QA Higher Education - Chief Academic Officer

Welcome

Thank you for taking the time to explore this opportunity with QA Higher Education.

This role matters deeply to us. As our new Chief Academic Officer, you would be joining QAHE at a particularly exciting and purposeful moment. We are proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re equally clear-eyed about the ambition and leadership we need for the next stage of our journey.

Before I tell you more, I want to take a moment to recognise the contribution of Tim Harris, who has led QAHE’s academic community with distinction. Tim has been a hugely valued colleague and has helped shape the academic direction of QAHE with integrity, thoughtfulness and impact. His leadership has strengthened our academic community, deepened our relationships with partner universities, and made a lasting mark on the student experience. He leaves this substantive role with our sincere gratitude and well wishes.

What this moment gives us, as an organisation, is the opportunity to take a breath, reflect on where we are, and invite a new leader to help shape the future. This will be one of our most important appointments, and we’re looking for someone who genuinely wants to make a difference, someone with the curiosity, ambition and values to help us deliver something distinctive and enduring.

QAHE is a growing, collaborative and agile organisation. We work with leading universities to deliver career-focused, high-quality education to over 17,000 students across the UK. Many of our learners are the first in their families to attend university. Many are balancing their studies with work or family life. What unites them is a desire to grow, to learn and to build a better future. That’s what drives us, too.

In this role, you’d be leading a talented and committed academic community, with real scope to shape our strategy, our culture and the way we serve our students and partners. You’d work closely with me and the rest of the Executive Team, in a collegiate environment where your voice will matter and your leadership will have clear and visible impact.

If you’ve held senior academic leadership roles, perhaps as an Executive Dean, Pro-Vice-Chancellor or Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and are open to something a bit different, I hope this speaks to you. This is a chance to step into a bold and visionary role where you’ll have the freedom to think big, challenge the usual ways of working, and help shape an exciting future for higher education. You don’t need to come from our world to thrive here, but you will need to share our belief in access, inclusion, quality and the real power education has to change lives.

I look forward to receiving your application and, in time, to welcoming our next Chief Academic Officer to QA HE.

Warm regards,

Simon Nelson
Chief Executive Officer
QA Higher Education

About us

QA Higher Education (QA HE) is a leading private UK higher education provider that partners with renowned UK universities to offer a broad range of academic programmes, from foundation level to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, to over 17,000 students from across the globe. QA HE offers a dynamic learning environment that prepares students for success in their careers and personal development.

Our mission is simple: to widen access to higher education, deliver outstanding student outcomes, and provide a career-focused learning experience that meets the expectations of students, employers and regulators alike. QA HE occupies a unique space in the UK sector, combining academic quality with commercial agility, innovation with rigour, and student-centred education with scale. We are proud to support learners from all backgrounds and are deeply committed to the value of higher education as a transformative force in people’s lives. Learn more about what we do here.

QA HE challenge convention to help universities and students achieve their biggest ambitions. In practice, this means:

Break the mould – reach emerging student markets to seize overlooked opportunities and advance your strategic objectives.
Put more skin in the game – have the freedom to innovate with less financial risk.
Move fast – launch new programmes and delivery models at pace with student demand with QAHE’s marketing, recruitment, admissions and academic power behind you.

Our partner universities cover courses which span subjects like Accountancy, Business, Computing, Cybersecurity, and Digital Marketing, Events Management, Project Management and Web Development are delivered in vibrant city-centre locations in London, Manchester, and Birmingham, as well as through online and embedded pathways. QA HE is proud to provide students with the tools they need for academic and career success and is committed to making outstanding higher education accessible to all, supporting students, working professionals, and career changers alike.

Click here to learn more about QAHE

The role

Chief Academic Officer (AQ3196)

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Chief Academic Officer
Reports to: Simon Nelson, QA Higher Education CEO
Location: London / Birmingham / Hybrid
Department: QAHE – Exec Team
Vetting Requirement: Basic Disclosure
Salary: Competitive, ranging from £150,000 to £200,000 depending on experience, with flexibility for discussion. Annual bonuses (up to 20%) and long-term incentives are also available to negotiate for the right candidate.

