Programme Leader, Film and Media at SAE Creative Media Institute

Job Description

Role: Programme Leader, Film and Media

Business Division: SAE Institute UK

Responsible to: Dean, SAE UK

Reports: Senior Lecturers/ Lecturers/ Graduate Teaching Assistants

1. Organisation Background

Established in 1976, SAE spans the globe with over 50 campuses in 23 countries and delivers world-class education to over 12,000 students in state-of-the-art creative facilities.

Our students come from diverse social, cultural, educational and artistic backgrounds, with different personalities and experiences. We embrace these differences and allow each and every student to develop their own individual style and apply it to the industry skills taught at SAE. Our ultimate goal is to prepare our students for a realistic work environment making the course, facilities, lecturers as well as the atmosphere as close to the industry working environment as possible.

2. Overview and Objectives of the Position

The Programme Leader is responsible and accountable for all programmes falling within their department (Audio, Film, Games, or Media). The post holder is responsible for oversight of all programme development, curriculum design, delivery, assessment, and administration. The Programme Leader has functional leadership of all programme faculty and runs the programme committee, ensuring that the programme is run in a unified and collaborative manner across all UK campuses to meet the required academic standards, and maximise the quality of student outcomes and experience. The holder will be expected to travel between campuses to complete their duties, normally visiting each campus at least once per trimester.

They will have input into timetabling and resourcing across the UK; drive continual improvement in their programme(s) while ensuring currency and relevance to industry; and foster a strong culture of learning, teaching and assessment in line with the SAE ethos. The role is also expected to work with regional stakeholders to market and grow their programme(s) across the UK. Programme Leaders are expected to maintain an active teaching load alongside their other duties.

3. Key relationships

• Students
• Dean
• Programme Faculty across all campuses
• Academic Managers at all campuses
• Learning and Teaching Manager
• Directorate of Academic & Student Services (DASS) team

4. Key accountabilities

Programme Leadership

• Provide managerial oversight and effective leadership of the programme delivery team across the UK, and any other key stakeholders involved in delivery and support, to run successful programmes.
• Ensure that curriculum design, delivery and assessment enable students to meet the learning outcomes.
• Ensure that all modules are well planned and suitably prepared in advance of delivery.
• Work with programme faculty to curate, manage and develop effective learning resources for the programme, including design and use of the Virtual Learning Environment.
• Organise and ensure the timely assessment and moderation of student work, ensuring that meaningful feedback is given to students on their projects and development.
• Coordinate continuous improvement of learning, teaching and assessment activities in line with SAE’s ethos (active, blended, project-based, holistic).
• Liaise with campuses and national departments to ensure that resources (physical, staffing and library) are up-to-date and meet the standard operating environments for the programme(s).
• Engage with industry and employers to generate partnerships, drive improvements in the programme(s), and establish progression routes for students after completion of studies.
• Maintain an active teaching load to support pedagogical practice.
• Monitoring the student experience through analysis of the relevant feedback and data, making leadership interventions with the programme delivery team as necessary and on an ongoing basis.
• Engaging with Student Voice mechanisms and responding to feedback as appropriate.
• Overseeing of student attendance and engagement.
• Contribution to the development, and implementation of ongoing portfolio review and future portfolio plans.
• Provide support and pastoral care for all students studying in the department, as appropriate.
• Modelling and promoting best practice in equality, diversity and inclusion.

Administration

• Work with campuses to ensure that student progression is well managed.
• Liaise with Academic Managers on the leadership and allocation of faculty.
• Develop appropriate and effective timetabling, for implementation with campuses.
• Contribute to SAE UK’s wider pedagogical strategy and activities through the Learning & Teaching Committee.
• Ensure that all programme documentation (programme handbook, project and portfolio briefs, rubrics, module delivery handbooks) is correct, up-to-date, and available to students where appropriate.
• Engage with assessment boards as a representative of the programme(s).
• Organise and chair the programme committee as the main forum for engaging all programme faculty in collaborative design, delivery, assessment and review activities.
• Participate in regular review activities, including the Annual Monitoring process for the validating university partner.
• Engage with campus Boards of Study and student representatives from the programme(s) to gather and respond to feedback from students.
• Contributing to staff development and training as appropriate
• Engaging colleagues in, and providing a focus for, innovations in learning, teaching and assessment strategies and curriculum content within the programme.

Other

• Work with Marketing, Admissions and Recruitment to drive student recruitment for the programme, including team attendance and support for Campus outreach and recruitment events and Open Days, and specifying the programme admissions criteria and overseeing the admissions procedures (as appropriate)
• Attendance at the graduation ceremonies.
• Engage with Student Services to support students with respected to disability, health and safety, and well-being.
• Promote and inspire a collegiate and collaborative working environment, sharing ideas and best practices across all departments and functions at SAE.
• Always work and act in accordance with SAE’s values, adhering to all policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties as required commensurate with experience and seniority.

5. Performance Indicators

Evidence of:

• Excellent student performance metrics, including progression, attendance, completion, and outcomes.
• Student satisfaction, through internal feedback platforms (Board of Studies, trimester surveys) and external sources (NSS).
• Meeting all regulatory and quality benchmarks, including completing all submissions to the university partner, and completing all student assessment within the correct timeframe.
• Engagement with marketing and recruitment activities to meet enrolment targets.
• Effective leadership of programme delivery.
• Development of a continuous improvement culture with regards to programme review, administration, and quality assurance.
• Effective engagement with industry and employers, through curricular projects and activities, guest lecturers, student showcases, industry advisor feedback, and student progression to employment.
• All duties being carried out and completed within agreed timeframes and as directed.
• Representing SAE in a professional manner that enhances the image and reputation of the programme, campuses, and the wider Institute.

6. Person Specification

SAE is seeking to appoint highly skilled, innovative, flexible, and committed people with the potential to help us realise our mission and strategic objectives. The appointing panel will, therefore, require sufficient evidence of ability and achievement in each of the following areas to make an appointment.

The criteria below are essential to the requirements of the post. The selection panel will be looking for evidence of these criteria in your application form and interview only.

Qualifications/Training

• Master’s degree in a related field, or a postgraduate teaching qualification.
• Current professional accreditation or memberships (desirable).

Experience

• Teaching experience, including the development and delivery of modules.
• Management or leadership experience within a tertiary education environment.
• Professional experience in a related field.
• Experience in developing and cultivating links with professional employer networks (desirable)
• Experience of Project-Based Learning, Blended Learning, and other contemporary pedagogical approaches (desirable).
• Experience in the design and management of Virtual Learning Environments (desirable).

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage, motivate and support a teaching team, embracing collaborative working to achieve results and to deliver outstanding student experience and outcomes.
• Good organisational skills, able to work under pressure to prioritise, delegate, and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communicator, able to develop and maintain strong and trusting working relationships with colleagues and with students.
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated, and retaining a positive attitude even when faced with challenges.
• High standards for accuracy and attention to detail in all aspects of work.
• Always demonstrates personal integrity and honesty.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to maintain a calendar of regular deadlines and processes, prioritising and delegating effectively.
• Availability for travel between campuses as required.
• Full working rights for the UK.