Art Programme Leader
Ulink College of Shanghai
Shanghai
- Expired
- Job type:
- Full Time, Fixed Term
- Start date:
- 07 August 2026
- Apply by:
- 6 March 2026
Job overview
Executive Summary:
The Art Programme Leader plays a key role in advancing the vision, quality, and visibility of Art education within the VPA Department. This position provides curriculum leadership, drives the development of the Art Programme, and ensures high-quality teaching and learning across the Art team. The role oversees signature initiatives such as Art Week, exhibitions, visual culture development, and cross-disciplinary projects, while also supporting student pathways, teacher development, and the expansion of programmes to the new Sheshan campus. The Art Programme Leader reports directly to the Head of VPA and collaborates closely with Drama and Music Programme Leaders to strengthen the identity, coherence, and impact of VPA in the school.
Job Description：
A. Teaching Leadership & Curriculum Quality
1. Lead the Art teaching team in delivering high-quality IGCSE and A Level Art & Design instruction.
2. Facilitate collaborative planning, sharing of resources, and consistent curriculum standards across teachers.
3. Support professional development through workshops, peer observations, and targeted coaching for Art teachers.
4. Monitor teaching quality and student outcomes, ensuring alignment with departmental expectations and assessment standards.
B. Art Programme Planning & Implementation
5. Design and oversee the annual Art Programme, including Art Week, exhibitions, showcases, public displays, and special art initiatives.
6. Ensure all Art Programme activities contribute to the visibility of student work, the celebration of diverse artistic abilities, and the strengthening of school-wide Arts culture.
C. Making Art Visible (Campus Aesthetic & Visual Culture)
7. Lead campus-wide art display planning, ensuring high-quality curation of student work and alignment with the school’s visual identity.
8. Collaborate with Branding/Marketing to support aesthetic decisions.
9. Contribute to long-term visual culture planning, including art installations and public art projects.
D. Student Pathways & Talent Development
10. Support art-related university guidance by advising on portfolios, project pathways, and exhibition opportunities.
11. Collaborate with the Admissions team to explore pathways for Art-talented students beyond the existing Oxbridge track.
E. Interdisciplinary & VPA Programme Collaboration
12. Initiate and lead interdisciplinary projects involving Art, Drama and Music to enhance the VPA Programme.
13. Support the development of the VPA Community, including student art teams, volunteers, and project-based groups.
F. School Development & Sheshan Campus Support
14. Contribute to the planning of art spaces, displays, and programme design for the Sheshan campus development.
15. Provide expertise on how Art can shape the cultural, spatial, and aesthetic identity of new learning environments.
G. Project & Resource Management
16. Plan and manage Art Programme resources, timelines, and project execution in coordination with the HoD.
17. Ensure safe, effective, and responsible use of Art materials, equipment, and classroom spaces.
H. Professional Collaboration
18. Work closely with the HoD of VPA to align departmental vision, strategic planning, and long-term Art development goals.
19. Participate in departmental meetings and contribute to continuous improvement across the VPA team.
Education & Experience
1. Bachelor’s degree or above in Art, Design, Visual Arts, or related fields (Master’s preferred).
2. Minimum 3 years of teaching experience in Art education; experience teaching international curricula (IGCSE, A-level, Edexcel, IB) strongly preferred.
3. Demonstrated experience leading Art initiatives, exhibitions, or programme development within a school or arts organisation.
4. Leadership or management experience preferred, including coordination of teachers, projects, or curriculum work.
Professional Competencies
5. Strong artistic expertise in at least one major specialization (e.g., drawing, painting, design, photography, sculpture) with a solid understanding of contemporary art practices.
6. Ability to lead curriculum development, ensure assessment consistency, and facilitate teacher training and professional learning.
7. Experience in mentoring or supporting teachers, including classroom observation, feedback, and collaborative planning.
8. Strong organizational and project-management skills, particularly in the planning and execution of exhibitions, Art Week, and large-scale visual culture projects.
9. Ability to articulate and implement a clear educational vision that elevates the profile of Art within the school and ensures equitable access to opportunities for students of all abilities.
Collaboration & Communication
10. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with students, teachers, school leadership, parents, and external partners.
11. Strong cross-cultural awareness and adaptability, suitable for a diverse, multilingual school environment.
12. Commitment to ongoing professional growth, reflective practice, and contributing positively to the wider VPA team.
Attached documents
About Ulink College of Shanghai
- Ulink College of Shanghai
- No 559, Laiting South Road, Songjiang District
- Shanghai
- 201615
- China
Home (ulink.cn)
About Ulink:
Ulink is a highly selective private school that offers programmes to Chinese students wishing to attend university abroad. We currently have 1800 students on our roll and employ 190 teachers.
We offer IG, A Level and IB, and each year the great majority of our students are accepted into leading British universities, with many also going to Hong Kong, Canada and the USA.
A typical Ulink student applies to join us after leaving the compulsory section of the Chinese system at the end of Year 9. Our school is heavily over-subscribed, and our students undergo rigorous testing to receive an offer from our school. Typically, for every ten applicants, only one will be successful.
The school is highly academic, and we are proud of our reputation as one of the leading schools for university placements not just in Shanghai, but in China.
Beyond our academic achievements we are dedicated to whole-student development through a broad curriculum and an extensive co-curricular programme. We have excellent student counselling services and a full calendar of lectures, competitions, sporting and social events.
We value the welfare and development of our teachers, and our school’s pastoral and academic services focus on their professional needs. We have a reputation for teacher development and have both internal and external PD programmes to ensure our teachers reach their potential. We recognise that IT, classroom facilities and other resources should be tailored to teacher’s needs so we ensure our teachers are able to focus on teaching with minimal distractions.
Despite our many achievements we are always looking to improve. The school recently embraced an innovative organisational structure that focuses resources on teachers, departments and year groups. School leaders are expected to serve the interests of the core of the school and are evaluated annually on this basis. We have also established a Research Hub within the school, and teachers and staff are encouraged to do paid research projects that help the school innovate and improve.
Overall, at Ulink our aim is not just to be a great school, but also to make a great contribution to society through the recognition of our methods and the legacy of our globally-minded students.
We aim to live up to our mission ‘Beyond east or west, for all humanity’.
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