Exciting Leadership Opportunity to Shape the Future of Sport, Public Services and Wellbeing at Gateshead College. Are you an ambitious and visionary leader with a passion for sport, public service, health and wellbeing? Are you ready to drive change and take an established department on an exciting journey of growth and transformation? If so, this is your moment. We're looking for a dynamic and future-focused Head of Department to lead our Sport & Uniformed Public Services team into its next exciting chapter. This isn't just a job - it's a chance to inspire, innovate and lead a department with real purpose and impact. You will be responsible for a diverse and ambitious curriculum offer that currently includes Sport, Personal Training and Fitness, Outdoor Adventure, Sport Science, Uniformed Public Services and Criminology. You'll also have strategic and operational oversight of our College Sport Academies provision which includes Men's Football Academy, Women's Football Academy, Basketball Academy, DiSE Boxing Academy, Men's Rugby, Woman's Rugby, Athletics and Performance Academy. You will also manage any strategic relationships with subcontractors and partners such as sporting professional bodies and clubs, Community Sports Partnerships for example Start2Finish, Gateshead Football Club, Newcastle Eagles, Newcastle United Football Club and seek to create more opportunities to benefit our learners and communities. In addition, you will oversee the day-to-day operation of our Sport Academy Campus, ensuring excellence in curriculum delivery, learner experience and resource allocation.
Responsibilities
* Leading and managing a motivated team of curriculum managers and teaching staff across a multi-disciplinary portfolio
* Driving innovation and excellence in curriculum design and delivery, ensuring that our offer is current, relevant, and aligned with regional and national priorities in sport, health, and public service
* Building strong partnerships with employers, industry leaders and community organisations, to develop new opportunities, secure outstanding progression pathways, and create real‑world learning environments
* Overseeing the day-to-day operations of our Sport Academy Campus, ensuring it remains a vibrant, safe, and high-performing environment for learners and staff
* Taking an active role in cross‑college initiatives, contributing to our strategic direction, and championing inclusion, health and wellbeing across all aspects of college life
If you're looking for an opportunity to shape students' lives and take pride in what they achieve, we'd love to hear from you. We have a workplace culture that sets us apart. We pride ourselves on the very highest standards and look to recruit people to join our team who share our passion for ensuring that our students enjoy a top-quality education and the real world skills they need to get on in life. A unique combination we call education with employment edge. We know that a qualification alone isn't enough to ensure our students are successful, so whether you're a member of our teaching team or part of our support staff, everyone at Gateshead College has the potential to positively influence our students' lives. It is this clear purpose that sets us apart from other colleges and makes us such a rewarding and enjoyable place to work.
Gateshead College takes all reasonably practicable measures to reduce the risks presented to employees undertaking business-driving duties as part of their role to an acceptable level as required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. If you are required to drive as part of your role, it is essential that you provide us with a copy of your Business Insurance Certificate, and a copy of your driving licence and vehicle check.
Requirements
* Is an experienced leader in further or higher education, with a strong understanding of the sport, public services, or health & wellbeing sectors
* Has a proven track record of curriculum innovation, quality improvement and managing change in a dynamic environment
* Has experience working with external stakeholders and building strong employer, community or civic partnerships
* Brings excellent communication, leadership and team‑building skills
* Is outcomes‑driven, with a deep commitment to learner success, progression and career readiness
* Has the drive to develop new curriculum pathways in areas such as sport science, fitness, mental health, wellness, or rehabilitation services, educated to degree level (or equivalent)
* Teaching qualification or equivalent professional experience
* Strong maths, English and digital skills
* Significant experience of managing curriculum teams
* Experience of budget and resource management, with a focus on sustainability and impact
* Experience managing external and internal partnerships effectively
Ready to lead a department where sport, public service and wellbeing come together to make a real difference? Then we want to hear from you! Join our outstanding management team and help shape a future‑facing department that inspires excellence, supports ambition, and delivers real results for our learners and our region.
Benefits
* Generous holiday allowance, 38 days plus Bank Holidays
* Mental health and wellbeing support, with 24/7 access to an employee assistance programme and counselling services for you and your dependants
* Career‑average pension with the Local Government Pension Scheme or Teachers Pension Scheme (if applicable)
* Travel support including free on‑site parking, discounted public transport scheme and cycle‑to‑work scheme
* Hair and beauty discounts at our on‑site salon, Botanica
* Retail and travel discounts
* Volunteering Days
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