Role: Programme Manager - ESOL
Location: Central Bedfordshire College - Dunstable
Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £41,400 and £47,971 per annum (pro rata) DOE and Qualifications, 35 days annual leave plus Bank holidays (pro rata),Teacher’s Pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.
Hours/Weeks: 37 hrs per week/ 39 weeks per year
Contract Type: Full Time - Permanent
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.
About the role:
We are currently seeking a Programme Manager in ESOL and Community to join our Community Learning department at The Bedford College Group.
As a Programme Manager, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
- Curriculum Leadership & Delivery – Lead and manage ESOL and Community programmes across multiple sites, ensuring inclusive, high-quality teaching and curriculum development tailored to diverse learner needs.
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Team & Operational Management – Oversee staffing, timetabling, and resources; support tutors and staff; maintain quality assurance systems; and act as safeguarding lead for the provision
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Learner Progression & Support – Monitor learner progress, embed life skills and employability into the curriculum, and support transitions into further education, employment, or community integration.
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Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships – Collaborate with internal teams and external agencies to support learner wellbeing, progression, and personalised learning plans, while managing employer and community relationships.
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Compliance & Professional Standards – Ensure site safety and record accuracy, contribute to reporting and meetings, uphold statutory duties (safeguarding, EDI, health & safety), and engage in continuous professional development.
About you:
- Qualifications & Subject Expertise – Holds a relevant degree or Level 5 qualification in ESOL or related fields, a teaching qualification (e.g. PGCE), and GCSEs in Maths and English (A–C), with strong knowledge of inclusive education and adult learning principles.
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Teaching & Leadership Experience – Proven experience teaching ESOL and Community learners, including those with complex needs, leading teams, and improving teaching standards through mentoring and curriculum planning.
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Inclusive Practice & Student Support – Skilled in creating culturally responsive environments, supporting learners with EHCPs, and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion across all aspects of the role.
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Communication & Organisational Skills – Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication abilities, confident in using Microsoft Office, managing data, and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
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Professionalism & Flexibility – Committed to safeguarding, continuous development, and maintaining professional boundaries, with the flexibility to travel and adapt working hours to meet evolving learner and programme needs.
For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.
Interviews to be held: 19th August 2026
About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.
Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.
Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.
Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.
