POSITION DETAILS

Academic Services
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £46,735 to £55,755 with potential progression once in post to £62,728
Grade: 8
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 3rd August 2025

DIGITAL EDUCATION:

• Detailed knowledge of how Virtual Learning Environments (such as Canvas) and other associated systems can be used to support teaching and learning, including an awareness of the interoperability of platforms within a digital ecosystem.
• Experience of product ownership, engagement of product roadmaps and implementing KPI metrics to measure the value and impact of software products within the University’s Digital Education ecosystem.
• Experience of relationship management of external product suppliers to leverage the use of appropriate technology to support the University’s education provision.
• An understanding of productisation and the development requirements of on evolving and expanding integrated Digital Education ecosystem that addresses the needs of our future student experience.
• An understanding of backlog process implementation, experience of middleware integration software developments and associated enhancement developments.
• Excellent understanding of, and confidence with, complex IT systems and multimedia content creation. A comprehensive understanding of the Microsoft suite of tools and the ability to quickly learn new IT skills and software packages.
• Good understanding of emerging educational technologies, with specific a focus on the applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence in higher education.
• Lead and oversee training and support provision to academic staff on the use of AI tools in their teaching.
• A strong understanding of generative AI models and their applications in digital education with an ability to translate into different education contexts, and an awareness of/ability to incorporate into any institutional project where relevant/required.

ROLE SUMMARY

The primary role of the Head of Digital Education is to lead a team to facilitate the engagement and support of institutional digital education tools used in teaching, learning and assessment across the University. The post holder will utilise their passion for learning and teaching to lead the multidisciplinary digital education team, exemplifying the professional services values of ambitious, innovative, open, collaborative, and responsible.
They will provide effective, evidence-based support for the College, and wider University digital education priorities, working closely with academic and professional services colleagues to identify new growth opportunities and diversification of the College portfolio, encouraging a “future-facing” outlook.
The post holder will promote the art of the possible in digital education through the development of external networks that identify emerging best practice. The role will also act as Business Partner for Digital Education to promote understanding and collaboration across the University.
Reporting to the Assistant Director Digital Education in Libraries and Learning Resources, the post holder will be a member of the Digital Education leadership team along with other College based Heads of Digital Education and the wider team. The role will also be part of the wider management group within Libraries and Learning Resources and will contribute to collaborative working across the Division.

MAIN DUTIES

• Work in partnership with academic colleagues to support and develop the portfolio of education courses, and development of new digital skills, identifying opportunities for collaboration with other departments across the University.
• Stakeholder collaboration with IT colleagues to ensure productisation delivery and a seamless user experience of varying uses of software within the University’s Digital Education ecosystem.
• Provide guidance and advice on Digital Education initiatives by integrating digital thinking into the education portfolio.
• Develop and monitor plans for evidence-based digital practice in the pedagogical and practical aspects of using technology to enhance teaching, learning and assessment.
• Ensure staff can make informed choices about the best use of digital tools to enhance student learning – on and off campus.
• Facilitate, design, develop, and disseminate style guides, quality standards and templates for consistent production of taught courses in line with the University’s Education Excellence handbook.
• Evaluate usage data to inform future development and delivery.
• Provide visible leadership for the College Digital Education team and workstream leadership across initiatives in the wider Digital Education team, allocating resources appropriately, setting SMART targets, supporting staff development, monitoring performance, and ensuring quality control.
• Ensure Digital Education is a highly respected evidence-based professional development unit for our academic staff and staff who support learning.
• Raise the profile of the University and its digital education agenda and expertise nationally and internationally and nurture a network of external contacts within the sector and beyond to identify emerging trends helping to inform the University regarding digital education developments across the sector.
• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.
• Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• Undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time to further the work of Digital Education, Libraries and Learning Resources, Academic Services, or the University.