Inclusion and Belonging Lead

At Bradford College, inclusion is not an initiative, it is fundamental to who we are and who we aspire to be. We are seeking an exceptional Inclusion & Belonging Lead to help shape a culture where every student and colleague feels recognised, respected and able to achieve their full potential.

Reporting directly to the Vice Principal Students & Inclusion, you will influence strategic decision-making, challenge barriers to participation and help drive meaningful change across one of the region's most diverse educational communities.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of thousands of students and staff while helping shape the future direction of equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging across the College.

The postholder will act as the College's lead specialist for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, providing expert advice, support and challenge to leaders, managers and teams across the organisation.

You will be expected to influence at all levels of the College, working with senior leaders, heads of department, staff networks, students and external partners to embed inclusive practice and create sustainable organisational change.

Bradford is one of the UK's youngest and most culturally diverse cities. Our student and staff communities bring a rich range of experiences, identities and perspectives, creating an inspiring environment in which inclusion and belonging are not simply priorities, but essential to success.

You will be a credible and passionate advocate for inclusion, with the ability to build trust, influence decision-making and work collaboratively across diverse communities. You will combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, turning ambition into measurable outcomes that improve experiences and opportunities for students and staff.

Why Join Us at Bradford College?

• Shape and influence a newly established leadership role.

• Work within one of the UK's most diverse and vibrant college communities.

• Influence the experiences and outcomes of thousands of students and colleagues.

• Collaborate directly with leaders to drive organisational change.

• Be part of an ambitious college committed to transforming lives through education.

• This role is about more than delivering an EDI strategy. It is about creating a culture where every person at Bradford College feels they belong, can be themselves and has an equal opportunity to achieve success

We particularly encourage applications from candidates who identify as being from an underrepresented background.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead the operational delivery of the College's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and associated action plans.

• Coordinate and monitor progress against EDI strategic objectives, ensuring milestones and targets are achieved.

• Support the Vice Principal Students & Inclusion in implementing initiatives that strengthen belonging, inclusion, representation and equity across the College.

• Develop annual operational plans aligned to strategic priorities, sector developments and legislative requirements, including contributing to the EDI annual report.

• Support departments in embedding EDI considerations within planning, self-assessment and quality improvement processes.

• Ensure Equality Impact Assessments are completed effectively and that resulting actions are implemented and monitored.

• Lead initiatives that foster a culture of belonging, inclusion and psychological safety for all students and staff.

• Coordinate College-wide awareness campaigns, events and activities that celebrate diversity and promote inclusion.

• Facilitate staff networks, focus groups, forums and engagement activities that capture and respond to lived experiences.

• Support the development of allyship initiatives, mentoring programmes and staff development opportunities that improve representation and belonging.

• Promote approaches that address discrimination, harassment, microaggressions and barriers to participation.

• Work collaboratively with curriculum leaders to embed equality, diversity, inclusion and cultural responsiveness into learning programmes.

• Support curriculum teams in developing inclusive teaching practices and implementing Universal Design for Learning principles.

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will be a learner and quality-focused with a commitment to our vision of working together to transform lives. You should be able to contribute to our journey to Excellence, creating a positive working and study environment, and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion should be embedded within your core values.

As part of the hiring process, candidates may be required to complete a psychometric test, which will provide valuable insight into your potential fit within Bradford College.

Education & Training

• Degree-level qualification and Level 5 Teaching Qualification

• GCSE 4 – 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in Maths, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale

• GCSE 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in English, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale

Experience

• Experience of developing and delivering staff training and development programmes.

• Experience of managing projects and delivering measurable outcomes.

• Strong understanding of equality legislation, protected characteristics and current EDI practice.

• Experience of analysing data and producing reports that inform decision-making.

• Excellent communication, presentation and influencing skills.

• Ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholder groups.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, depending on the level of interest and number of applications, so early application is advised.

Please note that if you are successful and accept a role, any other ongoing applications for other roles with us will be withdrawn automatically.

Recruitment Agencies

We kindly request that recruitment agencies not forward any unsolicited CVs in relation to any of our advertised roles or speculatively. If we require support with any of our vacancies, we will get in touch with agencies directly.

• We do not recognise submissions of unsolicited or speculative CV applications from recruitment agencies.

• We shall not be liable for any fee /commission in the event we employ a candidate that may have been submitted as an unsolicited/speculative application from an uninstructed recruitment agency.

Bradford College

At Bradford College, our ambition is to transform the lives of our learners, help them to aim higher and support them to achieve their goals.

Located in the heart of Bradford, we offer a wide range of courses at varying levels, with something to suit everyone. From undergraduate to postgraduate and professional qualifications, to distance learning and short community courses.

We aim to attract and retain knowledgeable, passionate and focused individuals who can inspire, motivate and support both learners and colleagues. With a can-do attitude and desire for continuous self-improvement, you could make a difference in the lives of everyone at Bradford College.

Should you be shortlisted for an interview, as a Disability Confident employer, where required, we will make reasonable adjustments to your interview to ensure you are given the best opportunity to succeed. If you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments for the interview, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your options.

Bradford College is proud to be working towards becoming a Menopause Friendly Accredited Employer. This commitment reflects our dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all staff. We are implementing policies, resources, and awareness initiatives to ensure everyone feels valued and supported through every stage of life.

Benefits of working at Bradford College:

• Generous annual leave entitlement – equivalent to 30 days of holidays, plus bank holidays

• Additional college closure days, including a 2-week Christmas closure

• West Yorkshire Pension Scheme, with a generous 18% employer contribution

• Annual salary reviews

• Career progression opportunities – 54% of all vacancies are filled internally

• Free sports and gym facilities

• Free wellbeing initiatives and access to our exclusive staff indoor and outdoor wellbeing space

• Confidential employee assistance service and on-site mental health first aiders

• Access to Bradford College benefits hub, offering retail, travel, leisure and dining discounts and cashback

• Discounts on greener travel – cycle to work scheme & local MetroCard and Northern Rail discounts

• Access to hair and beauty treatments in our student-led Signature Spa

• On-site dining facilities, including our award-winning Grove restaurant

• A host of training development opportunities

• Fantastic campus facilities, a short walk to public transport links in the heart of the City of Culture 2025

• The opportunity to work for an organisation that is truly committed to creating a better future for all through education and training.

• If you have the drive to further develop your skills and abilities, you will be given the support and opportunities you need to enhance your career. This includes access to in-house training and CPD, professional and academic qualifications and mentoring.

Bradford College is committed to supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion amongst our staff and student body. We promote applications across all sections of the community, recognising the benefits a diverse workforce can bring and therefore particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with our statutory safeguarding requirements detailed in Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation, this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, employment references, health screening and social media search.

Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection with children and vulnerable adults