning and skills priorities / 
Ability to develop and adapt learning provision to reflect changes to national and local policy and funding levels / 
Developing creative and innovative approaches to improve the quality of teaching and learning and ensuring excellent standards / 
Ability to effectively reflect Government and combined local authorities priorities’ across learning programmes and curriculum areas / 

Networking/Raising Profile

Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Thorough understanding of all issues affecting the provision of Learning and Skills / 
Highly developed interpersonal skills, to network, influence and negotiate effectively with a range of partners, staff and client groups / 
Developing, delivering and monitoring solutions to better meet learners’ needs and shape integrated learning provision in collaboration with partners across the city / 
Pro-active approach required to raise Swarthmore’s profile and harness opportunities for future services and provision / 
Experience of social media campaigns / 
Experience of marketing within education / 

Estates & Capital Projects

Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Experience of Estates Management / 
Knowledge of capital funding, legislation and regulatory requirements / 
Knowledge and experience of Health & Safety coordination and planning / 