Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Salary: £39,355 to £46,735 per annum
Post Type: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months)
Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship: Available
Closing Date: Wednesday 07 May 2025
This role will be based on the university campus with hybrid working options available. Flexible working arrangements can also be discussed.
Introduction to the Role
Are you a creative digital design expert with a passion for online learning development? The University of Leeds is seeking a Digital Design Manager to play a pivotal role within our award-winning digital learning development team. If you’re eager to manage and inspire a team of talented digital designers to create cutting-edge educational materials, this role is for you.
As the Digital Design Manager, you will lead a small team of design specialists, working across high-profile internal and external projects. Your expertise will contribute to producing high-quality, pedagogically sound digital assets that will be used by learners across the globe.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership and Management
In your role, you will be responsible for managing a dedicated team of digital designers. You will guide them in producing innovative, professional-standard educational materials and digital assets. Your key leadership responsibilities include:
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Inspiring and motivating a creative team to deliver top-tier design concepts and digital learning materials.
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Leading cross-departmental collaborations with subject matter experts, instructional designers, video production teams, and animators.
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Providing guidance on project scoping, creative direction, and ensuring the team stays aligned with university goals.
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Leading the evaluation and continuous improvement of digital assets, ensuring they meet the highest standards of accessibility, inclusivity, and pedagogical soundness.
Creative Design for Digital Learning
The core of your responsibilities will focus on the digital design and development of educational materials. Your team will work on projects involving:
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Designing and creating digital assets for a variety of platforms such as FutureLearn, Coursera, and Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
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Developing online course modules, engagement materials, communication templates, and social media assets.
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Ensuring all digital assets are optimized for learner engagement and accessibility, meeting the university’s standards for digital learning.
Stakeholder Management
As the Digital Design Manager, you will be responsible for liaising with both internal and external stakeholders to provide expert advice on the use of digital design tools and techniques. Key responsibilities include:
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Advising stakeholders on creating inclusive and accessible digital assets that enhance learning.
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Managing project timelines and ensuring timely delivery of assets to meet course and project deadlines.
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Coordinating with faculty members, course developers, and external collaborators to ensure all digital content aligns with educational goals.
Collaboration and Innovation
You will work closely with various departments, including the Creative and Learning Technology Managers, Production Managers, and Engagement & Communications Managers. Your role will involve:
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Collaborating across the full spectrum of digital education initiatives, from online courses to communications materials.
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Ensuring that the latest industry-standard design tools and techniques are used to create visually compelling, effective digital learning experiences.
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Staying up-to-date with trends in digital design and online learning, applying innovative approaches to enhance course delivery and engagement.
Skills and Qualifications
Essential Qualifications
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A degree or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant field (such as graphic design, digital media, or online education).
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Proven experience in a managerial or leadership role within digital design, particularly in online learning or educational content development.
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Strong hands-on expertise in creating digital design materials, including the use of industry-standard design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, etc.).
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Experience managing design teams and collaborating with cross-functional teams such as instructional designers, videographers, and subject matter experts.
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Strong understanding of pedagogically sound, accessible, and inclusive design principles for online education.
Desirable Skills and Experience
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Experience working with digital learning platforms like Blackboard, FutureLearn, or Coursera.
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Knowledge of web design principles and user experience (UX) best practices.
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Familiarity with video production, animation, or multimedia design.
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Experience in a higher education setting or with online learning development.
Why Work at the University of Leeds?
Competitive Salary and Benefits
The University of Leeds offers a highly competitive salary package ranging from £39,355 to £46,735 per annum. In addition to a competitive salary, you’ll benefit from:
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Generous holiday allowance: 26 days of annual leave plus around 16 additional days for bank holidays and university closures, totaling 42 days per year.
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Pension scheme: A generous pension plan, with the University contributing 14.5% of your salary to your pension.
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Health and Wellbeing: Enjoy discounted membership at The Edge, the university’s state-of-the-art fitness facility, featuring a pool, sauna, climbing wall, and more.
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Personal Development: Access to a wide range of professional development opportunities through the university’s Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
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Additional perks: On-site childcare facilities, travel schemes, and shopping discounts, along with many other benefits available to employees.
A Collaborative and Innovative Work Environment
As part of the University of Leeds, you’ll join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to enhancing the learning experience for students around the world. Working in a collaborative and innovative environment, you will have opportunities to shape the future of digital education.
Work-Life Balance and Flexibility
The University of Leeds offers hybrid working arrangements that provide flexibility to balance your professional and personal life. The role is based on campus, but we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements to suit your needs.
Application Process
How to Apply
To apply for the Digital Design Manager position at the University of Leeds, click on the “Apply Here” link provided on the job listing page. Make sure to submit your application before the closing date of Wednesday 07 May 2025.
Apply Here
If you have any questions or require further information, please reach out to Sue Bickerdike, Digital Education Manager (Production and Creative), via email at s.r.bickerdike@leeds.ac.uk.
Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship
The University of Leeds offers Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship for qualified candidates. This visa route allows international applicants to work in the UK while receiving support from the university. First-time applicants may need to meet salary requirements to qualify for the Skilled Worker visa route.
For more information on the Skilled Worker Visa, visit Gov.uk Skilled Worker Visa.
Additionally, for research and academic roles, eligibility for the Global Talent Visa may also be considered. For further details on the Global Talent Visa, visit Gov.uk Global Talent.
Conclusion
If you’re a highly skilled and motivated Digital Design Manager looking to make a significant impact in digital education, the University of Leeds offers an exciting opportunity to lead a talented team and work on groundbreaking educational projects. Apply now and take the next step in your career!