Academic Lead (across all subjects)
Teaching Excellence | Academic Mentoring | Curriculum Contribution | Tutor Leadership
Locations: London or Shanghai
Contract: Full-time | Hybrid | Evening/weekend teaching required
Blue Education is a leading education company helping students achieve ambitious academic, university admissions, postgraduate and career goals. Our team includes graduates from Oxford, Cambridge, Ivy League and other world-leading institutions, bringing academic excellence, teaching expertise and a strong record of student success.
We support students and families through rigorous teaching, personalised academic guidance and strategic planning. Our mission is to help students thrive academically, gain admission to the world’s top universities and develop the confidence, curiosity and skills to make meaningful contributions to society.
This role is ideal for outstanding graduates from Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial, Ivy League or other top global universities who are passionate about teaching, academic mentoring and shaping students’ academic journeys.
The Academic Lead is responsible for delivering excellent teaching and academic guidance within their subject area while contributing to curriculum development, student progress and tutor quality. The role combines high-quality teaching with educational consulting, family communication, academic planning and leadership within a high-performing academic team.
Academic Leads are expected to manage a portfolio of students, support subject tutors, contribute to programme improvement and represent Blue Education’s academic standards in all teaching, mentoring and family-facing work.
1.Teaching & Academic Guidance
Deliver rigorous, analytical and student-centred teaching within the relevant subject discipline.
Provide targeted academic mentoring for high-achieving students preparing for competitive university pathways, including Oxbridge, Ivy League and other leading global universities.
Support students with subject knowledge, academic writing, admissions tests, interview preparation, written work and broader intellectual development.
Diagnose student strengths and development areas, creating structured learning plans that support measurable progress.
Maintain consistently high teaching standards across individual lessons, group sessions and online delivery.
2. Student Progress & Academic Planning
Manage a portfolio of students within the subject area, ensuring each student has clear academic objectives and an appropriate progression plan.
Track student performance, engagement and feedback, intervening early where additional support is required.
Prepare clear progress updates, lesson notes and academic recommendations for students, parents and internal colleagues.
Coordinate with tutors and internal teams to ensure students receive joined-up academic support.
Contribute to student retention and satisfaction through responsive communication, high-quality teaching and thoughtful academic advice.
3. Family Communication & Educational Consulting
Communicate professionally with students and parents, providing timely academic advice, strategic recommendations and clear next steps.
Build trusted relationships with families, supporting student wellbeing, confidence and long-term academic development.
Explain academic pathways, university preparation requirements and subject choices in a clear and commercially aware manner.
Escalate complex academic or family concerns to senior academic leadership where appropriate.
4. Tutor Leadership & Team Contribution
Lead and mentor subject tutors, helping uphold Blue Education’s standards for teaching quality, responsiveness and academic professionalism.
Share subject expertise, teaching approaches and admissions insights with colleagues to strengthen team performance.
Support onboarding, feedback and informal development of tutors within the subject area, under the direction of senior academic leadership where applicable.
Collaborate with Oxbridge/Ivy-trained colleagues in a high-performance environment where intellectual curiosity and innovation are valued.
5. Curriculum & Programme Development
Design and refine curricula, enrichment programmes, assessments and pedagogy-informed teaching resources.
Contribute to the development of subject pathways that support students at different stages of academic and admissions preparation.
Use student outcomes, tutor feedback and admissions trends to improve teaching materials and programme effectiveness.
Ensure academic resources are rigorous, relevant and aligned with competitive university admissions expectations.
6. Academic Engagement & Growth
Participate in academic outreach, webinars, workshops, marketing initiatives and parent-facing events.
Stay updated on global higher education trends, admissions criteria, curriculum developments and competitor activity.
Contribute ideas for new programmes, academic services and student support initiatives.
Act as a strong ambassador for Blue Education’s academic standards and student-centred approach.
1. Academic Credentials
Graduate, Master’s or PhD degree from Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial College, Ivy League, or an equivalent top global university.
Strong subject expertise and the academic credibility to advise ambitious students and families.
2. Teaching & Admissions Experience
Minimum 500+ hours of teaching, tutoring or academic mentoring experience, ideally with high-achieving or university-bound students.
Proven experience supporting students applying to Oxbridge, Ivy League or other competitive university programmes.
Ability to design targeted learning plans, explain complex ideas clearly and improve student confidence and academic performance.
Experience with admissions preparation, including personal statements, written assessments, admissions tests and interviews, is highly desirable.
3. Core Skills
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to advise students, parents and colleagues clearly and professionally.
Highly organised, responsive and capable of managing multiple students, deadlines, lessons and consultations.
Strong digital literacy and confidence using online learning platforms, shared documents and student management systems.
Ability to collaborate effectively with tutors, academic colleagues and operational teams.
Willingness to teach and support students during evenings and weekends in peak application cycles.
4. Personal Qualities
Intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for working in a high-achieving academic environment.
Passion for education, with a strong commitment to student development, integrity and academic excellence.
Professional judgement, emotional intelligence and confidence working with ambitious students and families.
Collaborative mindset and openness to contributing to team culture, curriculum improvement and business growth.
Student progress, engagement, satisfaction and retention within the assigned student portfolio.
Quality and consistency of teaching delivery, academic planning and family communication.
Positive contribution to tutor development, curriculum improvement and team collaboration.
Successful support for competitive university admissions and subject-specific preparation.
Contribution to academic outreach, programme growth and Blue Education’s reputation for excellence.
£50,000-£65,000 base salary, plus performance-based bonuses and potential equity options.
UK work permit sponsorship for exceptional candidates, where applicable.
A collaborative environment with colleagues from Oxford, Cambridge, Ivy League and other top global universities.
Career development, leadership pathways and influence over programme design and academic strategy.
Comprehensive benefits including private health insurance and pension scheme.
International exposure across the UK and Asia, with opportunities for travel.
The opportunity to make a transformative impact on students’ academic and personal development.
