Please note we don't have a fixed closing date but instead will close the role when we have sufficient applicants to interview so apply soon to not miss out!
We are looking for a senior leader to take overall responsibility for the student experience across our colleges.
This is a key role. You will lead how students experience college day to day – from first contact and enrolment through to progression. You will bring together services that support engagement, behaviour, safeguarding, personal development and careers, and make sure they work consistently across all campuses.
What you’ll do
You will lead a wide range of student-facing services and teams. This includes student engagement, campus support, behaviour and inclusion, careers and our student hubs.
Your focus will be on getting the basics right, consistently:
- Strong attendance and punctuality
- Clear behaviour expectations and support in place
- High quality front-line student services
- A joined-up approach to tutorials, enrichment and personal development
- A clear and visible safeguarding culture
You will use data and student feedback to spot issues early and act on them. The role is as much about delivery as it is strategy.
You will also:
- Oversee the full learner journey from application through to enrolment and induction
- Lead the student voice and involvement agenda, including the student council
- Ensure consistent support for students with SEND and those at risk of disengagement
- Work closely with curriculum and quality teams to improve attendance, retention and outcomes
- Report clearly to senior leaders and governors on performance and impact
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone who has led at scale and can operate both strategically and operationally.
You’ll need:
- Experience of leading services in an education or similar complex organisation
- A track record of improving outcomes such as attendance, retention or progression
- Confidence managing large, multi-site teams
- Strong judgement on behaviour, safeguarding and inclusion
- The ability to use data to drive decisions and hold teams to account
You’ll be comfortable working across a wide range of stakeholders and influencing at senior level
About Us
The College
London South East Colleges (LSEC) is one of London’s largest and most successful further education providers, with seven campuses across Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lambeth and around 1,000 staff. Each year, we support more than 13,000 students through a wide portfolio of vocational courses, apprenticeships and other programmes that are closely aligned to employer and industry need.
What brings people to work here, and keeps them here, is the sense of purpose. We exist to change lives through learning, and that ambition runs through everything we do. Our staff work with learners from all backgrounds, many of whom face significant barriers, and play a direct role in improving social mobility and life chances across south east London and beyond.
We are committed to developing our people. This includes high-quality professional development, leadership and management training, and clear opportunities for progression across the College and the wider Group. We encourage colleagues to develop their skills, share expertise and build long-term careers with us, supported by a culture that values collaboration, professionalism and continuous improvement.
We invest heavily in our learning environments, with modern facilities and strong partnerships with employers, universities and local communities. This enables our staff to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality education and training that equips learners with the skills, confidence and resilience to succeed in work and in life.
LSEC is part of the Elevare Civic Education Group, which also sponsors London South East Academies Trust. The Trust is a growing and successful Multi-Academy Trust, currently comprising mainstream, special and alternative provision schools across Bromley, Bexley, Surrey, Sussex and Lambeth. This gives colleagues the opportunity to work within a genuinely joined-up education system, spanning schools, colleges and higher education.
The Group has also recently established the Elevare Education Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children and families across the region through targeted programmes and practical support. This reflects our wider civic mission and commitment to making a meaningful difference beyond our campuses.
With a combined turnover of around £130m and clear ambitions for growth and improvement, this is an organisation that is forward-looking, values expertise and encourages people to contribute ideas and shape the future. There has rarely been a more interesting time to join us.
Benefits
We offer a highly competitive benefits package, including excellent annual leave and a generous pension through the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme depending on role.
Additional benefits include:
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Annual season ticket loan
- Access to the Discounts for Teachers portal
- Free Wi-Fi access in over 10,000 locations worldwide through Eduroam
- Access to our on-site gym at Bromley campus and discount at other local gyms
- Discounts in our in-house restaurants and on hair and beauty treatments
Equal Opportunities
London South East Colleges is fully committed to equality of opportunity and to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, parental status or marital or partnership status.
As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we guarantee an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact People Services at [email protected].
In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we carry out social media checks on shortlisted candidates to assess suitability for working with children and young people. Our full Safeguarding policy can be found here.
Because we work with children and vulnerable adults, all roles are exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and, where relevant, a Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn if these checks are unsatisfactory. Self-disclosure is required as part of the recruitment process, and failure to disclose relevant information or provide a DBS certificate is likely to result in withdrawal of an offer. Our DBS policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on request.
All appointments are also subject to verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office requirements. Original documentation will be required prior to commencement of employment.
