JOB DESCRIPTION

Director of Curriculum and Professional Development

Responsible to:Chief Executive

Line management responsibility:Health & Safety ProjectOfficer,Lead H&S Consultant,Education Resources Managerand D&T Consultants and Regional Design and Technology Health and Safety consultants (RDTHSC).

Hours:Full time

Salary:Equivalent to AHT pay scale L11 (£50,476) to L15 (£55,600)

Location:Office based, with work nationally and from home as agreed

Purpose of the post:

The Director of Curriculum and Professional Development contributesexpert advice and guidance to strategic planning centred around all curriculum related matters. The post holder will need a detailed knowledge of and keep up to date with developments in:

  • Curriculum development and support,relating to the National Curriculum design and technology programmes of study KS1/KS2/KS3 and related initiatives
  • Nationally recognised qualifications at KS4/KS5 and related Further and Higher Education qualifications
  • Awarding Organisations, the delivery of existing qualifications and possible development of new awards
  • Relevant technical and professional qualifications such as Technical Awards, T-Levels and other awards related to D&T education
  • Initial teacher training
  • Health & Safety within D&T, line managing the Associations Lead H&S Consultant and keeping abreast of all current H&S requirements for teaching the subject in schools and colleges

This senior position supports and assists the Chief Executive by providing expert and professional D&T leadership across all aspects of the Associations work. This includes developing and motivating staff and embedding strong subject knowledge and pedagogy at the heart of our organisation.

Increasingly the Association is seen as the curriculum authority for design and technology and associated related activity, including Initial teacher education, continued professional development and resource development. This post contributes significantly to the Association fulfilling this role.

This is an outward facing post which will contribute to initiatives aimed at increasing the number of new teachers entering D&T teaching and those able to support the subject in a consultant capacity. The postholder will identify, design and deliver relevant professional development courses and will indirectly assist teachers to deliver safer, more inspiring and relevant learning to students nationally and internationally.

Key requirements of the role:

  • Influencing teacher training by making and maintaining positive relationships with all major training institutions and associated government bodies
  • Monitor and report on numbers of teachers entering programmes of D&T initial teacher education, working with the Chief Executive and external bodies to increase numbers recruited
  • Maintaining recognition of the place ofdesign and technology in the National Curriculum
  • Contributing to the long-term sustainability of the subject by identifying needs for continued professional development (CPD)
  • Contributing to the financial well-being of the Association through the development of commercial activity, including the planned delivery of CPD provision
  • Enhancing the Association’s reputation and profile through representing its values and interests in professional contexts including writing and giving presentations
  • Provision of D&T expertise, when working alongside other specialist educational colleagues to plan and deliver high quality professional development
  • Provision of Health & Safety (H&S)leadership across all member schools and institutions working closely with the Lead H&S Consultant
  • Monitoring performance of the Association’s employees and external providers
  • Work with members of the SMT in developing the Association’s overall vision, direction and strategic approach, and support the CEO with communication to all staff.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Quality Products and Services

  • Develop advice and guidance on implementation of the National Curriculum to members, external bodies and individuals as appropriate
  • Develop and maintain the Association’s recommendations for and policy on, pupil assessment
  • Provide leadership for the development of the Association’s D&T quality assurance process:The D&T Self Review Framework, ensuring that related resources are current and up to date
  • Lead and promote the D&T Mark and develop a body of excellent schools under this banner
  • Be responsible for the Association’s links withthe initial teacher training community including representatives of DfE and NCTL. Seek out opportunities for the Association to assist in the process of recruitment and development of high quality D&T trainee teachers
  • Provide leadership on the Association’s continued professional development provision,relating to curriculum matters across all age groups and abilities
  • Provide leadership for externally funded projects as required (working closely with key staff to develop bids and respond to tenders)
  • Identify opportunities for and respond to requests for authoring articles and papers relating to D&T for both internal and external publication

External Relationships and Profile

  • Working with Government and agencies e.g. NCTL, Ofqual, ensure that the interests of the subject and the Association’s members are strongly represented
  • Working closely with the Chief Executive, represent the interests of the subject in high level discussion influencing Government educational policy
  • Working with the Chief Executive, liaise with public and private bodies and professional institutions to inform their understanding of D&T and influence their involvement with its provision
  • Provide advice to awarding organisations and seek opportunities to influence the development of appropriate D&T and related qualifications
  • Provide expert contributions at events, conferences and meetings
  • Identify new potential consultant members and develop their potential to provide services on the Association’s behalf
  • Represent the Association at the DfE’s and other organisations’ meetings in place of CEO when required
  • Act as an ambassador for the Association at events, conferences and meetings to raise the Associations profile and sell its services

Meeting our Customers’ Needs

  • Provide expert advice and guidance to teacher members requesting support on curriculum, qualification, assessment and related matters
  • Provide expert advice and guidance to consultant and corporate members
  • Interpret Government policy in the context of D&T and convey to members through articles, publications, presentations and by responding to individual requests
  • Anticipate and advise on future developments in the subject, keeping the Association at the cutting edge of any developments and enablingour members to respond accordingly
  • Work with business and industry to provide advice on the nature and practice of D&T and how small and larger organisations can and should engage with schools
  • Work with other providers of D&T related services and resources e.g. suppliers and publishers to ensure their outputs are appropriate and of value
  • Contribute to regular communications with members; either through face-to-face meetings, written communication and by strategic targeted use of social media

