Deputy Head – Land-Based (Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering & Horticulture)
Wiltshire College & University Centre – Lackham Campus
Are you an experienced land-based educator, engineering specialist, or curriculum leader looking to take the next step in your career?
We are seeking a Deputy Head of Land-Based Studies to help lead and develop high-quality provision across Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Horticulture at our well-established Lackham Campus.
This role offers the opportunity to take on a meaningful leadership position within one of the UK’s leading land-based education settings, supporting learners into skilled employment, apprenticeships, and higher education progression.
Candidates with an engineering background are especially encouraged to apply, as this expertise would be valuable in supporting curriculum development, strengthening industry engagement, and contributing to the ongoing growth of our land-based provision.
Lackham Campus is set within 500 acres of Wiltshire countryside and provides exceptional specialist facilities, including a commercial farm, Agri-Tech Centre, Animal Centre, engineering workshops, and dedicated horticulture areas. It is a practical, industry-focused environment where staff and learners work closely with real-world land-based systems and emerging technologies.
Working alongside the Head of Faculty, you will support curriculum leadership, drive improvements in teaching, learning and assessment, and ensure provision remains aligned with current and emerging industry needs. You will also contribute to staff development, employer engagement, and curriculum enhancement across all land-based areas.
With up to 50% teaching remission, this role provides dedicated time to focus on leadership, quality improvement, employer engagement, and curriculum development alongside teaching responsibilities.
What We Offer
?? Salary: £42,511 rising to £44,419 per year **This role qualifies for a £3,000 pro rata Specialist Skills Shortage Bonus for applicants who hold a Level 3 qualification or higher in Engineering or a related subject**
??? Contract: Permanent, Full-time 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year
?? Benefits include:
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Teachers’ Pension Scheme
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35 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays
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2-week Christmas closure + wellbeing days
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Free on-site gym facilities
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Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 support)
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Cycle-to-work scheme
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Retail, travel & leisure discounts
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Ongoing professional development and leadership progression opportunities
What You’ll Be Doing
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Supporting leadership across land-based curriculum areas
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Improving teaching, learning, retention, and achievement
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Leading curriculum development aligned with industry requirements
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Supporting and developing teaching staff through coaching and guidance
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Building and maintaining employer and industry partnerships
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Monitoring learner progress and implementing interventions where needed
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Contributing to quality assurance, self-assessment, and inspection preparation
What You’ll Bring
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A Level 4 (or above) teaching qualification
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A Level 3 qualification and/or substantial industry experience in a relevant land-based discipline
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Experience in curriculum coordination or leadership within FE or a similar setting
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Strong understanding of quality assurance in further education
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Effective communication and team leadership skills
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A clear commitment to land-based education and learner success
Why Join Us?
For those working in land-based colleges or similar specialist environments, this role offers the chance to broaden your leadership experience while remaining rooted in the sector.
At Lackham, you will:
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Work in a specialist land-based campus with outstanding facilities
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Help shape curriculum direction across key industry sectors
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Join a supportive and collaborative leadership team
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Play a direct role in developing the future land-based workforce
Take the Next Step
If you are ready to take on a leadership role in a specialist land-based environment and contribute to shaping high-quality provision, we would love to hear from you.
Closing Date: 26/07/26
Interview Date: 31/07/26
Please note:
Your Application Form will be shortlisted against how your skills, qualifications and experience match the Essential and Desirable points on the Person Specification for this role, located at the bottom of this page as a downloadable document.
Vacancies may close early if sufficient applications have been received; therefore, we would encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Wiltshire College & University Centre follows Safer Recruitment Guidance outlined by the Department for Education in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’. This involves conducting enhanced DBS checks, including checks against the children’s barred list, and other employment verifications, including an online presence review for shortlisted candidates.
We embrace diversity, recognising the valuable perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and cultures individuals from different backgrounds bring. Committed to safeguarding, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we pledge to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a job vacancy and assess them based on their abilities.
INDMED
Wiltshire College & University Centre stands as the largest provider of further and higher education in Wiltshire, significantly contributing to the local economy by equipping individuals with essential skills for success. Our diverse curriculum spans from Level 1 to Level 6, and we operate across four main campuses located in Trowbridge, Chippenham, Salisbury, and Lackham, which specialises in land-based education.
We offer a wide array of apprenticeships, along with full-time, part-time, and university-level courses. Notably, our Castle Combe circuit facility is the UK's first trackside motorsport engineering training centre, dedicated to our Motorsport Engineering programs.
