Programme Lead & Lecturer: Esports and Digital Media

Programme Lead & Lecturer: Esports and Digital Media

Location: SunderlandSalary: £31,375 to £40,912 per annumPost Type: Full TimeContract Type: PermanentClosing Date: 23.59 hours BST on Wednesday 01 April 2026Reference: 0083-26-R

About The College

Sunderland College has been delivering highly successful courses for more than 20 years and is one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the North East with approximately 14,300 students. The College has two campuses across the city of Sunderland, offering a wide range of academic and vocational provision for school leavers and adults. The College aims to develop and positively shape lives, communities, and the economy through teaching, learning and development of skills. Our students consistently achieve outstanding results and Sunderland College has been ranked in the top 25% in the country for student achievement rates. In October 2024, we were ranked as Ofsted outstanding, and we are proud of our diverse student and staff community that provide our students with bespoke education pathways to help them achieve their future career goals.

Please see the following link to our 2024 Ofsted Report, in which we were graded as being Outstanding across all areas – Ofsted-Report-Outstanding

Our Journey & Values

As an employer, we prioritise cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where our staff can thrive and grow. We recognise that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to investing in their professional development and overall wellbeing.

Taking Teaching Further & Additional Incentives

If you’re making the move into further education teaching, you may be eligible for the Taking Teaching Further (TTF) programme – a funded route to help industry professionals retrain as FE teachers.In addition, for roles in high‑need subjects or regions you may also benefit from the government’s targeted retention incentive (formerly “levelling‑up premium”) payments, worth up to £6,000 for eligible teachers in their first five years and teaching certain shortage subjects.

Please note eligibility for both TTF and the Targeted Retention Incentive varies by role, subject area and provider; they do not apply to every vacancy. Find out more about both initiatives through the links below.

• Taking Teaching Further – Taking Teaching Further
• Targeted Retention Incentive – Targeted Retention Incentive

About The Candidate

We are looking for a motivated, student‑focused professional with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to high‑quality education. The successful candidate will be an effective communicator, an organised and reflective practitioner, and a positive role model for both students and colleagues. They will demonstrate integrity, reliability, and a collaborative approach, valuing diversity and inclusion and placing learners at the centre of everything they do. Aligned to our college values, they will be ambitious for students, committed to continuous improvement, and passionate about supporting progression into further learning or employment.

How will this person be a Changemaker?

This role will act as a changemaker by shaping high‑quality computing provision that responds to industry needs, improves learner outcomes and enhances the overall student experience. Through strong leadership of teaching, learning, assessment and pastoral support, the post holder will drive improvement, champion innovation and positively influence learner aspirations, progression and destinations.

About The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious and innovative Programme Lead and Lecturer in Esports and Digital Media to lead and deliver our growing Esports and creative digital provision across Level 2, Level 3 and Higher Education programmes. Teaching will be based at our Bede Campus within the Arts Academy and at the National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland city centre, a unique facility that connects education with the rapidly expanding professional esports and digital media industries.

This role goes beyond traditional teaching. As Programme Lead, you will shape and drive a dynamic curriculum that reflects the evolving landscape of competitive esports, live broadcasting, streaming, content creation and digital media production. Working closely with industry partners, professional teams and creative media specialists, you will ensure learners develop the practical skills, industry awareness and professional behaviours required to progress into careers across the esports and digital media sectors.

You will play a pivotal role in developing learners’ understanding of the esports ecosystem – from competitive performance and event management to media production, branding, digital storytelling and audience engagement. The successful candidate will be instrumental in building a programme that reflects the fast‑moving nature of esports and the wider creative digital economy.

Roles And Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, delivery and development of high‑quality esports and digital media programmes across multiple levels.
• Design and deliver engaging learning experiences covering areas such as esports performance, broadcasting, live streaming, media production, event management and digital content creation.
• Develop learners’ practical skills in studio production, commentary, streaming platforms, social media content, branding and digital storytelling within an esports context.
• Drive curriculum innovation to ensure programmes remain aligned with industry developments across esports, gaming and digital media.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with industry partners, esports organisations, media professionals and digital content creators to enhance learner experience and progression opportunities.
• Provide strong academic leadership for the programme, supporting curriculum planning, quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and support learners to develop technical skills, creative thinking, teamwork and professional behaviours relevant to esports and media careers.
• Contribute to events, competitions, live productions and enrichment activities that provide real‑world industry experiences for learners.
• Ensure learners are well prepared for progression into higher education, employment or entrepreneurial pathways within esports, media and the creative industries.

Essential Skills

• A background in Esports, Media Production, Games, Digital Media, Sport or a related creative industry, demonstrated through professional experience or relevant qualifications.
• An understanding of the esports ecosystem, including competitive structures, events, broadcasting, streaming and digital audience engagement.
• Experience or knowledge of digital content creation, media production, streaming platforms or live event broadcasting.
• The ability to deliver creative, inclusive and inspiring teaching that motivates learners across a range of abilities and levels.
• Strong organisational and leadership skills with the ability to lead a programme and contribute to curriculum development.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships with students, colleagues and industry partners.
• A proactive, reflective approach to teaching that ensures learners receive high‑quality support, challenge and guidance.

Qualifications

• A qualification in Esports, Media, Digital Production, Games, Sport or a related subject.
• A teaching qualification is desirable but not essential; applicants without one must be willing to work towards achieving a recognised teaching qualification while in post.

What’s in it for you?

Join EPNE and you’ll be part of a culture that prioritises your development and wellbeing, which is why all employees receive an extensive benefits package.

• Enjoy a generous holiday allowance ranging between 35‑48 days per year, plus public holidays – (Excluding Term Time Only contracts)
• Generous family leave and flexible working options (dependent on role)
• LGPS or Teacher Pensions Scheme, (dependent on role 15.7% – 28.68%)
• Access to myLifestyle benefits platform providing retail discounts and more.
• We offer dental, eye care & health cash plans.
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
• Free parking on most campuses.

Due to the nature of this post, you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure Check.

We believe in equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to PREVENT and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

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