Head of Initial Teacher Education

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a distinctive, unique institution, rooted in the Liverpool City Region and with a global presence. Our students and staff, past, present, and future, are the beating heart of our city and can be found in every corner of every industry and community. We couldn’t exist anywhere else and have shaped the city in which we belong. Working with the people of Liverpool to improve lives and support communities is at the heart of why we were founded and why we exist today.

Situated within the Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies, the School of Education at LJMU has a long and proud history in teacher education, a reputation for outstanding graduates and Early Career Teachers, and an enviable network of committed partner schools and other key stakeholders. It is renowned for the strength of its undergraduate and postgraduate curricula and has growing recognition for international partnerships and collaborative research. The quality of our ITE Programmes and the development of socially engaged teachers - delivered through a team of committed and forward-thinking academic teams - is recognised by Ofsted and in the wider community. We hold the student experience at the heart of everything we do and are proud to have around 600 enrolled on QTS programmes.

We are now seeking an outstanding individual to join us as Head of Initial Teacher Education This is an exciting time for the School, and pivotal moment of diversification and opportunity. You will operate skilfully within, and with understanding of, regulatory and compliance requirements, whilst driving forward the delivery of excellent student experience and outcomes. You will provide the exceptional strategic leadership, a supportive research, staff development, and knowledge exchange culture. Importantly, you will lead by example and oversee organisational planning, operational management, recruitment, and retention priorities, and partnership development.

You will have the capability and talent to build on the solid foundations and achievements of our teacher education provision, which have been established over a sustained period, while also having the vision and ambition to dynamically lead the team through future challenges and opportunities. You will be responsible for the School’s ITE portfolio which includes core and School-led (formerly School Direct) Postgraduate Secondary and Primary Programmes, as well as a thriving BA (Hons) Primary Education Programme.

As a key member of the School’s leadership team, this senior level post will require high-level strategic understanding of the external and internal ITE environment. Because of this, you must have proven experience in the sector to be able to respond to the intensive and particular demands it brings. A strong knowledge of the UK teacher education landscape and complex policy and funding streams is essential. This includes the requirements of recruitment to ITE programmes, internal and external audits and action plans, the current Ofsted inspection framework and the DfE’s ITT curriculum and regulatory expectations.

You should have proven experience of leading the delivery of successful ITE programmes and schools’ partnerships. In addition to an honours degree or postgraduate degree with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you will hold a PhD in a relevant area or have substantial, equivalent senior level professional leadership experience of at least 5 years in the sector, with evidence of leading teams in complex environments.

In return, the Head of ITE will be joining a passionate and committed community of academics and professional support staff which makes the School of Education at LJMU a special place to work and thrive. We also offer an excellent benefits package including relocation support where eligible, generous annual leave entitlement, pension scheme, induction, and development support, as well as family-friendly policies.

This is an exciting time to join the university as we deliver the LJMU Strategy 2030 and its vision of LJMU as an inclusive civic university transforming lives and futures, by placing students at the heart of everything we do.

If you feel that this is the senior leadership role you have been looking for and your skills and experience can make a real difference at LJMU, we look forward to hearing from you.

Informal enquiries may be made in confidence to: Ruth Slater, Acting Head of ITE S.R.Slater@ljmu.ac.uk or Dr Ceri Daniels, Director, School of Education C.A.Daniels@ljmu.ac.uk.

LJMU is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all background and communities irrespective of age, transgender status, disability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and religion or belief. All our appointments are made on merit.

Please note all of our vacancies will be closed to applications at midnight on the advertised closing date, unless otherwise stated.