Overview

This is a rare opportunity to shape the academic direction of a forward-thinking and ambitious institution at a pivotal moment in its development. As Chief Academic Officer, you will lead QA HE’s academic strategy, ensuring that our programmes, partnerships, quality frameworks and academic community are aligned with the highest standards of excellence, compliance and integrity.

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the Executive team, you will provide strategic oversight of teaching and learning, quality assurance, academic governance and student outcomes. You will lead the academic community across multiple locations and delivery models, embedding a shared vision for innovation and accountability, supporting curriculum development, and ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of students and partners.

This role will appeal to an academic leader who combines strategic vision with operational insight. You may currently be a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Provost, Pro-Vice-Chancellor or Executive Dean. Therefore, whilst seniority is key, what will set you apart is your ability to navigate complexity, to lead with credibility and clarity, and to thrive in a setting where scale, quality and innovation must go hand in hand. You will bring a deep understanding of the UK regulatory landscape, a commitment to inclusion and widening participation, and a passion for delivering high-quality education that changes lives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

Strategic Planning & Implementation: Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate a clear strategic vision for the business, aligning academic and administrative priorities. Proven experience in translating strategy into actionable plans that drive institutional growth and innovation.
Change Management: Expertise in leading transformational initiatives and managing complex change—balancing innovation with the institution’s long-term goals.

Academic Credibility and Excellence

Academic Experience: A strong academic background with a record of personal academic achievement, ensuring an in-depth understanding of the higher education environment.
Quality and Innovation in Education: Commitment to advancing teaching excellence and research, supporting curriculum innovation, and maintaining robust quality assurance processes.

Operational and Financial Acumen

Resource Management: Exceptional financial management skills, including budget planning, resource allocation, and economic stewardship. Experience in optimizing operational efficiency while ensuring sustainable growth.
Risk Management & Compliance: Expertise in navigating regulatory frameworks, managing institutional risk and ensuring compliance with national quality and governance standards.

Stakeholder Engagement and External Relations

Communications & Interpersonal Skills: Advanced communication skills, capable not only of articulating the businesses vision internally but also of representing its interests externally to government bodies, funding agencies, industry partners, and alumni networks.
Collaborative Networking: Ability to build and nurture strategic relationships and partnerships, fostering cross-functional collaboration and engaging with diverse communities both locally and internationally.

Governance and Ethical Leadership

Academic Governance: Deep understanding of the governance structures of higher education institutions in the UK, with a commitment to transparency, ethical decision-making, and accountability at all levels.
Institutional Integrity: Demonstrated commitment to upholding values such as fairness, integrity, and social responsibility while advocating for and ensuring an inclusive academic culture.

Inclusivity, Diversity, and Wellbeing

Championing Diversity: Proven experience in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within an academic institution, ensuring that all staff, students, and stakeholders are respected and empowered.
Wellbeing & Culture: Capacity to lead a supportive and dynamic working environment, recognizing the importance of staff and student wellbeing as foundational to academic success.

Innovative Mindset and Global Perspective

Digital and Future-Focused Thinking: A forward-thinking approach to technology and digital transformation in education, enabling the development of innovative teaching, learning, and research methodologies.
International Engagement: An awareness of the global higher education landscape, with experience in driving international collaboration and enhancing our global visibility, partnerships, and student recruitment strategies.

General

Giving strategic leadership across the academic community inspiring colleagues to not only bring their best, but to make their best better through creating and embedding a culture of continual reflection and improvement
Drive efficiency and collaboration across the academic community and surrounding areas of the business. Ensuring the business is adequately and appropriately resourced whilst maintaining a focus on ensuring financial efficiencies
Operate as a brand ambassador for QAHE playing a key role in working with our University Partners, current and prospective, as well as raising the profile of QAHE across the industry

Play an active role within the QAHE Exec team, contributing to and challenging other senior leaders to continue ensuring optimal efficiency, outstanding service to students and that QAHE remains a market leading offering to all its stakeholders

KPIs & SLAs

Academic quality
Student outcomes
Financial measures

Key Working Relationships

QAHE Exec Team
Senior Academic Team – Deans, Associate Deans
University Partner representatives

PERSON SPECIFICATION

What you’ll bring to QA

Pace, professionalism and an appetite to play a key role in our continued success and development in offering an outstanding experience with us whether as a student, university partner, employee or other stakeholder.

