JOB DESCRIPTION

This form summarises the purpose of the job and lists its key tasks.

It may be varied from time to time at the discretion of the College in consultation with the postholder.

Job Title: Head of Educational Development / Job ref no: PSD-0141-17
Grade: 8 / Department: Professional Services Division
Accountable to: Director of Learning and Wellbeing / Responsible for: all staff in the Educational Development team within Learning and Wellbeing
Job summary:
To lead, coordinate, and participate fully in the work of the Educational Development team, facilitating student success through enhancing practice in teaching, learning and assessment, and the development of the academic skills of students and staff;
To lead or participate in the Directorate’s work on development and enhancement initiatives around cross-cutting themes, e.g. inclusive practice, employability;
To serve as a key member of the Directorate’s leadership team.
Competency: Communication
Key tasks:
To contribute to the Director’s reports to College Executive Committee, Academic Board and other bodies.
To ensure that all staff and students are aware of the services and support offered by the Educational Development team, and how it may be accessed.
To ensure that all staff of the Educational Development team are aware of its range of services and the standards of service expected.
To ensure that team members understand the values, aims and objectives of the College.
Competency: Teamwork
Key tasks:
To liaise closely with the Vice Principal for Learning, Teaching and Assessment, to ensure that the team’s activities and plans are aligned with the College’s objectives.
To serve as a key member of teams working on projects to support student success, e.g.
·  the development and implementation of inclusive approaches to teaching and learning;
·  the enhancement of student assessment and feedback practices.
To participate in the strategic development and management of the Directorate as a member of its leadership team.
To update the COO and relevant Vice Principals on all matters relating to the team’s work.
To collaborate with the Students’ Union across the full range of the team’s activities.
Competency: Team Development
Key tasks:
To line manage all staff of the Educational Development team, fulfilling all the duties of the immediate staff manager as set out in RVC policies and procedures, including health and safety, managing staff performance, and absence.
To coordinate and integrate the contribution to the team’s work from staff of the LIVE Centre.
To arrange team development activities.
To ensure that team members have the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out their roles effectively, and to support them in continuous up-dating.
Competency: Liaison and Networking
Key tasks:
To liaise regularly with the Vice Principal for LTA and Associate Deans, Teaching Coordinators, curriculum managers such as Course Directors, Sports, SU officers and student representatives, in order to ensure that the team’s work is focused on the most significant staff and student needs, whilst reflecting College priorities.
To liaise closely with the Academic Director of LIVE to optimise LIVE’s contribution to the Directorate’s work, and to promote continuing synergy between the Directorate and LIVE.
As appropriate, to represent the Directorate at academic committees and other meetings.
To serve as the College’s primary contact for the Higher Education Academy, and to ensure that the College engages fully with it.
To participate actively in sector networks such as SEDA and ALDinHE.
To identify sector-leading practice in learning, teaching and assessment that could add significant value if introduced in the College.
Competency: Service Delivery
Key tasks:
To coordinate the College’s Educational Development activities, ensuring that there is appropriate and tailored support for students on all courses (UG, PGT, PGR) and for each demographic group if required.
To ensure that the College’s peer assisted learning and related initiatives are coordinated and developed effectively.
To lead the College’s initiatives to improve feedback to students on their performance.
To collaborate with the Staff Development Manager in Human Resources to devise, and work in partnership to deliver, programmes of development for staff involved in teaching, learning and assessment
To work with staff, individually and in groups, to implement the most appropriate approaches to teaching, learning and assessment, and to assist them in improving curriculum delivery.
Competency: Planning and Organising Resources
Key tasks:
To ensure there is an agreed, consistent and strategic approach to every area of the team’s work.
To lead the formulation of the team’s operational plans in the context of the Directorate’s overall plans, and to be responsible for their implementation, monitoring and reporting.
In collaboration with the Director of Learning and Wellbeing, to agree annually with the Academic Director of LIVE, LIVE’s contribution to the Directorate’s work.
To manage any resources delegated to the team, according to the RVC’s financial regulations.
To lead specific funding bids as agreed with the Director, and oversee and/or manage any resulting projects.
Competency: Initiative and Problem Solving; Analysis and Research
Key tasks:
To monitor data on the team’s work, in order to facilitate continuous improvement.
To promote a scholarly approach to the team’s work, with a view to publication or conference presentations where appropriate.
Flexibility: To deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed, and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. In particular, the post-holder may be required to deputise for the Director of Learning and Wellbeing in certain circumstances.