Head of Department - Quality (Foundation Learning and Student Support)

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity at our Openshaw Campus to join our Foundation Learning and Student Support Department as a Head of Department (Quality) on a permanent, full-time (35 hours per week) basis.

The purpose of the role is to provide outstanding management and leadership in the development, planning, delivery and monitoring of student support and experience for students on campus. HoDs Quality will lead activity designed to continually improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment to the highest standards possible and the outcomes achieved by students, with a particular focus on the degree of progress our students make from their starting points when they join the College.

Site Information

Our Openshaw campus is a vibrant, modern hub of learning, equipped with outstanding, industry-standard facilities designed to inspire both staff and students. Located just outside Manchester city centre, the campus offers a wide range of vocational and academic courses, with specialist spaces for areas such as construction, engineering, health, and digital.

Who are TMC?

The Manchester College is the Largest Further Education College in the United Kingdom and has the largest provisions for 16-19yrs olds, adults, and higher education in Greater Manchester. We are part of the LTE group that consist of MOL, Total People, UCEN Manchester, Novus, and LTE Group Operations. We currently support more than 25% of Greater Manchester’s learning provision and are currently rated “Good” by Ofsted. The Manchester Colleges offering is bolstered by 18 Centres of Excellence across our campuses, ensuring we give our best and strive to achieve an unrivalled learning experience for our students. We have partnerships with over 1000 industry and employer partners nationally to ensure our students secure their place as the leaders of the future.

Proudly, The Manchester College is also 1 of only 57 organisations nationally recognised with the Princess Royal Training Award 2025, demonstrating our commitment to investing in our people and their development.

Benefits

45 days annual leave bookable plus 8 bank holidays.

3 well-being days per year.
Significant pension contribution.
Retail discounts.
Employee Assistance Program.
Cycle to work scheme.

Role Responsibilities, Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Oversee and implement the arrangements for evaluating the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, ensuring that all teachers (and their managers) have a detailed and accurate appreciation of their own pedagogical skills, what they need to improve and how best to make those improvements.

Be departmental lead for CPD to improve quality standards and the student experience. Plan and co-ordinate departmental CPD days and contribute sessions to College-wide CPD initiatives such as the annual teaching and learning conference.
Ensure all staff have a strong and accurate understanding of our expectations of them and what they, in turn, should expect of their students. Develop a strong and accurate appreciation across the department of what ‘Good’ looks like at every stage in the student’s journey and share this with colleagues.
Oversee internal verification / moderation / standardisation arrangements across your departments and ensure they drive up the quality of assessment and assessment feedback.
Co-ordinate learning walks within department so that they are coherent, purposeful, comply with policy and provide valuable insights into the quality of TLA and other improvement initiatives.
Support course teams and departmental managers in their development of course reviews and curriculum area SARs to ensure they provide self-critical and reliable evaluations of the provision. Ensure all staff properly understand and analyse accurately performance data and students’ views and use them appropriately and reliably in the self-assessment process.
Support course teams and departmental managers to develop effective course review action plans and curriculum area Quality Improvement Plan (QIPs) and ensure teachers and managers use them as the critical tools for steering improvement.
Oversee the monitoring of QIPs and action plans, ensuring that the right people routinely review the progress and impact made and adjust plans where this is insufficient. Ensure the departmental team is prepared for termly QIP monitoring by the Principalship.
Working with other heads of department, co-ordinate teaching and learning sets in the department so that all teachers participate in them and gain real value from them. Ensure the effective sharing of good practice within the department and beyond.
Introduce and embed peer review arrangements in the department to encourage reflective practice and enable teachers to learn from each other.
Ensure that objective evidence developed through the model for evaluating TLA strongly informs the individual performance review (or appraisal) process.
Establish and chair the quality-focused departmental Boards of Study to review standards of TLA and their impact on students’ progress.
Recognised teaching qualification.
Degree level qualification or relevant professional qualification(s) and/or appropriate level and range of relevant industrial experience.
Numeracy and literacy skills (to level 2 or equivalent).
Reliable, practical understanding of effective teaching, learning and assessment strategies and of local, regional and national skills and training needs.
Have a thorough understanding of quality assurance systems used in the learning and skills sector.
Have a strong appreciation of FE/HE funding requirements and methodologies and current issues affecting the Further Education sector.
Evidence of strong commitment to continuous professional development.

Safeguarding

The LTE Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process. Some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check.

Equal Opportunities Statement

At The Manchester College, we’re committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, or victimisation, where all members of our community are treated with respect and dignity. The Manchester College is committed to working in an inclusive way with all the communities where we are geographically located and to developing a workforce and student community that reflects Greater Manchester’s and the UK’s rich diversity and vibrancy.

The closing date for this job advert is 08/12/2025. However, sometimes the job advert may close early if we receive a good response!