Head of Widening Participation

Full-time 32.5 hours per week

Hybrid work: Available with at least 3 days in the Academy

Start date: November 2025

The Royal Academy of Music is one of the world’s leading conservatoires. Our Access and Participation work provides opportunities for a range of young musicians from diverse backgrounds to progress in performance and composition. The Head of Widening Participation is responsible for the direction, planning, implementation and evaluation of the Academy’s access programmes. A key responsibility is drafting and delivering the Academy’s Access and Participation Plan. The post holder will have an excellent knowledge and experience of pre-18 music education and the transition to higher education. They will be committed to widening access and participation in the context of specialist music performance training and to mitigating the social and economic barriers that impede that access.

We are looking for a Head of Widening Participation to join our team. Access and Participation work provides opportunities for a range of young musicians from diverse backgrounds to progress in performance and composition. You will liaise with the Office for Students and will be up to date on current research in this area in the higher education sector.  A key member of the Access and Participation Committee, the Head of Widening Participation will lead the delivery of the Access and Participation Plan. As well as their own team, the post holder will work closely with the Dean of Students, the Director of Junior Academy, the Head of Open Academy, and the Philanthropy Team.

To be successful in this role, you will have an excellent knowledge and experience of pre-18 music education and the transition to higher education. You will have experience of delivering widening participation initiatives in a specialist environment, along with the ability to influence and inspire colleagues at all levels. You will be have excellent communication skills, be tactful and diplomatic and enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues on developing outstanding musicians and performers of the future. 

More information and an online application are available on https://www.ram.ac.uk/jobs;
or by clicking the 'Apply' button, above.

Completed applications must be received by 23.59 on 7 October 2025.

Interviews are expected to take place on-site on 16 October 2025.

Enquiries or applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.

The Academy is committed to promoting the welfare and safeguarding of all students.

The Academy values diversity and welcomes your application.

We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, and candidates with disabilities because we would like to increase the representation of these groups in these roles. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to greater results for students.

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