Deputy Head of Learning & Teaching

Job Description

Deputy Head of Learning & Teaching
Guildhall School - Provost’s Office
F
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Head of Learning & Teaching

Job Title:
Department:
Grade:
Location:
Responsible to:

Responsible for:

Appointed Candidates Signature:
Please sign and date here upon receiving your offer of employment
I confirm I have read the Job Description below:

Full Name: ………………………………………………………….

Signature ………………………..………. Date: …………………

Purpose of Post

This  post  will  support  the  Head  of  Learning  &  Teaching  and  the  Provost  &  Vice  Principal
(Academic) with the development and implementation of effective strategies and policies to
deliver  key  teaching  and  learning  objectives.  The  post  holder  will  contribute  to  strategic
leadership across the whole School in learning and teaching for taught programmes, taking a
leading role in specific areas and initiatives as designated, to maintain standards, help evolve
existing programmes and develop new programmes in line with the School’s strategic vision,
sector expectations and best practice.

Guildhall  School  has  entered  a  partnership  with  a  university  overseas  to  be  the  lead
international partner in a College of Music. As part of this project, Guildhall School will design
ten academic programmes for validation by and delivery within the  partner. The School will
contribute  to  staff  recruitment  by  the  partner,  engage  in  quality  assurance  and  monitoring
processes,  and  have  a  substantive  responsibility  for  training  faculty  members  through  six
different  staff  development  components.  The  role-holder  will  make  a  key  contribution  to
aspects  of  this  project  and  take  specific  management  responsibility  for  its  faculty  training
programme.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

The  role entails  a  specific  remit  for managing  faculty  training  in a partnership arrangement
(see 1, below). This remit is 0.5 (full-time equivalent) of the roles. The balance and proportion
of  other  duties,  as  listed  below,  will  be  finalized  in agreement  with the  Head of  Learning  &
Teaching.

1.  Manage the Faculty training element of Guildhall School’s partnership with an

overseas university, across the six components of this element. Oversee the design
of all modules and activities, liaising with colleagues in the School and at the

Page 1 of 8

partner institution as appropriate. Ensure suitable dissemination of materials in a
timely way and oversee delivery arrangements for all aspects of this element,
taking a significant part in delivery as appropriate.

2.  The following duties are not shown in order of priority or frequency nor are the list
exhaustive, but rather an indication of the type and level of duties expected of the
post holder.

3.  To develop, implement and evaluate the School’s Teaching and Learning Strategy:
a.  working closely with each Champion of the objectives of the main strategic

plan to ensure appropriate synergies

b.  develop an action plan and conduct regular review

4.  To provide academic leadership in the preparation of, or responses to internal and
external teaching quality assessments, including for professional, regulatory and
statutory bodies. This may include:

a.  Reviewing previous submission(s) metrics, competitor analysis,
b.  Drafting the TEF submission (or successor) in consultation with colleagues

across the institution

5.  Preparing for Quality and Standards Reviews
6.  Contribute towards, and lead, training delivered to teaching colleagues around

curriculum development, maintaining standards and assessment, quality assurance,
good practice and enhancement.

7.  Chair the Programme Leaders meeting to discuss academic, strategic and

operational matters.

a.  Providing leadership and advice in programme development
b.  Identifying good practice and encouraging best practice
c.  Encouraging curriculum developments that map to whole School strategic

objectives eg digital development, student wellbeing, collaborative activities,
linkage with research

d.  Taking an overview of action plans arising from Annual Programme

Evaluation Reports - identifying cross-School issues for discussion, and
ensuring student engagement in formulating actions and responding to
actions

e.  Taking an overview of External Examiners reports - identifying cross-School
issues for discussion, and ensuring student engagement in formulating
actions and responding to actions

f.  Advising on the academic implications associated with partnerships attached

to programmes

g.  Develop academic policy and regulation in respect of the above.

8.  Participate in School Committees and working groups as required, taking a role as

chair on specific working / task & finish groups as required.

9.  Be a member of, or chair as appropriate, student related panels concerning

academic progress, academic appeals, academic complaints, and disciplinary
matters.

Page 2 of 8

10. To support the School’s catalyst programme for HEA Fellowship (seeking Senior

HEA recognition if this has not already been obtained).

11. Maintain a strategic awareness of national and international trends and innovations in
teaching and learning, particularly within the arts. Providing leadership in innovative
teaching and learning practices within the School. Represent the School in a positive
and professional manner internally, regionally and internationally. Acting at all times
in the best interest of the School. Work with key stakeholders and partner institutions
to develop and enhance programme provision.

12. The role-holder will carry out all duties to a professional standard, taking into account
the need to maintain academic standards and the School’s reputation, and meet all
legal requirements.

13. The role holder will actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational

Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due
regard to the health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their
duties.

14. The role holder will actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal

Opportunity Policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to
the duties of the post; and Guildhall School’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion agenda.

15. The role-holder will undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested by

the Head of Learning & Teaching.

Page 3 of 8

17. To take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of other persons
that may be affected within their own working environment in accordance with the
Guildhall School and City of London’s Health and Safety procedures.

18. Any other activities as identified by the Head of Music Administration, the Ensembles,
Programming & Instrument Manager and the Music Stage, Logistics and instrument
Manager.

19. Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety
Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the
health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.

20. Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and the
objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.

Page 4 of 8

Person Specification

Job Title:
Department:
Grade:
Trent Position number:

            Deputy Head of Learning & Teaching

Guildhall School – Provost’s Office
F

No DBS
No security vetting is required

This post is not politically restricted

Please find below the qualifications, experience and technical skills required to undertake this
post. Each criterion will be assessed at application (A), interview (I) or test (T) as indicated
below.

