Programme Leader | Course Director

Introduction

Due to impending retirement, JCA | London Fashion Academy is seeking an exceptional academic leader for the post of Programme Leader | Course Director to develop and lead the field of Fashion Design and Accessories at the Academy. Reporting to the Director of Teaching and Learning, the successful candidate will lead our BA (Hons) Fashion: Design and Accessories course, teach across a range of modules and programmes, and champion the further development of short courses and specialist pathways. Staff at the Academy typically come with a story : a past and a present and as such they naturally bring with them professional relationships and high profile industry contacts that help position the Academy, and crucially, support students in defining and developing their future career paths. This post would suit practising professionals who are wanting to balance a portfolio of education, practice-based research or maintaining their own design practice/ enterprise. As such we will consider candidates who want a full time position and also those seeking a fractional appointment (with a minimum of 0.6FTE) such that they can continue their own practice. Ideal candidates would be ambitious, innovative and entrepreneurial and would not only be comfortable with change management, they would positively thrive in exciting dynamic environments. Critical to the position is the ability to identify, shape and curate the individual learning journey for each of the emerging designers following the course.

Essential

Good honours degree (i.e. UK 2.1 or 1st Class) in a relevant discipline
A relevant postgraduate qualification and/or substantial professional experience in and appropriate subject area.
Evidence of ongoing professional development
Postgraduate teaching qualification (PG Cert or HEA fellowship) or a commitment to complete one
Knowledge of current commercial design practice, professional experience and outputs that demonstrate a detailed understanding of the practical and theoretical trends relevant to contemporary and emergent Fashion Design, Accessory Design, Digital Fashion culture, Fashion Entrepreneurship or relevant fields.
Extensive experience of quality assurance and enhancement in UK higher education;
Undertaking professional or academic project work e.g. creative or industry projects, scholarship and/or knowledge transfer
Academic management of courses and / or modules and the iterative development and maintenance of quality and standards.
Teaching and supervising at undergraduate level through employing a range of teaching and learning strategies.
Knowledge of how information technology can support educational delivery and learning.
Ability to inspire, motivate and connect with a range of stakeholders e.g. external clients and /or students from a range of different backgrounds
Ability to design and deliver, high quality, vibrant and challenging learning experiences which are informed by your professional experiences.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent team working skills and the ability to establish good working relationships
Excellent planning and organisational skills and the ability to manage conflicting demands and meet deadlines
Proficient in the use of IT systems
Willingness to work flexibly including some weekends and evenings, e.g. to support open days (occasional)
Willingness to travel in UK and overseas (occasional)

Organisation Background

About us

JCA| London Fashion Academy is a unique modern-day undertaking by one of the worlds most renowned contemporary designers, Prof. Dato’ Jimmy Choo OBE.

Positioned as an industry leader in the field of fashion education it follows and positively reacts to the developing higher education landscape in the UK and the Ministers call for ‘new and innovative providers opening high quality higher education’.

The Academy seeks to find, support and launch new designers through a couture-styled learner centred approach that is focused on professional practice delivered within a boutique specialist incubation environment’.

The JCA offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in a range of broad-based subjects that allow learners to pursue a very high degree of specialism. There are two routes available to prospective students:
1) an immersive, professional practice experience with incubation in Mayfair, and
2) a timetabled professional experience within a Maker Space in West London.

Inclusive in its approach, the Academy seeks to support only the very best and most gifted designer to fulfil their ambitions and transition from higher education into entrepreneurship and / or employment.

As a selective institution, recruitment is based on academic and creative potential expressed through prior qualifications and portfolio and behaviours and attitudes through academic interview and engagement.

The bar is set high but the community is founded on well being.

JCA Culture

Our academic staff are the best in their field, professionally within fashion, and pedagogically within education. They are also friendly and approachable people. People who want to work with other, similar minded, people – and together, to create a professionally focused learning community.

Lecturers are employed as ‘Mentors’ and deliver more than taught sessions; they interact, engage, and participate with learners and guide the learning journey. They excite, provocate and disrupt ways of thinking. They support, protect and inculcate excellence. However, most of all, they motivate, encourage and inspire.

