Job Title: Head of Department (Directing)
Contract: Permanent, full time (35 hours per week)
Salary/Benefits: £56,000 per annum (dependent on experience), plus a comprehensive employee benefits package
Location: London WC2B 5PH
About LFS
This is an exciting opportunity to become an integral part of the team at Britain’s longest established and world-famous conservatoire for filmmakers. The school, now in its 70th anniversary year, is based in Covent Garden in the heart of London. LFS alumni include famous veterans (Mike Leigh, Michael Mann, Tak Fujimoto, Ann Hui) and famous younger filmmakers including Carla Simon, Oliver Hermanus, Babak Jalali, and the creator of End of the F**king World, Jonathan Entwistle.
LFS is one of only two film schools in the UK to have been awarded ‘world leading’ specialist provider institution status and funding from the Office for Students.
Job Summary
London Film School is seeking an experienced and forward thinking Head of Directing to lead one of its core creative departments within a world renowned film school.
This is a senior role for an established practitioner. You should have experience as a Director in film/high-end drama and/or a significant history of teaching directing for filmed drama at MA level.
As Head of Directing you will lead the academic, creative, and operational direction of the Directing department. You will oversee teaching across our Masters programmes and specialist short courses, contribute directly to teaching and assessment, and play a key role in evolving a practice-led, industry relevant curriculum.
You will research, build and maintain strong relationships with leading Directors in the UK, ensuring students are taught by current practitioners and exposed to emerging ideas, technologies, and workflows.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and develop high-quality teaching and supervision across postgraduate programmes
- Shape and refresh curriculum content in collaboration with the Year Lead and Course Leaders
- Recruit, support, and inspire industry-experienced tutors and refresh and review the pool available on a continuing basis
- Jointly lead the student selection process for new MAF students
- Maintain an active professional profile and contribute to research or creative practice
- Manage departmental staff, budgets, and resources
- Contribute to teaching with each cohort
- Represent the department on academic committees and through an industry Advisory Board
- Support students through teaching, mentoring, and assessment
- Contribute to student recruitment and admissions activity
Whether your background is primarily in teaching or deeply rooted in the industry, if you are ready to lead, inspire and contribute to an institution consistently ranked among the top 15 filmmaking academies globally, we want to hear from you.
Please visit our website where you can view our equal opportunities monitoring form.
We offer a competitive staff benefits package including 30 days leave per annum (pro rata for part-time staff), employer matched contributory pension scheme (4%), season ticket and hardship loan schemes, professional development, cycle to work scheme, Employee Assistance Programme and a suite of family-friendly policies.
How to apply
Apply here: Head of Directing
To apply, please upload your CV, together with a supporting statement outlining how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role, plus the completed equalities monitoring form, by 9am on Thursday 21st May 2026.
LFS is an equal opportunities employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we especially encourage applications from people who identify as disabled and/or identify as LGBTQIA, Black, Asian or are from minority ethnic backgrounds as these groups are under-represented at all levels of staff at LFS.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you. We offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability, who meet the essential criteria for the role. Recruitment@lfs.org.uk
Our people are at the heart of what we do at London Film School. Our organisational values define what LFS stands for and what we believe in. They guide our purpose and direction and set the tone for a positive workplace culture.
Our six values are:
- Innovation & Excellence
- Inclusivity & Respect
- Feedback & Collaboration
- Empathy, Accountability & Integrity
- Safe & Inclusive Spaces
- Kindness
Applicants must be able to provide proof of their ongoing right to live and work in the UK.
