Role: Group Head – System Development and Reporting
Location: Multi-Site – Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire campuses
Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £47,972 and £62,099 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 35 days annual leave plus Bank holidays,Teacher’s pension / Local Government Pension Scheme, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.
Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year
Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.
About the role:
We are currently seeking a Group Head of System Development and Reporting to join our Data and MIS department at The Bedford College Group.
As a Group Head, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
1. Systems Strategy & Development Leadership – Lead the development, integration and optimisation of the Group’s MIS, digital platforms and reporting systems to support curriculum delivery, learner journeys and organisational effectiveness.
2. Reporting, Compliance & Data Integrity – Ensure accurate, timely statutory and regulatory reporting (DfE, OfS, awarding bodies), embedding high standards of data quality, security, GDPR compliance and audit assurance.
3. Business Intelligence & Insight – Design and deliver business intelligence dashboards and self‑service reporting that enable data‑driven decision‑making at operational, curriculum and executive levels.
4. Leadership, Management & Innovation – Provide visible leadership to systems and reporting teams, managing resources, projects and performance while horizon‑scanning for digital innovation and leading a long‑term systems roadmap.
5. College‑Wide Contribution & Governance– Act as subject matter expert and trusted adviser, collaborating with senior leaders and stakeholders, contributing to the Group data strategy, and upholding safeguarding, EDI, health & safety and professional development responsibilities.
About you:
6. Qualifications & Professional Development – Degree or professional qualification in IT, Data, Business Systems or related field, with ongoing CPD relevant to systems, reporting and leadership.
7. Systems, MIS & Reporting Expertise – Significant experience leading MIS, system development and reporting functions, with strong knowledge of student record systems, BI tools, SQL, Power BI and FE/HE statutory reporting.
8. Data Quality, Compliance & Insight – Proven ability to meet DfE, OfS and awarding‑body requirements, improve data quality and accuracy, and deliver clear, actionable insight that supports organisational performance.
9. Leadership, Project & Stakeholder Management – Strong leadership and project management skills, with experience delivering large‑scale system projects, managing teams, and communicating complex data effectively to stakeholders at all levels.
10. Professional Values, Flexibility & Mobility – High integrity, accountability and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, adaptable under pressure, flexible in working hours and able to travel independently across college sites.
For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.
Interviews to be held: 28 May 2026
Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:
11. Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
12. Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
13. Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
14. Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
15. Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
16. Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.
Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.
Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.
Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.