Head of department in computing (pg)

Salary: £59,660 - £70,507 per annum

London weighting: Additional £4,000 per annum

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Head of School Computing

Department: Computing

Travel required: Manchester campus, Berlin campus

We are an aspirational and multi‑award‑winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first‑choice university for career‑focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.

The Computing Department at Arden University is committed to providing students with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience necessary to develop in the fast‑growing and ever‑evolving tech industry. Through blended and hands‑on learning, we prepare students for diverse careers, ranging from software development and cybersecurity to data analysis and IT consultancy. Our programmes emphasise innovation, problem‑solving, and real‑world application, ensuring graduates are equipped to meet the challenges of the digital age and succeed in a global, technology‑driven market.

As Head of Department, you will lead and develop academic staff, drive excellence in teaching and learning, and ensure outstanding student experience and outcomes across Computing programmes. You will play a pivotal role in curriculum development, staff recruitment and development, quality assurance, and strategic planning—ensuring programmes remain innovative, relevant, and aligned with industry and professional expectations.

Responsibilities

• Embedding outstanding teaching, feedback, and assessment practices to support students’ learning, progression, and attainment.
• Inspiring and engaging course content (including physical and virtual learning resources) and delivery that stretches learners to develop knowledge to their fullest potential.
• Delivering outstanding departmental rates of continuation and completion for learners as well as setting programme curriculums that provide learners with the right skills, knowledge, and behaviour to progress into managerial or professional employment, or further study.
• Line manage Senior Lecturers and potentially other members of the academic team.
• Recruitment of outstanding academic staff in their department and potentially undertake teaching and related duties on programmes relevant to their area of expertise, where possible.
• Represent the University and its values, promoting Arden University and their programmes at external and internal events and collaborate effectively with other academic colleagues and key stakeholders.

Essential Requirements

• Masters’ level qualification within Computing, Technology or a related subject.
• Recognised HE teaching qualification and/or Fellowship (e.g.: PG Cert HE, SFHEA, PFHEA QTLS/QTS Secondary).
• Relevant industry experience within the business world, including business development.
• Demonstrated ability to harness and develop the talents of the team to create an innovative and exciting environment for teaching, learning, research, and industry‑focused activities.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, effective people management, motivation and team building skills.
• A successful track record of leading academic programmes at different levels/modes of study, ensuring relevant programmes deliver high levels of Student Experience and Student Outcomes (TEF metrics), as well as Student Satisfaction (internal and external surveys).

Desirable Requirements

• A PhD or other Level 7 qualifications
• Management training/qualification demonstrating the ability to lead others.

Benefits

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays on‑top, and even a Christmas closure!
• A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
• SimplyHealth plan option
• Private Medical Insurance
• Access to Perkbox benefits
• Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends
• Plus, other excellent benefits
• Our ‘Golden Ticket’ which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education

Our Values

Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that if you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role. If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you can indicate via the application form below. By doing so, you are also consenting for this information to be shared with the hiring team. For more details on what qualifies as a disability under the Disability Equality Act 2010, please refer to the guidance here.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people’s age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.

Sponsorship Statement

Please be aware that some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa under the points‑based immigration system. However, we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.