Professional Qualifications / Relevant Education & Training

Qualifications
•  Relevant Postgraduate qualification
•  SFHEA recognition (A) (desirable; or viable application planned)

Experience
•  Extensive experience of teaching and curriculum development at more than one
Higher Education Institution, preferably including a conservatoire or small and
specialist institution (A and I)

•  Substantial experience as a UK Higher Education external examiner, higher
education peer reviewer or other external peer roles in a UK HE setting. (A)

•  Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to persuade, influence, challenge and

inspire others (I and T)

•  Experience of leadership in validation and/or curriculum development (A and I)
•  Effective and proven leadership skills with an ability to be a role model for high

standards in working practices and behaviors (A and I)

•  Proven ability to improve the student learning experience, progression and overall

satisfaction with teaching (A and I)

•  Experience of delivering high quality teaching (A, I and T)
•  Successful application of UK Higher Education quality assurance processes and

quality enhancement procedures (A and I)

Page 5 of 8

•  Experience of writing/contributing to submissions for the Teaching Excellence

•

Framework or similar (A, I and T)
In-depth understanding of the core issues and challenges of practical training and
teaching in a conservatoire and the specific issues concerning the learning
experience for students (A, I and T)

•  Experience of leading and managing change (A and I)
•  Experience of educational development in international settings (A and I)
•  Knowledge and experience of staff training and development activities (A and I)

Personal characteristics
•  Flexible, self-motivated and proactive in identifying new opportunities (A and I)
•  Demonstrable experience of developing, implementing and reviewing strategy and

operational plans (A and I and T)

•  Ability to work as part of a team within an HE setting (A and I)
•  Advanced IT skills to support the administrative requirements of the role including

data analysis and report writing (A)

•  Ability to manage multiple competing demands (A)

Other Relevant Information e.g. working hours or desirables (only if applicable)

For the right candidate there may be some flexibility in the number of hours a week.
However, the role holder should expect to center the majority of their time in School to be
available to support colleagues and to attend specified events and activities.

Recruitment – Note to Applicants

The qualifications, experience and technical skills will be used in the decision-making
process for recruitment. Please give examples of how you have exhibited these
behaviours in your previous role(s) and experience.  It is essential you address the
criterion marked as (A) on your application form in the section for supporting
information, this will be the minimum criteria for shortlisting.

Be as specific as possible, we cannot guess or make assumptions, but will assess your
application solely on the information provided.   Try to provide evidence, by examples,
where  possible,  of  skills,  knowledge  and  experience  contained  in  this  person
specification.

Page 6 of 8

Summary of Terms and Conditions of Employment

This summary is given as a guide and is not intended to form part of an individual’s
contract of employment.

Salary
The salary range for this job is £59,060 - £66,670 per annum including Inner London
Weighting, inclusive of all allowances. This figure will be reviewed annually from.

Contract
The position is offered on 6month fixed – term contract in the first instance.

Hours of Work
Normal hours of work are 9.00am – 5.00pm, being 35 hours per week excluding lunch
breaks, Monday to Friday, inclusive but the post holder shall be expected to work the
hours necessary to carry out the duties of the position.

Frequency and Method of Payment
This is a monthly paid appointment, and salaries are credited to a Bank or Building
Society Account on the 11th of each month.

Annual Leave
There  is  an  entitlement  of  24  days  annual  holiday  plus  Bank  Holidays.  There  are
subsequent increases to entitlement to annual holiday according to length of service.

Sickness Absence and Pay
The City of London Corporation has a comprehensive Occupational Sick Pay scheme,
details of which can be found in the Employee Handbook which will be made available
to you upon commencement.

Pension
You  will  automatically  be  admitted  to  the  City  of  London  Corporation’s  Pension
Scheme. Employees contribute between 5.5% and 12.5% of their pensionable pay to
the scheme, depending on salary.
If you do not wish to join the Scheme you must make a formal declaration stating you
wish  to  opt  out. You  may  contact  the  Pensions  Office  directly  should  you  have  any
queries  relating  to  the  Local  Government  Pension  scheme  and  your  entitlements
under this scheme.

Page 7 of 8

Continuous Service
If you join the City of London Corporation without a break in service (subject to certain
exceptions)  from  another  body  covered  by  the  Redundancy  Payments  (Local
Government) (Modification) Order 1999, your service with that institution will count for
the purpose of continuous service. The amount of continuous service which you have
will affect your entitlement to certain contractual benefits; for example, annual leave,
sick leave and maternity leave. A full explanation of Continuous Service is contained
within the Employee Handbook.

Probationary Period
You will be employed initially on a six-month probationary period. Should either party
wish to terminate the employment during this period, then one week’s notice will be
required on either side, except for summary termination for gross misconduct.

Notice Period
One month by either party after satisfactory completion of probationary period.

Learning and Employee Development
The  City  of  London  provides  for  financial  support  and  time  off  for  staff  to  study  for
appropriate qualifications which relate to their duties or undertaking professional skills
update training. There is also an in-house programme covering more general training
needs.

Employee Volunteering Programme
The City Corporation, in line with its aims to contribute to a flourishing society, shape
outstanding  environments  and  support  a  thriving  economy,  offers  employees  paid
special leave time during normal hours to encourage employees to volunteer their time
and  skills  to  Volunteer  Involving  Organisations  (VIOs)  operating  within  the  Square
Mile, London and beyond.
Full-time employees may take up to 2 days or 14 hours per year in which to volunteer,
between 1 January and 31 December. For temporary and part time employees these
hours are adjusted pro rata. Volunteering time can be taken in smaller bite size e.g. 2
hours a week over 7 weeks, where this can be accommodated by the City Corporation
and meets the requirements of the volunteer organisation.

Page 8 of 8