Head of Engineering (Higher Education)

Head of Engineering (Higher Education)

Application Deadline: 2 October 2026

Department: HE Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Wigan & Leigh College

Compensation: £57,141 - £64,825 / year

Description

Permanent, 37 hours a week.  £57,141 to £64,285 (points 43 to 47), negotiable at the top for an exceptional candidate

Shape engineering education. Build routes into technical careers. Lead provision that employers and learners trust.

Higher Education Engineering should do more than offer students another qualification.

It should give students and apprentices the technical depth, professional confidence and industry awareness to move into higher-level engineering careers. It should help employers access the skills they need. And it should create clear progression from further education, apprenticeships and higher technical study into professional practice.

If you have experience leading teams and have a passion for creating an engineering education offer that meets the needs of learners from both academic and technical entry routes then as our next Head of Higher Education Engineering, you’ll work with our higher education team and stakeholders to build on our current success and build the team that delivers a range of courses at Levels 3 to 6.

You’ll shape a portfolio that includes higher apprenticeships, Pearson Higher Nationals and university-partner provision. You’ll lead the people, quality, partnerships and planning behind those programmes, making sure students and apprentices receive an ambitious, coherent and technically relevant experience.

This is a leadership role with real scope and you’ll bring experience of leading teams, motivating individuals and driving change; if this doesn’t come from a Higher Education setting then don’t worry, what’s important is your passion for building high performing, learner-focussed teams. You’ll work with employers, universities, awarding organisations and colleagues across the college to develop provision that reflects changing technologies, workforce needs and regional priorities.

You’ll also stay close to delivery. You’ll understand the specialist environments, resources and technical standards needed for strong engineering education. You’ll know where students are progressing well, where programmes need attention and what staff need to deliver at their best.

This is not a role for someone who simply wants to maintain existing provision. It is an opportunity to build a stronger Higher Education Engineering identity — one that is trusted by students, apprentices, employers and academic partners.

What you'll do

• Lead our Higher Education Engineering provision, setting our direction and turning strategy into clear delivery plans. 

• Lead a portfolio including higher apprenticeships, Pearson Higher Nationals, and university-partner provision. 

• Develop new provision led by student demand, employer need, and our regional skills priorities.

• Monitor recruitment, retention, achievement, progression and student satisfaction, leading quality improvement. 

• Lead and develop our great staff, work with leading employers, universities, and awarding organisations. 

• Manage budgets, resources and our specialist learning environments. 

What you'll bring

• A degree or relevant higher-level qualification in Engineering or a related subject

• A recognised teaching qualification

• Significant experience teaching and leading Higher Education Engineering

• Experience managing higher-level programmes and a track record of improving student or apprentice outcomes

• Strong knowledge of higher apprenticeships, gateway and end-point assessment

• Confidence working with employers, universities, awarding organisations, and external partners

What you're like

• Ambitious. You want Higher Education Engineering to stand out, recognised as a brilliant career path creating considerable change. 

• Credible. You can hold your own with employers, academics, and senior leaders. 

• Strategic. You see where provision needs to go and can build the plan to get us there. 

• Driven by quality. You use evidence to improve outcomes and act early if something slips

• Industry-aware. You keep our provision connected to current technology and the needs of industry. 

Essentials

• You'll need an enhanced DBS check, if you get the job, we'll do this for you. 

• You're committed to safeguarding, inclusion and standing by our values. 

• You can work across our campuses and external partner locations. 

• You're flexible and happy to work beyond standard hours when it’s needed. 

Why work for us

Engineering is central to the future of our region, and we're closer to that centre than any other college in the North-West.

We're the lead FE partner in the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology and The North-West Construction Technical Excellence College. That’s something only we can claim. You'll lead our provision, teaching on industry-standard kit, backed by a college still investing heavily.

Time to recharge

• Generous annual leave entitlement, including bank holidays (depending on your role)

• Family-friendly leave policies

Wellbeing as well as work

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

• Medicash healthcare plan

• Occupational health support

• Confidential counselling

• Specsavers eye test vouchers

• A culture where people look out for each other

Financial peace of mind

• Teachers' Pension Scheme 

• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, buy tech)

• Railcard & Tusker Green car scheme

• Local and national discount schemes

Clear progression routes

• Opportunities to step up, specialise, or move across departments

• Leadership pathways

• Support to gain teaching qualifications

Read more about our benefits.

If you've got the ambition and you want the backing to match it, apply today.

Please complete our application form in full. We can't accept CVs.

About Wigan & Leigh College Great people. Change lives.

At Wigan & Leigh College, everyday moments, from small conversations to tiny acts of encouragement, have real impact. We're a centre of technical educational excellence, committed to raising aspirations and helping our community thrive socially and economically. Here, your work shapes the futures of our students and the wider region, while giving you meaningful opportunities to grow, develop, and make a difference.