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Short Course Planner - External Partnerships

Location

West Dean

Recruiter

West Dean College

Contract

Permanent

Salary

£30,000 to £34,000 per annum depending on experience

Job description

Short Course Planner – External Partnerships

Location: West Dean, West Sussex and/or London, Bloomsbury
Department: Short Courses
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week, normally worked over five days
Salary: £30,000–£34,000 per annum, depending on experience
Closing date: 27 October 2026

About West Dean

West Dean is a unique place to work and visit, combining an internationally recognised centre for arts, design, craft and conservation with award-winning public gardens, historic collections and a working estate.

Our Sussex campus is set within the 6,350-acre West Dean Estate in the South Downs National Park. It is home to West Dean College, renowned gardens, heritage glasshouses, a kitchen garden, tranquil parkland and historic staterooms hosting events, exhibitions and private functions.

Our London campus in Bloomsbury is home to the prestigious KLC School of Design, surrounded by world-class museums, galleries and theatres.

Together, our campuses bring together education, heritage, hospitality and visitor experiences. Working at West Dean means joining a creative and inclusive community that values craftsmanship, sustainability and innovation.

About the Role

We are looking for a Short Course Planner – External Partnerships to join our Short Courses team and play a key role in developing and delivering an exciting programme of short courses through external partnerships.

This is a commercially focused role combining partnership development, programme planning, project management and relationship management. Working closely with the Short Course Leader and external partners, you will identify new opportunities, develop innovative programmes and help grow West Dean’s partnership portfolio across the UK.

You will lead the planning and operational delivery of courses at external venues, coordinating tutors, partners, venues, materials, logistics and student experience. You will build strong relationships with strategic partners and act as a key point of contact throughout programme development and delivery.

You will also contribute to tutor recruitment and management, monitor programme performance and work closely with Marketing and Student Recruitment to identify opportunities to grow audiences and develop progression pathways.

This role would suit a proactive, commercially minded and highly organised individual who enjoys building relationships, managing multiple projects and creating high-quality educational experiences.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Develop and curate short course programmes through strategic external partnerships.
• Identify new partnership, programme and delivery opportunities across the UK.
• Research market trends, audience demand and commercial opportunities.
• Lead the planning and operational delivery of courses at external venues.
• Coordinate tutors, venues, partners, materials, transport, technology and other logistical requirements.
• Develop strong and effective relationships with external partners and stakeholders.
• Act as a key planning contact throughout programme development and delivery.
• Support the development of new delivery models, including city-based programmes, cultural partnerships and destination learning experiences.
• Support the recruitment, induction and management of tutors where required.
• Negotiate tutor contracts in conjunction with the Short Course Leader.
• Monitor enrolment, financial performance, participant feedback and programme outcomes.
• Work with Marketing and Student Recruitment to support audience growth and conversion.
• Ensure course information is accurate, engaging and up to date across relevant websites and platforms.
• Support tutors and students during course delivery, resolving issues promptly and professionally.
• Maintain accurate programme records, forecasts and reports.
• Ensure appropriate Health & Safety and operational arrangements are in place for courses.

About You

We are looking for someone with experience of partnership management, commercial programme development or event planning, ideally within education, the arts, heritage, creative industries or a similar environment.

You will have strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify opportunities, develop mutually beneficial partnerships and contribute to income generation. You will be confident managing projects from concept through to delivery and comfortable coordinating multiple stakeholders, locations and deadlines.

You will be highly organised, accurate and able to prioritise effectively. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, as is a professional and approachable manner when working with partners, tutors, students and colleagues.

You will be proactive, adaptable and calm under pressure, with the ability to work independently while contributing positively to a wider team.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Proven experience in partnership management and commercial programme development.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with external organisations and stakeholders.
• Proven event or project planning experience.
• Experience managing multiple projects from concept through to delivery.
• Experience in a customer-facing B2B and/or B2C environment.
• Strong commercial and partnership management skills.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Confident IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience using databases, spreadsheets and digital systems.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety practices within an educational or workshop environment.
• A proactive and adaptable approach to changing priorities.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Flexibility to work occasional weekends or evenings as part of a rota.

Desirable

• Further or higher education qualification in administration, education, arts management or a related discipline.
• Knowledge or experience within the arts, heritage, creative industries or adult education sectors.
• Experience of developing commercially viable educational programmes.
• Understanding of pricing, income generation and cost recovery principles.

What We Offer

In addition to the opportunity to work within a unique creative and educational organisation, we offer:

• 33 days’ annual leave, including bank holidays.
• Generous contributory pension scheme, with employer matching from 4% to 7.5%.
• Company sick pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to Mental Health First Aiders.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Free entry to West Dean Gardens.
• Complimentary staff access to events.
• Free and discounted places on short courses at West Dean College.
• Subsidised bed and breakfast rates at West Dean, Chichester.
• Discounts on event hire and food and beverage charges.

Location and Working Arrangements

The role is based at either our West Dean campus in Sussex or our London campus in Bloomsbury.

The position is 35 hours per week, normally worked over five days. Flexibility to work some weekends and evenings is required as part of a rota.

A hybrid working arrangement is available following successful completion of training.

Join Us

If you are commercially minded, highly organised and passionate about developing partnerships and delivering inspiring educational experiences, we would love to hear from you.

West Dean offers the opportunity to work across education, arts, heritage and hospitality while helping us develop exciting new learning opportunities and partnerships across the UK.

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