School of Business & Management London
Head of Academic Quality and Standards
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About Us
The School of Business & Management London (SBM London) is an ambitious and growing higher education institution committed to providing accessible, career-focused education through accredited British qualifications and university degree programmes.
Based at our modern campus in Slough, we work in partnership with recognised UK universities, including the University of Wolverhampton, to deliver high-quality, industry-relevant education that enables students to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.
We are now seeking an experienced and highly motivated Head of Quality and Standards to join our Senior Management Team and lead our academic quality assurance, standards, governance and regulatory compliance agenda during an exciting period of institutional development.
This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in supporting SBM London's strategic ambitions, including the institution's application for registration with the Office for Students (OfS), while helping to shape and strengthen academic quality frameworks that support outstanding student outcomes.
The Role
As Head of Quality and Standards, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for academic quality assurance, standards enhancement, governance and regulatory compliance across the institution.
Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Dean of Teaching and Learning, senior academic leaders and external partners, you will ensure that institutional policies, programmes, academic governance arrangements and assessment processes meet regulatory expectations and uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.
You will act as the institution's lead specialist on quality assurance and compliance, providing expert advice on OfS requirements, governance frameworks, quality enhancement and risk management.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Governance
- Lead the development and continuous improvement of SBM London's academic quality and standards framework.
- Support the CEO and Senior Leadership Team in progressing SBM London's Office for Students registration application.
- Provide expert advice to senior leaders and the board on regulatory compliance, quality assurance, governance and institutional risk.
- Lead quality-related governance committees and ensure effective implementation of agreed actions.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, academic integrity and evidence-based decision making.
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Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance
- Maintain institutional compliance with Office for Students conditions of registration and wider regulatory requirements.
- Ensure alignment with relevant sector expectations, including consumer protection requirements, GDPR and academic governance frameworks.
- Monitor developments across the higher education regulatory landscape and implement necessary policy and procedural changes.
- Oversee institutional audits, regulatory submissions, external reviews and compliance reporting activities.
Academic Standards and Programme Quality
- Lead programme approval, validation, modification, review and revalidation processes.
- Ensure robust academic governance arrangements support the maintenance of academic standards.
- Oversee assessment boards and ensure the fair and consistent application of academic regulations.
- Manage quality aspects of academic appeals, complaints and academic misconduct processes.
Data, Enhancement and Student Outcomes
- Use data and evidence to evaluate academic quality, student outcomes and institutional performance.
- Monitor continuation, achievement, progression and student satisfaction indicators and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Coordinate regulatory and partner returns, including submissions to the Office for Students and HESA.
- Develop quality dashboards and reporting mechanisms that support informed decision making.
Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong relationships with validating partners, awarding bodies, regulators and external stakeholders.
- Lead institutional engagement during audits, monitoring visits and quality review events.
- Work collaboratively with student representatives to ensure the student voice informs quality enhancement activity.
- Represent SBM London externally on matters relating to academic quality, standards and compliance.
About You
We are looking for an individual who combines strategic vision with operational excellence and has a strong track record of leading quality assurance and compliance activity within UK higher education.
Essential Requirements
- Postgraduate qualification or equivalent senior-level professional experience in higher education quality and standards.
- Extensive knowledge of the UK higher education regulatory environment, including Office for Students requirements.
- Significant experience in a senior quality assurance, academic standards or compliance role within UK higher education.
- Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing quality frameworks, policies and governance processes.
- Experience leading programme approval, validation, monitoring and review activities.
- Proven ability to prepare high-quality submissions, reports and evidence for regulators, awarding bodies and senior committees.
- Experience analysing student outcomes and institutional performance data to drive improvement.
- Outstanding communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience managing teams, leading change and working effectively across diverse stakeholder groups.
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Desirable
- Experience supporting or leading an institutional application for OfS registration.
- Professional qualification in quality assurance, higher education practice, governance, project management or leadership.
- Experience within an alternative provider, validated provision environment or collaborative partnership model.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary of £65,000 to £75,000, dependent on experience.
- 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.
- Complimentary staff lunch.
- Opportunity to join the Senior Management Team and make a real difference to a growing higher education institution.
- A bright, modern working environment in our well-equipped campus building near the city centre, with excellent transport links.
- The chance to make a lasting impact on institutional quality, governance and regulatory success.
Apply Now
If you are an experienced higher education quality professional with the expertise, leadership skills and ambition to help shape the future of a growing institution, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Recruitment and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Early application is strongly encouraged.
If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role with the CEO, please contact rubab.zahra@sbm-london.co.uk in the first instance.
Join SBM London and play a leading role in delivering an outstanding Higher Education experience to the local community and beyond.
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