Subject Tutors Garden Design and/or Interior Design

Hours: 35 hours per week (including occasional evenings and weekends); part-time work is possible minimum 0.4fte (2 days per week)

Shape the Next Generation of Designers

West Dean College is internationally recognised for excellence in creative education, combining specialist teaching, craftsmanship, innovation, and industry engagement. We are seeking inspiring and experienced Subject Tutors to join our School of Design and help shape the future of design education.

We welcome applications from specialists in Garden Design, Interior Design, or candidates with expertise spanning both disciplines. Whether your background is focused on one subject area or you bring experience across both, you will play a key role in delivering an engaging and contemporary curriculum across our BA, Diploma and Certificate programmes.

This is an exciting opportunity for a practising designer and educator who is passionate about supporting students to develop technical excellence, creative confidence, professional awareness, and a strong sense of individual design identity.

About the Role

Working closely with the Programme Leader and wider academic team, you will contribute to the development, delivery and enhancement of our design programmes, both on-site and on-line. You will inspire students through practical teaching, tutorials, critiques, demonstrations and assessment, ensuring that learning remains current, innovative and connected to professional practice.

Alongside teaching, you will contribute to curriculum development, student recruitment, programme enhancement, industry engagement and the wider academic life of the College. You will help foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to experiment, collaborate and realise their creative potential.

The successful candidate will bring current professional knowledge, strong communication skills, and a commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality teaching across design programmes.
• Develop innovative and industry-relevant teaching and learning materials.
• Support student progression through tutorials, assessment and feedback.
• Contribute to programme development and quality enhancement.
• Participate in recruitment activities, open days and portfolio reviews.
• Build and maintain professional and industry networks.
• Support the wider academic and creative community within the School of Design.
• Contribute to the promotion of West Dean's reputation for excellence in design education.

About You

You will have:

• A degree in Garden Design, Interior Design, or a related discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification (or equivalent professional experience).
• Significant experience teaching in higher education or specialist design education.
• Professional practice experience within Garden Design, Interior Design, or a related sector.
• Strong knowledge of contemporary design practice and pedagogy.
• Experience of assessment, student support and curriculum development.
• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in industry-standard digital design tools, including AutoCAD, SketchUp and Adobe Creative Suite.

Experience across both Garden Design and Interior Design would be particularly welcome, although applications from specialists in either discipline are encouraged.

Why Join West Dean?

West Dean College offers a unique creative environment where students learn from practising professionals and where innovation, craftsmanship and collaboration are central to the learning experience. This role offers the opportunity to influence the next generation of designers while contributing to a thriving and respected creative institution.

Additional Information

We will be reviewing applications and interviewing on a rolling basis, and early applications are strongly encouraged. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once suitable candidates have been appointed.

West Dean is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

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