Senior Advisor Pedagogy and Practice (1802)
Senior Advisor Pedagogy and Practice
Full Time (37 hrs per week) - Fixed Term Contract (9 months) – High Wycombe
Salary - £44,128 - £55,755
Buckinghamshire New University is an ambitious, modern university that is always open to fresh ideas and thinking. We believe in the transformative power of education, and in doing the right thing by our students, people and local community. That’s why our BNU community is a special place to work and study, and where people who want to make a difference can contribute and succeed.
Our University’s DRIVE values and are at the heart of all that we do. We are united in being dynamic, responsible, inclusive, visionary and empowering to ensure that we provide the best experience to our learners and offer excellent service to our partners and to each other as colleagues. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission.
The Senior Advisor (Pedagogy and Practice) role will support the Director of Learning Enhancement and Academic Practice in delivering high quality staff academic development, support and training. BNU has made a commitment to being a ‘learning organisation’ with new expectations for all academic staff to engage in effective academic development. Their work support implementation of the institutional Access and Participation Plan, particularly focussing on reducing inequity of student outcomes.
The Senior Advisor will take a significant role in the design and delivery of the PostGraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) programme, our core in-house training for academic staff. The Senior Advisor will also deliver stand-alone staff development, including support for curriculum design and assessment practice. They will also take a leading role in the AdvanceHE Fellowship accreditation programme, supporting staff to achieve all levels of fellowship.
On a day-to-day basis, they will work with academic staff to determine their development needs, design and deliver academic development activities, assess academic work and fellowship applications and provide expertise in pedagogical practice. They will work closely with a team of other Senior Advisors in Pedagogy and Practice, other members of the LEAP directorate (e.g. learning technologists) and other areas of the university (e.g. Academic Quality, Academic Colleges) to ensure high quality staff development.
What we offer:
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a generous holiday entitlement (35 days per annum, plus bank holidays & closure days)
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hybrid working (dependent on business needs)
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training & development support opportunities
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contributory pension scheme
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discounted gym membership for our on-site gym
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a range of staff discounts with major retailers.
Please click here to see our wide range of benefits available for employees.
Please click here for our behavioural based interview question bank.
Please click here to view our employee handbook.
If you have the qualities and attributes representative of the University’s values and ambition, we would be delighted to hear from you.
For further information about this role please contact Dr Katharine Hubbard (Katharine.hubbard@bucks.ac.uk)
All applications are to be made in full and online.
BNU is proud to have a diverse community and a strong track record of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace and aim to continue building an environment where everyone thrives and can be themselves. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in BNU’s workforce. These include people from global majority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people, particularly in more senior roles.
Please let us know if you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that would enable you to perform to the best of your abilities in your role. Please reach out to Katharine.hubbard@bucks.ac.uk, if you have any specific needs or if you would like more information on how we can support you.
We ensure that our interview/shortlisting Chairs complete the relevant e-learning and/or inclusive recruitment training.
Closing Date: 15th July 2025
Interview Date: w/b 4th August 2025
If you are successful in securing an interview for the role, you will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
BNU is a Disability Confident employer and as such you will be given the opportunity to declare a disability as part of the application process. The University is also committed to achieving the Race Equality Charter.
Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION
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Job Title: Senior Adviser (Pedagogy and Practice) |
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Directorate: LEAP |
Grade: H |
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Location: High Wycombe; Aylesbury, Uxbridge as appropriate, with travel to other campuses |
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Responsible to: Director of Learning Enhancement and Academic Practice |
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Responsible for: Design and delivery of Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice |
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Job Purpose:
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Main Duties & Responsibilities:
- Make significant contribution to research informed innovative pedagogy, curriculum and programme planning, design, and development,
- Design and deliver teaching and learning on professional development education such as the Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and Teaching and Supporting Learning in Higher Education (TSLHE), as well as staff development and training workshops and short courses for academic colleagues at BNU and partner institutions.
- Collaborate with key stakeholders across BNU and partners to deliver a joined-up effective service, maximising the positive impact on student learning and outcomes.
- Use sector insights and an evidence-based approach to provide expert advice and guidance to staff on good practice in learning, teaching, and assessment.
- Contribute to the development and leadership of an inclusive teaching and learning culture and ensuring delivery of excellent student experience and outcomes.
- Use relevant metrics and performance indicators and proactively identify and respond to learning and teaching challenges across the University.
- Adopt a consultancy mindset to proactively closely with school leadership teams to support academic staff with teaching improvement interventions.
- Contribute significantly to pedagogical knowledge through refereed conference outputs and peer-reviewed (non-conference) outputs.
- Undertake collaborative research with external partners, communities, professional bodies and/or employers.
- Comply with relevant legislative and other requirements (e.g., the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR; Health and Safety; UKVI; and Equality and Diversity) in all working practices.
- Such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION – Essential Criteria Only
A = Application T = Test I = Interview
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Education, Qualifications & Training |
Means of Testing |
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First Degree in a relevant field |
A |
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Recognised HE teaching qualification and Senior Fellow by Advance HE or evidenced commitment to achieving within two years |
A |
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Knowledge & Experience |
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Expert knowledge, experience and/or research in pedagogy in higher education |
A/I |
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Track record of delivering quality learning, teaching and assessment to students/learners achieving excellent student outcomes, or of implementing interventions to improve teaching quality |
A/I |
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Evidence as an active researcher and delivery of high-quality research and scholarship |
A/I |
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Proven track record in delivering excellent student/customer service |
A/I |
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Active contribution to subject associations; learned society or professional body |
A/I |
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Track record of effective curriculum development in a Higher Education (HE) context |
A/I |
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Track record of supporting academic staff in curriculum development to enhance student outcomes |
A/I |
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Detailed up-to-date knowledge of at least two of the following: Active Learning; Employability; Community-based/Service Learning; Research-Informed Teaching; Assessment and Feedback |
A/I |
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Evidence of improving equality, diversity and inclusion outcomes in HE |
A/I |
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Evidence of being data-driven to improve student outcomes and the student experience |
A/I/T |
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Skills |
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Excellent digital skills including demonstrable working knowledge of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) platforms, digital teaching tools, Microsoft Office and web applications and online communication tools |
A/I |
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Excellent presentation and teaching delivery skills |
A/I |
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Excellent active listening, persuasion, negotiation, and group facilitation skills |
A/I |
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Excellent written communication skills, including ability to write informal and formal communications, guidance materials, and reports effectively |
A/I |
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Ability to proactively plan, prioritise and organise own work and resources, including managing projects and resources, anticipating problems and planning workable solutions |
A/I |
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Ability to work under pressure, use initiative and resolve problems, and work to targets and communicate progress regularly and clearly |
A/I |
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Excellent team worker |
A/I |
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Special Requirements |
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A willingness and ability to travel and work in off-site locations and across all University campuses, as required |
A/I |
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A willingness and ability to contribute to University Open Days (which may fall on Saturdays) |
A/I |
Behavioural INDICATORS
The BNU Behaviours Framework (BBF) is a framework for all University staff that sets out the key behaviours that exemplify the DRIVE values and ethos of the University. The nine categories provide a clear steer on behavioural expectations that will help support a step change in the performance and culture of the University. The three key behavioural indicators for this post are as follows:
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Delivering excellent service Providing the best quality service to external and internal customers/students/stakeholders. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up customer service standards. |
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Embracing change Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles. |
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Working together Working collaboratively and across boundaries with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process. |