Essential Criteria:

To succeed as our Chief Academic Officer at QA Higher Education, you will bring:

Extensive experience in senior academic leadership roles within UK higher education. This may include current or recent experience as an Executive Dean, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor or in a comparable position with institution-wide strategic responsibility, ideally within large, complex or multi-campus settings.
A strong understanding of how to align academic vision with institutional sustainability. You will demonstrate financial literacy, commercial awareness, and the ability to contribute effectively to organisational planning, investor engagement and long-term growth.
A doctoral qualification (PhD or EdD) is likely expected. In exceptional cases, a relevant postgraduate qualification may be considered where supported by substantial academic leadership experience. A recognised teaching qualification (such as a PGCert) and professional affiliations (such as Advance HE Fellowship) are highly desirable.
In-depth knowledge of the UK’s academic governance, quality assurance and regulatory landscape. You will be comfortable operating within frameworks set by bodies such as the OfS and QAA, and capable of representing the academic voice at senior institutional and investor levels.
A clear and values-led commitment to inclusive education, student success, and widening participation. You will understand the particular needs of diverse, non-traditional and career-focused learners, and be driven to improve outcomes in teaching, learning, graduate employability and social mobility.
A proven ability to lead and inspire academic and professional services teams across disciplines, delivery models and geographies. You will be collaborative, visible and trusted, with a track record of leading curriculum innovation, pedagogic improvement and academic operations at scale.

Desirable Criteria:

The following experience would further strengthen your candidacy:

Experience of working collaboratively across different parts of the higher education sector. For example, if your career has been largely within public institutions, it would be advantageous to have engaged with private or alternative providers through validation, franchising or partnership arrangements.
An understanding of investor-backed organisational models, and experience engaging with governance or executive structures shaped by private equity or investment stakeholders.
Exposure to international higher education systems or regulatory frameworks outside the UK, especially where relevant to QA HE’s global partnerships, potential international campuses or transnational education activities.
Experience working in institutions undergoing transformation, restructuring or rapid growth. A background that includes navigating change, driving innovation and delivering improvement under pressure would be particularly valuable.

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Terms of appointment

Location: Our headquarters are in London, which would be a strong base for a candidate. However, we can offer flexibility to be based at our Birmingham or Manchester campuses. If you choose the latter options, you should expect weekly or fortnightly travel to London, particularly in the early stages.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid working, with a mix of remote and on-site working. You should expect to be on-site two to three days per week, depending on business needs and your base location. We expect, if we looked back over your 1st year in post, your on-site presence would average out to 2 days per week.
Salary: Competitive, ranging from £150,000 to £200,000 depending on experience, with flexibility for discussion. Annual bonuses (up to 20%) and long-term incentives are also available to negotiate for the right candidate.
Benefits: 27 days of holiday (rising to 30 with continuous service), private healthcare (with family membership available at additional cost), life assurance, and a pension scheme (5% employee and 4% employer contributions, with salary sacrifice available).
Commitments and safeguarding: QA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults with care and support needs. We hold the expectation that all staff share this commitment in creating a safe and inclusive environment and as an organization, we comply with relevant legislation and best practices in safeguarding and safe recruitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and a comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on successful applicants including:
- an enhanced disclosure check
- qualification checks (where applicable)
- online checks
- identity and right to work

All applicants will be required to provide two references covering the previous three years, we look forward to welcoming dedicated individuals who share our commitment to safety and well-being.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley (AQ) is acting as an advisor to QAHE; an executive search process is being carried out by AQ in addition to the public advertisement.

To apply, please click the apply button in the role section above.

Applications should consist of:

A full CV.
A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining your motivations to apply for this role, your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
Please include details of two referees on your CV, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

The closing date for applications is 12pm on Friday, 25 July 2025.

Should you wish to discuss the role(s) in strict confidence, please contact Alicja Janowska on alicja.janowska@andersonquigley.com, +44 (0)7743 927 783 or Akhil Yerneni on akhil.yerneni@andersonquigley.com, +44 (0)7808 649 556.