Programme Director Craft

We are seeking an experienced, forward-thinking craft professional with strong creative vision to lead, develop and promote our suite of specialist undergraduate and postgraduate Craft courses – BA (Hons) Jewellery & Silversmithing, BA (Hons) Ceramics & Glass, MA Ceramics, MA Glass and MA Jewellery. This is a unique opportunity to shape a vibrant programme situated in the nationally recognised Craft Town of Farnham, at a pivotal moment of curriculum redesign. You will play a central role in strengthening the identity, ethos and international reach of our Craft provision, championing its position within the University and the wider creative sector. 

As Programme Director, you will work closely with the Executive and Associate Deans alongside other Programme Directors and the Programme Staff Team to design and deliver an ambitious, future-focused curriculum. You will provide clear academic leadership, coordinating an expert team and fostering a dynamic, inclusive and supportive learning environment. In having oversight of learning and teaching across all levels, you will nurture students as makers, thinkers and innovators, cultivating strong industry engagement, external partnerships and professional networks that expand opportunities for employability and progression. Your leadership will help ensure the sustainability and visibility of the programme, aligned with UCA’s strategic priorities. 

You will be educated to Master’s level and bring substantial knowledge of contemporary craft practice across 3D design, jewellery, ceramics, glass and / or related disciplines. With proven experience in Higher Education, you will demonstrate the ability to support students in developing technical excellence, conceptual confidence and entrepreneurial resilience for careers within the creative and cultural industries. A collaborative, reflective and student-centred educator, you will be committed to inclusive pedagogies and to maintaining an active practice or research profile that informs and enriches your teaching. 

Join us in shaping the next generation of craft practitioners at a thriving creative hub.

For an informal conversation regarding the role please contact  Rebecca Court, Associate Dean at Rebecca.Court@uca.ac.uk. 

At UCA, creativity and innovation are at the heart of what we do. Our legacy of educating eager and passionate artists, makers and thinkers runs back almost 160 years, and today we’re helping shape a global future that supports and nourishes talent worldwide.  

Our campuses across Surrey and Kent are vibrant communities, each specialising in different areas of the creative industries. We are also home to a thriving research hub, with academic experts and fellows leading the way in research on sustainability, design, textiles, animation, history and culture, and more.  

Are you ready to share your passion for creativity with the next generation of innovators? If so, we want to hear from you.