Deputy Director of PGCE, Wales

About the Role

The Deputy Director of PGCE (Wales) provides senior academic and operational leadership for the PGCE programme, working in close partnership with the Director of PGCE. The role holds delegated responsibility for strategic leadership, curriculum design, academic quality, partnership arrangements, and regulatory compliance across a complex, bilingual, multi-partner Initial Teacher Education programme. This is a senior academic leadership post aligned to Senior Lecturer (Teaching & Scholarship) at AC4 level, combining programme leadership with teaching, research and scholarship, curriculum innovation, and external academic engagement. The postholder ensures coherence, quality, and continuous improvement across programme delivery, in alignment with the Curriculum for Wales, QTS requirements, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] academic governance, and external regulators including the Education Workforce Council (EWC) and Estyn. The Deputy Director contributes to the strategic development of Initial Teacher Education within [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] in Wales and plays an active role in national and sector discussions on teacher education, policy, and workforce development. The PGCE at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] in Wales is a nationally significant, flexible route into teaching, combining online learning, live teaching, and school-based placements leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Key Responsibilities

• Provide academic leadership, curriculum oversight, partnership engagement, regulatory compliance support, and tuition.
• Provide senior academic leadership across the PGCE programme, supporting the Director in strategic development, delivery oversight, and continuous enhancement.
• Take a leading role in curriculum design, development, review and enhancement.
• Lead operational delivery across the curriculum team.
• Develop innovative, evidence-informed approaches to teaching within a blended and distance learning ITE model.
• Ensure curriculum design aligns with Curriculum for Wales, QTS requirements, and [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] governance.
• Oversee assessment design, moderation, and quality assurance.
• Lead and support Curriculum Tutors including workload and performance management.
• Provide senior oversight of school partnerships across Wales.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks (EWC, Estyn, Welsh Government).
• Contribute to business planning and financial sustainability.
• Lead continuous improvement and quality enhancement processes.

About You – Essential Criteria

• Honours degree and postgraduate qualification in education (Master’s level minimum; PhD desirable).
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• In-depth knowledge of Initial Teacher Education and the Welsh education system.
• Significant leadership experience in ITE or related field.
• Proven ability to design and review curriculum in higher education.
• Experience using digital technologies to enhance teaching and learning.
• Evidence of engagement in educational research.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to travel across Wales and work regularly from Cardiff office.

Desirable Criteria

• Fluent Welsh (oral and written).
• Experience with inspection/accreditation frameworks (Estyn, EWC).
• Experience in initial teacher education or partnership-based provision.
• Experience leading educational research or publications.
• Higher Education teaching qualification (e.g., Advance HE Fellowship).

How to Apply

Submit a CV and supporting statement of up to 1000 words via the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] recruitment system. For queries, contact [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] quoting reference 1533. Applications may be submitted in Welsh. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.