Head of Department in Criminology and Criminal Justice; PG

Salary: £59,660 - £70,507 per annum

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Head of School - Criminology, Criminal Justice and Law

Department: Criminology and Criminal Justice (PG)

This role operates primarily on a remote working arrangement that will require little to no travel into our Coventry head office or campus locations. Our working model arrangements are a non‑contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

We are an aspirational and multi‑award‑winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first‑choice university for career‑focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.

Our Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Postgraduate Programmes) is a dynamic academic community with deep expertise across criminology, law enforcement and criminal justice practice. Our team is committed to digital innovation, teaching excellence, and building strong industry and employer links to ensure students graduate with the skills and confidence to succeed in criminal justice careers.

We are looking for a student‑centred Head of Department to lead our Postgraduate Criminology and Criminal Justice provision. This is an exciting opportunity for an academic leader who is passionate about enhancing student experience, student outcomes, and driving innovation in curriculum design and delivery.

• Lead the delivery of outstanding teaching, feedback, and assessment practices that underpin student success.
• Develop engaging, inclusive, and intellectually stretching course content and digital learning resources.
• Drive exceptional outcomes in continuation, completion, progression, and graduate employability.
• Line‑manage Senior Lecturers and potentially other academic staff, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing culture.
• Recruit, support, and develop exceptional academic talent within the department.
• Contribute to teaching and academic activities aligned to your expertise.
• Represent Arden University at internal and external events, and collaborate with colleagues to enhance our academic portfolio.

We are looking for an experienced academic with strong leadership abilities and a deep understanding of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and the wider Higher Education landscape.

• Master's degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, or a related Social Science discipline.
• Recognised HE teaching qualification and/or Fellowship (PGCert HE, FHEA, SFHEA, PFHEA, QTLS/QTS).
• Relevant industry or professional experience related to criminal justice or criminology.
• Proven ability to lead and develop academic teams to deliver high‑quality teaching, learning, and research.
• Strong leadership, people management, and motivational skills.
• A track record of successfully leading academic programmes with strong student experience, student outcomes, and TEF‑aligned performance.

• A PhD or equivalent Level 8 qualification.
• Management or leadership training/qualification.

At Arden, you will become a part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible. Our people work hard to ensure our students’ journeys are the best they can possibly be, so we reward our people with fantastic benefits. Employees benefit from:

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays on‑top, and even a Christmas closure!
• A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
• Simply Health plan option
• Private Medical Insurance
• Access to Perkbox benefits
• Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends
• Plus, other excellent benefits
• Our ‘Golden Ticket’ which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education

Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the…