Curriculum Manager - Adult and Community Learning
| Posting date: | 03 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £52,251 to £56,067 per year |
| Additional salary information: | per annum, plus up to 50 days + bank holidays |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 March 2026 |
| Location: | Merton, South West London |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Blue Octopus Recruitment Limited |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | MERT200118 |
Summary
The School of Adult Education at Merton College is seeking a Curriculum Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership for a diverse adult learning curriculum that improves social mobility, supports retraining, and promotes lifelong learning. The role will lead a broad portfolio of programmes, including Basic Skills (English and Maths at Functional Skills and GCSE level), Digital Skills, and a range of wellbeing and community learning courses designed to reduce social isolation and enhance learners’ confidence and personal development.
As Curriculum Manager, you will be a key member of the College Management Team (CMT), managing a significant contract on behalf of the London Borough of Merton and ensuring high-quality provision, an outstanding learner experience, and strong performance outcomes. You will have responsibility for curriculum planning, staffing, timetabling, and resource allocation, alongside maintaining robust quality assurance processes and ensuring full compliance with funding body requirements, awarding body regulations, and internal performance frameworks.
We’d like our Curriculum Manager to have substantial experience in adult education, further education, or community learning settings. You will be a qualified and experienced teacher, holding a recognised teaching qualification (PGCE, CertEd, DTLLS, or equivalent), and able to teach within at least one area of the curriculum.
You will have demonstrable experience contributing to quality procedures, including IQA/EQA, RARPA, QIP and SAR, alongside a strong awareness of awarding body regulations. You will also have experience of conducting OTLA, appraisals and setting measurable performance targets. A strong understanding of the Ofsted FE framework, adult education funding, curriculum design and the needs of adult learners is essential.
This is a fast-paced and demanding leadership role, requiring a highly organised, proactive and solution-focused professional. You will be able to manage multiple priorities, lead large teams of contracted and sessional staff, meet funding and compliance requirements, and deliver measurable impact for learners and the wider community. Excellent communication skills are essential with the ability to engage confidently at all levels and build effective partnerships with staff, senior leaders, external agencies and community partners.
Closing date for the return of completed applications is 15th March 2026.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 26th March at Merton College.
The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 37 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees’ physical and mental health. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.
South Thames Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London’s largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students’ success at the heart of everything we do.
We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to progress and achieve.
As Curriculum Manager, you will be a key member of the College Management Team (CMT), managing a significant contract on behalf of the London Borough of Merton and ensuring high-quality provision, an outstanding learner experience, and strong performance outcomes. You will have responsibility for curriculum planning, staffing, timetabling, and resource allocation, alongside maintaining robust quality assurance processes and ensuring full compliance with funding body requirements, awarding body regulations, and internal performance frameworks.
We’d like our Curriculum Manager to have substantial experience in adult education, further education, or community learning settings. You will be a qualified and experienced teacher, holding a recognised teaching qualification (PGCE, CertEd, DTLLS, or equivalent), and able to teach within at least one area of the curriculum.
You will have demonstrable experience contributing to quality procedures, including IQA/EQA, RARPA, QIP and SAR, alongside a strong awareness of awarding body regulations. You will also have experience of conducting OTLA, appraisals and setting measurable performance targets. A strong understanding of the Ofsted FE framework, adult education funding, curriculum design and the needs of adult learners is essential.
This is a fast-paced and demanding leadership role, requiring a highly organised, proactive and solution-focused professional. You will be able to manage multiple priorities, lead large teams of contracted and sessional staff, meet funding and compliance requirements, and deliver measurable impact for learners and the wider community. Excellent communication skills are essential with the ability to engage confidently at all levels and build effective partnerships with staff, senior leaders, external agencies and community partners.
Closing date for the return of completed applications is 15th March 2026.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 26th March at Merton College.
The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 37 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees’ physical and mental health. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.
South Thames Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London’s largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students’ success at the heart of everything we do.
We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to progress and achieve.