Job Title:
Programme Director - Undergraduate Finance
Department:
IR0021 Academic Programmes
Reporting to:
Academic Director
Location: Hybrid – Marconi House, Dublin 2 (2/3 days a week)
Reports to: Head of Centre Accounting and Finance
The Purpose
To own and lead the academic performance, learning experience, and development of one or more programmes, ensuring a coherent, high-quality, and industry-relevant student journey from entry through to completion.
The Programme Director is accountable for programme outcomes across delivery, student engagement, retention, and progression, working within academic standards set by the Vice Dean. The role may cover a single large programme or a cluster of related programmes, depending on scale and structure.
The Role
The Programme Director leads the end-to-end performance of one or more programmes across five core areas:
They act as the primary academic owner of the programme, working closely with Faculty Managers, faculty, and professional services to ensure delivery is effective, consistent, and continuously improving. In larger or more complex areas, Programme Directors may operate across clusters of provision and contribute to subject-level development alongside the Head of Centre and Vice Dean.
The Person
The Programme Director is an academically credible and operationally effective leader who can take ownership of programme performance end-to-end. They combine subject expertise with strong organisational ability and are comfortable working across academic, operational, and student-facing environments.
They are proactive, data-informed, and student-focused, with the ability to translate insight into practical improvements in delivery, learning experience, and outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Delivery
Ensure programmes are delivered in a coherent, timely, and well-organised manner across all modules and intakes;
Work closely with Faculty Managers to ensure faculty, timetabling, and delivery requirements are in place;
Ensure delivery aligns with academic standards and requirements;
Ensure programme documentation, Moodle content, and student-facing materials are accurate and current;
Resolve delivery issues promptly, escalating where required.
Learning Experience
Ensure a consistent, high-quality learning experience across modules and teaching staff;
implement and enhance assessment practices in line with agreed standards;
Maintain oversight of student workload, assessment balance, and academic standards;
Use student feedback, pulse surveys, and class representative input to drive improvements;
Work with faculty to embed effective teaching and assessment practices.
Partner & Industry Engagement and External Profile
Lead on the engagement, development, and support of strategic partnerships, including relationships with overseas institutions and requiring occasional international travel;
Contribute to the external profile of the programme through events, guest speakers, and partnerships;
Ensure curriculum reflects current industry practice and future trends;
Support employability outcomes through integration of applied learning, projects, and practitioner input.
Student Engagement, Retention and Progression
Monitor attendance, engagement, progression, and performance data to identify risk early;
Lead class representative processes and ensure clear communication and follow-up;
Coordinate academic and pastoral support in collaboration with Student Services;
Take proactive action to improve retention, progression, and completion rates;
Act as a visible academic presence for students throughout the programme lifecycle.
Programme Development and Enhancement
Lead ongoing programme development, including curriculum refresh and assessment improvement;
Use data, feedback, and external insight to inform changes and enhancements;
Contribute to new module and programme proposals where appropriate;
Lead annual programme review, ensuring clear actions and measurable impact;
Provide documentation and evidence for validation, revalidation, and quality review processes.
Collaboration and Escalation
Work in partnership with the Vice Dean or Head of Centre, Faculty Managers, faculty, and professional services;
Escalate academic, quality, or integrity issues with clear evidence and recommendations.
Culture
Contribute to a culture of innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual respect across the team and the College;
Work proactively and cooperatively with colleagues across departments to achieve shared goals;
Demonstrate professionalism, approachability, and collegiality in all interactions;
Communicate openly and constructively, supporting a positive and solutions-focused team environment;
Uphold the organisation’s values in all internal and external activities;
Take initiative in personal and professional development, and acknowledge and support the contributions of others.
Key Outcomes
Strong academic ownership and performance of one or more programmes;
A consistent and high-quality learning experience across modules;
Improved student engagement, retention, progression, and completion;
Clear industry relevance and external profile of programmes;
Continuous programme improvement informed by data and feedback;
Effective collaboration with Faculty Managers to ensure delivery excellence.
Skills & Expertise
Essential
A Master's degree (Level 9 or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (accounting, finance or a related discipline) or a Level 8 qualification in a relevant discipline along with a professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CAI, CIMA), together with significant relevant industry experience (as appropriate to programme portfolio requirements);
A sound working knowledge of financial accounting, fund accounting and reporting practices relevant to programme content.
Evidence of ongoing professional, pedagogical, or disciplinary development;
Experience teaching at the undergraduate and/or postgraduate level;
Experience contributing to programme review, validation, revalidation, or accreditation processes;
Strong working knowledge of assessment design, marking practices, and feedback standards;
Experience leading or supporting programme enhancement and continuous improvement activity;
Demonstrated ability to use student engagement, assessment outcomes, and feedback data to inform programme-level improvement;
Experience supporting coherent programme delivery using Moodle or a comparable virtual learning environment;
Experience working with class representative structures, student surveys, or similar feedback mechanisms;
Strong communication skills, with the ability to work constructively with students, academic staff, and professional colleagues.
Desireable
A PhD (Level 10) or equivalent advanced qualification, where appropriate to the discipline;
Familiarity with QQI standards or comparable national or international quality frameworks;
Experience coordinating across multiple modules or programmes;
Experience in the requirements and progression routes for professional qualifications;
Experience contributing to discipline-level or cross-programme academic activity, including quality oversight or assessment coordination.
Pay & Benefits
The salary for this role is DOE.
Free Internal Courses;
Discounted Fees for Family Members;
Life Assurance & Disabilities Cover;
Sports & Social;
Employee Assistance Programme;
Employee Discount Scheme;
Paid sick leave;
Death-In-Service Benefit.
This job description is a guide to the work the post holders will initially be required to undertake. It may be amended from time to time to meet changing circumstances by mutual agreement. It is expected that the post-holders and their manager will review the job description regularly.
Position Type:
Full time
Contract Type:
Regular
Pay Frequency:
Annual
Location:
Dublin, Ireland
Job Functional Area:
Faculty Management
All appointments are subject to providing proof of eligibility to work in Ireland on full time basis (upon being invited to interview). Please refer to our privacy policy here: DBS Privacy Notice for Candidates.
This job description is a guide to the work the post holder will initially be required to undertake. It may be amended from time to time to meet changing circumstances by mutual agreement. It is expected that the job description will be reviewed regularly by the post-holder and their manager.
DBS is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. If you require any adjustments or additional support within the recruitment process, please contact us directly.
