Based in the heart of Birmingham city centre, University College Birmingham (UCB) is a specialist, aspirational and globally-connected institution offering vocational education and training within a supportive learning community. Our vision is to unlock the talent of our learners to help them achieve their ambitions, maximising opportunities for career progression and personal fulfilment. We have invested over £160m in our teaching and other facilities over the last ten years to ensure an outstanding learning environment. 

University College Birmingham started its life as a Further Education College and we are immensely proud of our roots in FE. Approximately 30% of our current student body are FE students, and we have exciting ambitions to grow and diversify our FE offer. Our recently launched School of Engineering, Digital and Sustainable Construction has seen us grow our College portfolio in key skills priorities areas and our planned Sixth Form Centre launch in 2024 - https://www.ucb.ac.uk/study/sixth-form-centre/ will offer a wealth of new study options for post-16 learners, based in a dedicated £6 million study centre with a world-class standard of learning facilities.

We are entering into one of the most exciting and ambitious periods of our development and are now seeking to appoint a dedicated Further Education and Sixth Form Principal to propel our College and Sixth Form offer into a new era. With line management accountability for the University’s FE academic and quality structures, they will deliver sustained curriculum growth and diversification, identifying opportunities for the University to expand its FE presence effectively. With a strong emphasis on student outcomes, progression and quality of education, they will drive enhancements to all aspects of our FE experience for students.

We are seeking an outstanding academic leader, with a proven track record of delivering on stretching curriculum and quality improvement targets in a sizeable Further Education provider. Demonstrable experience of leadership of curriculum teams and managing change is essential as is the ability to empower others, and to collaborate locally, regionally and nationally. You will bring a demonstrable ability to work innovatively and at pace, and possess in-depth experience of the Further Education policy, and the regulatory and funding landscape. 

In particular, you will have exposure to enhancing outcomes and experience for large apprenticeship cohorts, and experience of working in strong partnerships with local authorities over devolved adult education funding. You will have experience of delivering comprehensively on budgetary targets and of expanding adult recruitment in innovative ways which align with regional skills needs. 

Experience of oversight and input into capital projects and redevelopments linked to curriculum is highly desirable, as is evidence of a successful working relationship with key Corporate Services functions, such as Estates, Finance, Careers/Employability, and IT. An excellent presenter, you will have Governing Body level exposure and demonstrate outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present engagingly to a full range of stakeholders. Alongside this, you will bring a strong sense of academic and professional best practice, developed in organisations of real scale and complexity, and an unwavering commitment to the values and ethos of UCB.

How to Apply: 

If you are interested in finding out further information regarding this role, including details of how to apply, please email recruitment@ucb.ac.uk requesting a candidate pack.

• 50 days’ paid leave per year

• Teacher’s pension scheme 

• Private healthcare 

• Excellent staff development opportunities 

• Salary sacrifice car leasing, tech and cycle schemes 

• Heavily-subsidised on-site car parking

• Hybrid Working Opportunities

• Free Gym Membership 

• Employee Assistance Programme 

UCB is an equal opportunities employer.

University College Birmingham is proud to have been voted UK University of the Year in the prestigious 2022 Whatuni Student Choice Awards. We are also the best university for Student Support. The awards are voted for by students showcasing the incredible relationships we foster here at University College Birmingham between Staff and Students.

University College Birmingham works in partnership with the University of Warwick - Ranked eighth in the 2023 Guardian League Tables and 10th in the UK in the QS World University rankings 2023.

The University of Warwick are committed to partnering with us on a full range of projects which will enhance student opportunity, experience and outcomes. Among these joint pieces of work are aspirations to enhance student employability across the West Midlands region, widen participation in Further and Higher Education and to support regional ‘levelling up’ and key regional skills priorities.

All applicants for employment at the University will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of Safeguarding and the PREVENT agenda in the context of further and higher education.