Director of the Language Centre

The Language Centre

Make a difference, every day, to the lives of our staff and students.

About You

A talented and inspiring academic leader, you will have grounded enthusiasm, hold excellent communication and management skills and with consummate diplomacy be able to demonstrate a proven capacity to work collaboratively with colleagues. To be successful you must show resilience with entrepreneurial instincts and be fluent in at least a second language and possess a detailed awareness of university language centres. 

The post will require an individual with the ability to integrate research and teaching, with demonstrable experience of close collaborative working with other academics and professionals, Experience of international education systems and of supporting diverse learning styles will be a distinct advantage.  

About the Role 

The Language Centre provides tuition in English and language support for international students all year round. It also provides modular tuition in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian and Spanish for students, staff and the local community. As well as that it runs an MA TESOL (both face to face and online) and various bespoke summer courses for partner universities. The University's new International Strategy envisages a significant growth in international activity, and the Language Centre will be at the heart of that development. You will articulate clearly a vision for the future for the Centre which is aligned to University and Faculty strategic and operational objectives.

The Edge Hill University Language Centre is accredited by the British Council and BALEAP and is a member of English UK. The University is embarking on an ambitious new International Strategy, and this is an exciting opportunity to lead the Language Centre into the next phase of its strategic development. You will provide colleagues with direction through grounded and effective leadership, adopting an inclusive, engaging and motivating leadership style.

You will also be responsible for the academic and financial management of the Centre, including the identifying and developing of external funding sources, as well as enhancing teaching quality and student experience. Other responsibilities will include external engagement, enterprise, research and teaching duties such as making a lead contribution to the development and delivery of taught courses and designing the contents and specific areas of teaching and learning within the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Rewards/Benefits

Working at Edge Hill means working in a distinctly empowering environment, where culture and collaboration are valued above traditional process-driven thinking. This is a workplace where you can really make a difference.

As a senior colleague at Edge Hill University you will have access to a generous pension scheme, with optional corporate healthcare and extensive development opportunities.

About Us

We want you to feel happy when you come to work and proud when you go home. Edge Hill University is “A great success story… an institution that improves and impresses year after year” – Times Higher Education. 

We are recognised for our outstanding achievements in student satisfaction, staff engagement, graduate employment and innovation as well as our strengthening research profile, investment and growth. The Times Higher ‘University of the Year’ award also celebrated our distinct role in “transforming lives” – reflecting a distinctive philosophy of creating opportunity from excellence.

The University has been ranked Best University Workplace (Times Higher Education 2015), judged Best UK Employer (European Business Awards 2016) and highly commended in Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2017 for Workplace of the Year.

Based on an award-winning campus in West Lancashire, Edge Hill University offers a stimulating and empowering environment for ambitious and high performing professionals.

To apply candidates will need to complete an online application form, and also attach to their application a copy of their CV and an application letter which should contain their vision for the Language Centre (please see JD for further guidance).

For informal enquiries about this vacancy you may wish to contact:
Professor George Talbot, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) and Dean of Arts & Science at talbotg@edgehill.ac.uk 

At Edge Hill University we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society