Bayswater College London offers English language courses to students for whom English is not a first language, Professional courses to both overseas and local students, and is both an IELTS and OET exam centre.
Position Summary
The Centre Director is ultimately responsible for the commercial, operational, and academic needs of the centre, as well as the welfare needs of the staff and students. They will be sales-minded, customer service oriented and have strong business management skills. It is the Centre Director’s responsibility to make their centre as attractive as possible to students through the delivery of an industry-beating student experience. As part of an entrepreneurial organisation, they will be flexible and open minded with a willingness to collaborate with stake holders within the school and wider group.
The post holder will require excellent communication and inter-personal skills, always projecting a courteous and professional manner when representing the college. As part of a wider group, they will be supported by and expected to collaborate with the Academic Development Manager and the Director of Student Experience.
Key duties & responsibilities:
Strategy & General Management
- Ensure that the school is managed and staffed efficiently, in line with budget guidelines.
- Develop operational systems, procedures and processes that are effective, run smoothly and ensure that all governance and compliance standards are maintained.
- Supervise all academic, accommodation, administrative and financial procedures in the school holding team members to account.
- Create a welcoming school culture and climate conducive to learning for all students and all staff. Ensure there is a vibrant, imaginative and fulfilling series of events for our students and partners.
- Manage the school’s finances control including monitoring student’s payments, working within budget, managing expenses and providing reports on the schools financial status.
- Ensure Health and Safety policies are followed and requirements met
- Support the Academic Management Team in the recruitment of teaching staff in line with student enrolments ensuring that the qualification requirements set out by the relevant regulatory bodies, and company ‘s policy are met
- Manage, train and support all academic and administrative managers.
- Maintain British Council accreditation (BC)
- Work closely with the senior management team and sales staff Identify the markets and agents to drive the growth of the school. Act as a point of contact to agents requests if required
- Ensure the college database is up to date with correct and accurate information student details, accurate records of student attendance are being kept and absences are being communicated to academic management and other stakeholders in a timely manner.
- Ensure feedback mechanisms that have been developed are used effectively, gathering a good amount of data and acting on it.
Sales & Marketing
- Nurtures excellent relationships with agents and sales team.
- Positively represents and promotes the organization both locally and overseas in a professional fashion.
- Identifies and leads on opportunities for business development and increased revenue in the centre.
Administrative Management
- Develop operational systems, procedures and processes that are effective, run smoothly and contribute to an outstanding service for clients and ensure that all governance and compliance standards are maintained.
- Ensure Health and Safety policies are followed and requirements met
- Ensure the college ‘CLASS’ database is maintained and up to date with correct student details ensuring accurate records of student attendance are being kept and absences are being communicated to academic management and other stakeholders in a timely manner.
- Ensure appropriate feedback mechanisms are in place to monitor quality and satisfaction, both formally and informally.
People Management
- Line management of Director of Studies, Student Services Manager, Professional Courses Manager, Exams Manager.
- Encourages team spirit and a work environment in line with Bayswater Values:
- Challenge what we know
- Keep an open mind and an open door
- Love your community
- Champion the spirit of adventure
- Think in generations, not numbers
- Ensure that the centre is an attractive place to work by developing and nurturing staff.
Customer Service & Sales
- Promote a learning environment and performance management culture which results in attraction, retention and development of high-quality staff.
- Act as a dedicated Group Liaison Officer to ensure that Group leaders are met with and any issues that arise are dealt with and that feedback is collected.
- Communicate with colleagues within the organisation including Sales, Marketing, Admissions, Finance and the Academic team, keeping to agreed internal targets.
- Respond to Agents requests for students that are studying in the college and show them around the college if the relevant salesperson is not available.
- Ensure there is a vibrant, imaginative and fulfilling series of events for our students and partners. This includes lectures, social events and company visits.
- Ensure that we maximise walk-in enquiries and selling our courses & programmes.
Accommodation Management
- Ensure that the accommodation team build a network of accommodation options and that accurate up–to-date records are kept of all accommodation bookings adhering to all accrediting bodies.
- Manage any issues that arise in accommodation with appropriately and proactively, fostering good relationships with all accommodation providers
- Forward plan on accommodation capacity and take all necessary actions to ensure that all student bookings can be fulfilled.
Academic Management
- Line manage the Director of Studies and hold them to account for meeting their objectives, including but not limited to:maintaining optimal class sizes and optimal nationality mixes.
- maintaining accurate records on the progress and attendance of students
- rolling out and leading on the Bayswater academic promise
- following appropriate procedures for the employment and deployment of teachers
Welfare Management
- Act as Safeguarding Lead for the London site, accountable for the safety and care of students at all times and ensure there is a consistent first point of contact for students requiring assistance and provide support to students for any personal problems that may arise.
- Communicate policies regarding all aspects of student welfare and health & safety to the entire college. Ensure that all policies are adhered to and take immediate action were they not to be.
- Be kept informed of any welfare issues that are being addressed by other team members, make a record and keep the Head of UK Centres and other senior managers informed of any major welfare issues.
Knowledge, qualifications and experience
- An undergraduate degree (essential)
- A teaching qualification (desirable)
- A welfare qualification (desirable)
- Senior management experience: experience in a school environment
- People management: experience of managing staff as well as the ability to contribute effectively as a member of a senior management team
- Managing pressure: ability to manage time effectively, work under pressure, delegate and prioritise
- Experience of:
- managing groups of international students taking part in education programmes
- building and managing high performing teams
- safe-guarding of children and best practices
- working to commercial targets
- working with international clients
Skills and Attributes
- A positive attitude and can-do approach
- Organized with an eye for detail, working to a high standard and a methodical and diligent approach to ensure quality and accurate results to any given task
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
- Competence in leadership and administration
- Numerate and IT literate with competence in Excel
- Highly organised and able to manage a varied and demanding workload
- A team player and able to build rapport and engage with a diverse range of people to deliver results
- Passion to deliver a time of their lives experience to our students
What we offer:
- Competitive remuneration package based on qualifications & experience.
- Access to our wide portfolio of courses offered for free or on discounted rates.
- Training & development opportunities with extensive career growth within a global organization.
- People centric, inclusive culture with regular wellbeing and social activities.
- Regular online networking and cross-departmental meetings with the Bayswater team globally.
Bayswater is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. As part of our Safer Recruitment Policy you will be asked to explain any gaps in your work and education history. You will also be required to undergo a DBS Enhanced Disclosure check and provide the contact details of at least 2 referees, who will be asked specifically if they have any concerns about your suitability to work with people under 18. Evidence of eligibility to work in the UK must be provided at interview stage.
This role meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Serviced check before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions.
