Location: Hybrid – mainly remote, with occasional face-to-face meetings
Contract: Freelance preferred; part-time or full-time arrangements may also be considered
Salary:
- Freelance: £250–£325 per day, depending on experience
- Part-time/full-time equivalent: £40,000–£48,000 per year, depending on experience and contracted hours
- Start date:
- To be confirmed
The advertised salary range is aligned with the current UK market. Programme Leader salaries average approximately £37,500–£43,250 nationally, while London-based roles average around £44,800.
Role overview
We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Higher Nationals Programme Leader in Business to support the establishment, approval and ongoing delivery of the Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Business.
The programme will be delivered primarily through distance learning. The successful candidate will therefore need strong experience in higher education, online programme delivery, academic quality assurance and Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals.
The preferred arrangement is freelance, although part-time or full-time applications may also be considered. The role will be mainly remote, with occasional attendance at face-to-face meetings, staff standardisation sessions, assessment boards or Pearson quality-assurance activities.
Main responsibilities
The Programme Leader will:
- lead the planning, development and delivery of the Higher National Diploma in Business;
- support the Pearson programme approval and distance-learning approval process;
- prepare and maintain the programme specification, curriculum plan, academic calendar and schemes of work;
- ensure that the correct units and pathways are delivered in accordance with Pearson requirements;
- coordinate tutors, assessors, internal verifiers and research-project supervisors;
- develop and maintain the programme assessment plan;
- allocate teaching, assessment and internal-verification responsibilities;
- ensure assignment briefs are valid, vocationally relevant and internally verified before issue;
- monitor learner attendance, engagement, progress, achievement and retention;
- oversee the delivery and supervision of the Pearson-set Research Project;
- ensure learners are registered on the correct qualification and specialist pathway;
- organise staff induction, standardisation and continuing professional development;
- monitor assessment decisions and internal quality-assurance activity;
- chair or contribute to assessment-board meetings;
- maintain accurate assessment, progression and quality-assurance records;
- coordinate External Examiner sampling and respond to any required actions;
- liaise with the Quality Nominee, Head of Centre and Pearson representatives;
- contribute to the Annual Programme Monitoring Report and learner survey process;
- ensure compliance with policies relating to academic integrity, plagiarism, artificial intelligence, appeals, reasonable adjustments and malpractice;
- support the continuing improvement of online teaching, assessment and learner support.
Teaching responsibilities
The role may include teaching and assessment, depending on the successful candidate’s subject expertise and availability.
Possible teaching areas include:
- Research Project;
- Organisational Behaviour Management;
- Managing and Leading Change;
- Global Business Environment;
- Principles of Operations Management;
- Business Strategy;
- Developing Individuals, Teams and Organisations.
Any teaching allocation will be agreed separately and reflected in the contract and remuneration.
Essential qualifications and experience
Applicants must have:
- a relevant postgraduate qualification, preferably a Master’s degree in Business, Management, Leadership or a related discipline;
- substantial experience delivering programmes at Level 4, Level 5 or higher education level;
- experience managing or coordinating an academic or vocational programme;
- strong knowledge of assessment, internal verification and quality assurance;
- experience developing schemes of work, assessment plans and assignment briefs;
- experience monitoring learner performance, progression and achievement;
- confidence using virtual learning environments and online teaching platforms;
- excellent written communication, organisation and record-keeping skills;
- the ability to work independently and manage a primarily remote programme;
- current knowledge of academic integrity, plagiarism and responsible use of artificial intelligence in assessment.
Desirable qualifications and experience
It would be advantageous to have:
- previous experience as a Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals Programme Leader;
- direct experience delivering the Pearson BTEC HND in Business;
- a recognised teaching qualification, such as PGCE, CertEd, Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training or equivalent;
- an assessor qualification;
- an internal quality-assurance qualification;
- experience working with a Pearson External Examiner;
- experience preparing a centre for Higher Nationals programme approval;
- experience delivering distance-learning or blended-learning higher education programmes;
- experience supervising Level 5 research projects;
- membership of a relevant professional body;
- industry experience within business, management or leadership.
Skills and attributes
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- strong leadership and academic management skills;
- detailed attention to compliance and documentation;
- confidence coordinating multidisciplinary teaching teams;
- sound judgement when making assessment and progression decisions;
- the ability to manage deadlines and competing priorities;
- a learner-focused and supportive approach;
- the ability to challenge poor practice constructively;
- professionalism when communicating with staff, learners and awarding-body representatives;
- flexibility to attend occasional online or face-to-face meetings.
Working arrangements
This is primarily a remote role. The Programme Leader will be expected to:
- attend scheduled online management and quality meetings;
- remain available during agreed working hours;
- access and maintain records through the centre’s online systems;
- participate in staff standardisation and assessment boards;
- attend occasional face-to-face meetings where reasonably required;
- cooperate with Pearson approval and External Examiner activities.
Freelance applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK and be able to provide invoices and evidence of relevant professional insurance where required.
Application requirements
Applicants should submit:
- an up-to-date CV;
- copies of relevant academic, teaching, assessment and IQA qualifications;
- a brief supporting statement explaining their Higher Nationals experience;
- details of Pearson or other awarding-body experience;
- availability and preferred contractual arrangement;
- expected freelance daily rate or salary;
- contact details for two professional referees.
Safeguarding and compliance
Appointment will be subject to:
- verification of qualifications;
- identity and right-to-work checks;
- satisfactory professional references;
- a DBS check where applicable;
- declaration of conflicts of interest;
- compliance with data protection, safeguarding and centre policies.
Pay: £40,000.00-£48,000.00 per year
Work Location: Remote
