Curriculum Lead - Environmental Studies
Plumpton College, Ditchling Road, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3AE14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
12 October 2026 at 8am
Date listed
28 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher or lecturer
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Agriculture, horticulture and land-based studies
Working pattern
- Full time: Basic working hours are from 08.30 to 17.00 Monday to Friday, but some flexibility will be required to meet the needs of the business. This is an all-year-round post. There will be some evening and weekend working required to support departmental activities, and whole college recruitment and promotional events.
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- Up to £46,000 per annum + £4000 market related enhancement per annum
What skills and experience we're looking for
Are you ready to be at the forefront of green education and help shape the future of sustainability learning? Do you want to work in a stunning rural setting, surrounded by a working farm, vineyard, and conservation projects? Join a college with strong industry connections and a commitment to innovation, where your passion for sustainability can make a real impact. If this is you, we would love to hear from you.
Plumpton College is one of the country’s leading providers of land-based, food, and environmental education. With our extensive 800ha estate, including working farm, ancient woodland, SSSI landscape and vineyard, we are uniquely positioned to build on the impressive work we have undertaken to improve our biodiversity and sustainability credentials which resulted in us winning a prestigious Green Gown Award last year. As part of our growth strategy, we are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to drive our Environmental Studies curriculum whilst working in a cross-college capacity to ensure all students leave with improved carbon and sustainability literacy.
About the role
- You will drive the design and development of our environmental studies curriculum programmes, introducing new courses (e.g. Level 3 and 4 qualifications in Environmental Studies and Sustainability) and enhancing existing provision to deliver outstanding outcomes for students and meet the evolving skills needs of employers, and future green careers.
- You will take a lead role working with curriculum teams across the College to ensure that sustainability principles are embedded across all courses, ensuring every Plumpton College student develops green skills relevant to their future path.
- Build partnerships with employers, universities, conservation bodies and sustainability organisations.
- You will manage, support and develop a high-performing team of specialist lecturers in environmental and sustainability education to ensure high standards in teaching, learning and student progress.
- Lead outreach activity such as Eco-Schools initiatives, sustainability summer schools and green careers events.
- Support student recruitment, enrolment, attendance, achievement and progression
About you
We are looking for an inspiring and forward-thinking leader passionate about shaping the future of environmental and sustainability education. You will hold a degree (or higher) in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Conservation or a related subject i.e. Geography or Science and have proven experience driving curriculum development in an educational setting. With strong industry connections across conservation and sustainability sectors, you will bring real-world relevance to our programmes. You are confident with GIS, carbon footprinting, and digital tools in environmental science, and keep ahead of emerging green skills, policies, and sustainability trends. Experienced in leading multi-disciplinary teams within education, you thrive on collaboration, innovation, and delivering meaningful impact for students and the wider community.
What the college offers its staff
You’ll benefit from
Our approach is underpinned by our core values — Professional, Ambitious, Passionate, Supportive, Progressive, and Enterprising — which guide everything we do. We are proud to foster a culture that expects high standards, encourages innovation, and prioritises the learner experience.
We offer a competitive salary and a generous benefits package, including 37 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and efficiency days. The role is eligible for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, including employer contributions and life assurance. Staff also benefit from high‑quality CPD and professional development opportunities. As a Disability Confident Committed employer and signatory of the Menopause Pledge, we are proud to support an inclusive working environment.
New colleagues benefit from a structured induction, a supported four‑month probationary period, and a strong coaching culture led by in‑house Level 5 trained coaches.
Employees also enjoy lifestyle and wellbeing benefits, including eligibility for a TOTUM and Blue Light Card, free eye tests, free use of our onsite gym, cycle‑to‑work scheme, discounted Plumpton produce and courses, free onsite parking, and access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
In addition, support with relocation including possible accommodation in shared staff housing for up to the first six months of employment.
Our commitment to wellbeing and community is further demonstrated through active EDI and Sustainability committees, regular staff events and social activities throughout the year.
We reserve the right to interview or close the vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Plumpton College is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and is dedicated to pursuing non-discriminatory policies and practices and eliminating unfair discrimination on any basis.
Plumpton is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are unable to provide any visa sponsorship for this role.
Apply now! If you are passionate about driving sustainability in education and have the leadership skills to develop Plumpton College’s Environmental Science & Sustainability provision, we would love to hear from you!
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on college website (opens in new tab)About Plumpton College
- Organisation type
- FE College, ages 16 to 99
- Education phase
- Sixth form or FE college
- Size
- No information available
- Age range
- 16 to 99
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Plumpton College website
- Email address
- recruitment@plumpton.ac.uk
Arranging a visit to Plumpton College
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@plumpton.ac.uk.
College location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more college jobs in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove