Senior Academic Developer – Higher Education

We’re working with a leading UK university to appoint a Senior Academic Developer who will play a pivotal role in driving academic development, leading AdvanceHE-accredited programmes, and shaping professional development initiatives across the institution.

The Role

As Senior Academic Developer, you’ll take responsibility for designing, delivering, and evaluating a comprehensive academic development portfolio, including both accredited and non-accredited programmes.

Key elements of the role include:

• Programme leadership of AdvanceHE-accredited academic practice programmes (e.g. PGCert/APA).
• Oversight of teaching, assessment, mentoring, exam boards, reporting, and accreditation processes.
• Delivery of a structured CPD framework in academic practice aligned with the 2023 UK Professional Standards Framework (PSF).
• Leading annual academic development events, including a major institutional Education Conference.
• Contributing to scholarship and dissemination of effective practice through publications, workshops, and presentations.
• Working collaboratively with professional services, faculties, and sector bodies to ensure provision reflects institutional priorities and sector best practice.

Main responsibilities

• Lead, evaluate, and enhance accredited and CPD programmes.
• Mentor and support staff with HEA Fellowship, grant, and teaching award applications.
• Participate in AdvanceHE recognition panels.
• Coordinate peer review and observation of teaching.
• Contribute to Quality Assurance processes, institutional reviews, and sector submissions (e.g. TEF).
• Develop and deliver annual workshops and staff development activities.
• Build strong links with sector partners such as AdvanceHE, JISC, ALT, and SEDA.
• Maintain accurate records of academic development engagement and outcomes.
• Publish and present on effective practice to raise the university’s external profile.

The essential criteria for this role is:

• Senior Fellowship of AdvanceHE (SFHEA).
• Experience as a Programme Lead on a PGCert or equivalent.
• Expert knowledge of the AdvanceHE UK Professional Standards Framework (2023).
• Track record of designing, delivering, and evaluating academic CPD.
• Proven experience mentoring colleagues through Fellowship and other recognition routes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead academic development initiatives.

Desirable:

• A PhD or equivalent.
• Expertise in curriculum design and assessment across blended, online, and face-to-face modes.
• Understanding of quality assurance and enhancement in HE.
• Experience supporting postgraduate students.
• Strong communication, mentoring, and stakeholder engagement skills.

This role offers the opportunity to lead sector-accredited programmes, influence institutional teaching practice, and build visibility across the HE community. Aside from a competitive salary, the role offers a wide range of benefits including 30+ days of annual leave (plus closure/bank holidays), flexible working, and a generous pension scheme. If you’re an experienced academic developer looking for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.