Income Generation and Financial Efficiency

  • Identify opportunities for externally funded activity (projects), completingassociated tenders and working with other Association staff to place strategic fundingbids where appropriate
  • Work with the appropriate Association staff, managing and monitoring specific project budgets as directed by CEO
  • Provide advice on maximising the use of available funds generated through external projects
  • Identify new resources for development and suggest suitable authors/developerse.g. Primary resources
  • Identify opportunities for providing courses of professional development and provide leadership on their development and delivery
  • Contribute to the SMT in identifying opportunities for increased efficiency within the organisation
  • Seek opportunities to tender for commercial activity to support D&T education and the Association

Team Work

  • Working closely with the CEO, contribute to the development of a focused and well-supported outward facing D&T Association team
  • Line manage the Education Resources Manager to ensure curriculum development resource production and guidance materials is aligned with the needs of the subject and the Association
  • Line manage the Association’s Lead H & S Consultant and Health & Safety Project Officer, ensuring all information given to members is accurate and follows appropriate legislation
  • Work closely with the Association’s H&S Project Officer in order to maintain and grow the income of H&Saccreditation to schools and other organisations
  • On request, provide advice to Trustees on D&T and related educational matters and Government policy
  • ProvideD&T subject specific,Government policy and general education advice to Association staff and Trustees as necessary
  • Develop, lead and contribute to the provision of internal CPD activity
  • Provide leadership and coordinate the work of the revised Primary and Secondary ‘Working groups’
  • Any other reasonable task as requested by line manager

Administration

  • Providing reports to the CEO, Trustees and external agencies as required

People ManagementTasks

  • Set clear tasks and objectives with teams or individuals, and review regularly
  • Provide direction and give guidance on priorities based on the Associations objectives
  • Monitor and ensure workload and capacity is manageable
  • Address employee issues and manage underperformance, where required
  • Provide opportunity for one-to-one discussions with direct reports
  • Monitor and assess performance, providing individuals (and teams if appropriate) with regular feedback
  • Give praise and recognise success – individual and team
  • Conduct annual and interim PDR’s in line with the Associations policy
  • Follow up on agreed development activities, providing support where needed
  • Ensure effective induction of new starters
  • Authorise annual leave and arrange cover, as required
  • Ensure that the Associations sickness absence procedures are followed
  • Ensure that job descriptions / consultant contracts are created accurately and maintained
  • Support recruitment and selection following the Associations procedures

Skills and Knowledge Required

Basic
(or used ‘infrequently’) / Intermediate
(or used ‘regularly’) / Advanced
(or considered an ‘expert’)
Skills
Leadership / X
People Management / X
Emotional Intelligence / X
Presentation Skills / X
Public Speaking / X
Time Management / X
Negotiation / X
Influencing skills / X
Strategic planning / X
Chairing meetings / X
Change management / X
Project management / X
Bid writing / X
Diplomacy / X
Writing skills / X
Ability to work to deadlines / X
Financial planning / X
Knowledge
Governance and charitable organisations / X
D&T / X
Education environment and culture / X
Government & education processes / funding streams / X
Best practice in leadership and management / X
Business planning / X
Tender processes / X

Core Behaviours

Below is a list of behaviours that have been identified as those that are required to perform effectively, and in line with the Association’s values and culture

Heading / Behaviours
Delivering high quality professional service / Makes suggestions to fill gaps in a service or make improvements. Demonstrate ability to follow these suggestions up into actions
Proactively chases others for information required to meet a deadline
Considers pros and cons based on reliable information before making balanced and informed decisions
Seeks to understand the Association and aligns their efforts with its aims
Thinks ahead to anticipate what is needed when planning own work
Remains focused on important, work-related tasks without being easily distracted.
Takes personal responsibility and shows professional pride in completing tasks and solving customer problems
Demonstrates high levels of professional integrity.
Meeting our customer needs / Seeks to find out what customers really want or need
An active listener. Takes on board and implements customers comments and feedback
Demonstrates flexibility by making changes or working differently to suit the Association and its customers’ needs
Is honest and realistic with customers about what is possible, to manage their expectations
Maintaining external relationships and the Association’s profile / Explains the benefits and/or reasons using language and context that appeals when trying to influence others to make changes or work in a different way
Is enthusiastic and vibrant about the Association when talking to others
Is diplomatic in their response even when there are potential clashes of opinion. Can make others listen to their point of view and has the ability to actively listen to the opinion of others
Income generation and financial efficiency / Considers financial and other implications and deadlines when prioritising workload
Team work / Uses a wide range of contribution, expertise and ideas to create a plan or solve a problem where appropriate
Remains calm and positive during times of change or difficulty
Follows up promptly on personal commitments and promises made
Offers to help colleagues, even when work is outside of their own area of responsibility
Readily shares relevant information and own experiences for the benefit of colleague
Questions assumptions made by others if not clear
Puts the good of the team and the Association ahead of their own personal gain
People management / Sets out clear aims and objectives for others to follow
Provides regular opportunity and encourages team members to input and give upward feedback
Gives regular praise and recognises positive contribution of others
Gives feedback in a constructive and timely manner
Holds people to account whilst at all times showing respect and high levels of professional integrity

Job Description Specification - Director of Curriculum and Training

Issue number 1 - April 2018Page 1