Being an aspiring Designer at the Academy is much more than being a student it is about setting a direction and being mentored on that journey – from campus to beyond.

Overview and Objectives

JCA | London Fashion Academy is seeking an exceptional academic leader for the post of Programme Leader | Course Director to develop and lead the field of Fashion Design and Accessories at the Academy. Reporting to the Director of Teaching and Learning, the successful candidate will lead our BA (Hons) Fashion: Design and Accessories course, teach across a range of modules and programmes, and champion the further development of short courses and specialist pathways.

Key relationships

Students
Lecturers
Industry
Director of Teaching and Learning
Management team at Validating Partner
Academy Executive Team

Main duties and responsibilities

Aligned with the Academy’s mission, vision andpublished strategy and through consultation with the wider leadership team :

Academic Management

Leadership in the field of Design and Accessories through the leadership of the BA (Hons) course and the development of related short courses and specialist pathways.
Day to day management of the Course including all areas of learning, teaching and assessment of students and of the management of staff as determined through liaison with the Director of Teaching and Learning.
Responsible for public information related to the Course, for example Academy promotional materials and internal course documents, ensuring consistency, accuracy and tone of voice.
To lead and maintain a learning, teaching and enhancement strategy with agreed metrics in recruitment, retention, progression and achievement;

Student experience

Leads the student journey for each learner, ensuring that the modules and their assessments support the individual ambitions for each emerging designer.
Equips students with the skills, knowledge and attributes required by employers through delivery of the curriculum.
Contributes to the development of a sense of student community and acts as key contact for students.
Oversees the operational delivery of course modules and acts proactively to address any emerging issues, escalating as appropriate.
Actively participates in student induction (where appropriate),including preparation of key information for students.
Responsible for ensuring the pastoral care and supervision of students.

Learning, Teaching and Assessment

Plans and delivers the curriculum using appropriate media, including the use of IT.
Engages in critical reflection on practice as a basis for improving performance.
Contributes to innovation in learning, teaching, assessment and curriculum development with the aim of meeting the needs of learners.
Provides effective feedback, support and guidance to students.
Translates professional experience into the academic context as appropriate.
Regularly engages in staff development activities relating to teaching, learning and assessment.
Supervises individual and group based student activities, e.g. dissertations, industrial placements, work based projects.

Quality management and enhancement

Contributes to the development and achievement of quality standards and criteria.
Takes part in initiatives to improve quality of educational provision and access to higher education.
Analyse data on student progression and achievement with a view to identifying issues and trends and formulating appropriate action in response.
Where appropriate lead on the process of course development, minor modifications, major changes, validation, revalidation and review

Research and Scholarly Activity

Engages in external debate, ensuring relationships and currency with the subject community.
Identifies and conducts research and scholarly activity that is appropriate to an Independent HE Academy that is focused on learning and incubation.
Identifies opportunities for income generation and/or entrepreneurialism through research, consultancy or professional practice.

Teamwork and Communication

Works effectively with colleagues at all levels and contributes to the achievement of team objectives.
Develops collaborative relationships across teams and more generally, the Academy.
Maintains dialogue with managers in the performance of post responsibilities.
Develops networks of useful contacts both within and outside the Academy.

Personal effectiveness

Seeks ways to improve efficiency and quality and motivates and encourages others.
Contributes to achievement of organisational goals.

Business effectiveness

Actively engages with industry and seeks to attract partnerships, collaborations and mentors.
Engages with the relevant business and professional environments to develop and promote relationships that will enhance income generation (e.g. short courses, consultancy, etc).
Promotes student learning, scholarly work, and self-development in a real world context.

personal attributes

In addition to the required educational and professional experiences expressed for the post, ideal candidates would be ambitious, innovative and entrepreneurial.
Candidates would not only be comfortable with change management, they would positively thrive in exciting dynamic environments.
Experience of both public and private HEI’s would be advantageous but not essential.

Programme Leader | Course Director | Design & Accessories