Head of School for Business Management and Creativity

Reporting into: Dean of Faculty, Business & Innovation

Click here to read the full job description and view our excellent benefits here

At Arden University, we’re redefining what learning looks like in the 21st century. With a mission to make higher education more accessible, flexible, and career-focused, we empower learners from all backgrounds to achieve their potential. Innovation, inclusion, and impact are at the heart of our approach.

We are proud to offer industry aligned, digitally enabled degree programmes designed to meet real-world needs, both for our students and the evolving workforce. Our staff are passionate about delivering education that changes lives.

We are seeking an exceptional and visionary Head of School for Business Management and Creativity to lead and develop our newly reimagined academic School. This unique School combines traditional business disciplines with creative and innovation driven thinking to reflect the future of enterprise, leadership, and digital first organisations.

About the Opportunity:

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Academic Leadership

• Develop and deliver a compelling vision and strategic plan for the School, aligned to the Faculty and institutional goals.
• Lead on the development and growth of innovative, career-relevant programmes that combine business acumen with creative practice and digital innovation.
• Ensure an excellent student experience, consistently improving learning outcomes and engagement across diverse delivery modes (online, blended, campus-based).
• Drive quality assurance and academic standards in line with internal and external benchmarks.
• Ensure the school delivers outstanding student outcomes and success by liaising with all of the Heads of Department.

People and Culture

• Lead, inspire, and manage a high-performing, multidisciplinary academic team.
• Develop a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, wellbeing, and continuous professional development.
• Support academic career pathways, research, scholarly activity, and industry engagement.

External Engagement and Growth

• Build strong partnerships with industry, professional bodies, and the creative and digital business communities.
• Represent the School at senior university and external forums, contributing to policy, strategy, and reputation enhancement.

About You:

Essential requirements:

• Significant academic leadership experience, including curriculum design, quality assurance, and team development.
• Excellent and effective communication skills to build positive relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• A strong ability to analyse and evaluate programme and school data
• Sound understanding of future facing business education, with a commitment to interdisciplinarity, digital transformation and innovation.
• Evidence of building successful external partnerships and driving employability focused outcomes.
• Effective analytical and report writing skills in line with expectations for senior management and the university Executive.
• Management training/qualification demonstrating the ability to lead others.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing and complex priorities, and thrive in a commercially oriented context.
• Demonstrate leadership skills, effective people management, and team building skills.
• A successful track record of leading academic portfolios at different levels/modes of study, ensuring relevant portfolios deliver high levels of Student Experience and Student Outcomes (TEF metrics), as well as Student Satisfaction (internal and external surveys).
• Proven track record in leadership and people management skills, encompassing managing high performance professionals, team building, direction setting and change management.

To apply please click the 'Apply' button (above).

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