Head of Business and Law

Who we are: Oxford International 

Oxford International Education Group is a renowned institution dedicated to providing exceptional educational experiences to international students. With a global presence and a commitment to academic excellence, we strive to empower students to achieve their full potential and thrive in a dynamic, interconnected world. We are proud of our culture and have recently been officially certified as a Great Place to Work ©! 

Job Purpose 

We are seeking to appoint an ambitious and commercially minded Head of Business and Law to join our senior management team. This role will provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of programmes, with a clear focus on student recruitment, retention, progression and achievement against agreed academic and commercial targets.

You will have overall responsibility for the performance and growth of the Business and Law provision delivered by Oxford International Education Group (OIEG) at De Montfort University. This includes accountability for academic quality and standards, excellence in teaching and assessment, effective deployment of resources, and the delivery of an outstanding student experience that supports progression to undergraduate and postgraduate study at De Montfort University.

Based at the heart of De Montfort University’s campus, DMU International College (DMUIC) delivers a diverse range of pathway programmes to international students from over 50 countries. Our purpose is to enable students to succeed academically and progress confidently to their chosen degree programmes, through high-quality teaching, personalised academic support and a strong focus on student engagement and outcomes.

We are a performance-driven organisation, and our success is built on the commitment, collaboration and professionalism of our staff. You will be a leader who is student-focused, data-driven and commercially astute, with the ability to motivate teams, drive continuous improvement and deliver strong academic and business results. 

Main duties and responsibilities 

Academic Leadership, Strategy and Programme Delivery 

• Provide strategic academic leadership for the Business and Law portfolio, ensuring high-quality delivery aligned with institutional strategy, partner university requirements, and commercial objectives.
• Lead, coordinate and oversee the delivery of all Business and Law programmes, including curriculum design, annual review, assessment strategy, tutor recruitment and deployment.
• Ensure programmes maximise student engagement, continuation and progression to partner university awards, while maintaining high levels of student satisfaction and achievement.
• Lead annual curriculum review, programme enhancement and quality assurance activities, including the development of Module Evaluation Plans, Curriculum Modification Forms and Programme Enhancement Plans.
• Ensure full compliance with UK quality assurance frameworks, including QAA requirements, and contribute to external accreditation, validation and review processes.
• Contribute to internal academic governance processes, including validation, revalidation and periodic review.
• Develop and articulate a clear academic vision and operational strategy for the Business and Law portfolio, translating institutional priorities into measurable objectives and delivery plans.
• Champion a culture of evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement in teaching, learning, assessment and student outcomes.
• Ensure alignment of curriculum content, learning outcomes and assessment with partner university standards, external benchmarks and sector best practice. 

Learning Resources and Curriculum Development 

• Contribute to teaching and tutorial delivery as required, acting as a role model for academic standards, pedagogy and professional practice.
• Promote and support the effective use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and learning technologies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
• Ensure all programme documentation, handbooks, academic texts and teaching materials are current, accessible, quality-assured and securely maintained.
• Lead the development, approval and implementation of new Business and Law programmes and modules in response to market demand, student need and strategic priorities. 

Team Leadership and Academic Development 

• Lead, inspire and motivate Business and Law teaching staff to deliver consistently high-quality teaching, assessment and student support.
• Line management of academic staff as appropriate, including workload allocation, performance management and professional development.
• Lead the recruitment, induction, development and appraisal of Business and Law teaching staff in line with institutional policies.
• Provide ongoing academic guidance and mentoring to teaching staff on curriculum, assessment, pedagogy and student support.
• Conduct teaching observations and provide constructive developmental feedback.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance academic culture that enhances the student learning experience.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of academic policies, priorities and institutional objectives. 

Students Experience and Academic Support 

• Ensure effective academic induction for Business and Law students through structured meetings, programme briefings and comprehensive handbooks.
• Overseeing responsibility for the implementation of student disciplinary and academic misconduct procedures in line with institutional regulations.
• Oversee academic liaison with partner university Link Tutors and Faculty colleagues to support student progression and transition.
• Ensuring students receive appropriate academic guidance, pastoral support and advice on programme pathways and progression opportunities. 

Assessment and Academic Quality Standards 

• Oversee the coordination, quality assurance and delivery of assessments and reassessments, including scheduling, invigilation and assessment documentation, in collaboration with Academic Services.
• Ensure assessment processes are fair, robust, timely and compliant with institutional and partner university regulations.
• Manage cases of academic misconduct (Bad Academic Practice) relating to Business and Law students.
• Contribute to Assessment Boards and Examination Boards as required.
• Manage relationships with External Examiners for Business and Law programmes, ensuring timely responses to reports and implementation of recommendations. 

Strategic and Institutional Contribution 

• Provide expert academic advice to the College Director on Business and Law provision, balancing academic quality with commercial and recruitment objectives.
• Use management information and performance data to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of institutional policies, including attendance and engagement.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with partner university colleagues.
• Contribute to cross-college and organisational academic initiatives and projects as required.
• Liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders on academic matters. 

Person Specification 

Statutory requirements

• Legal right to live and work in the UK
• Enhanced DBS check (or overseas equivalent where applicable) 

Qualifications 

• A relevant postgraduate qualification (Master’s degree) in Business, Law or a cognate discipline.
• Recognised teaching qualification (PGCE, PGCertHE or equivalent). (Desirable)
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in teaching, learning or academic leadership. (Desirable)
• Fellowship of AdvanceHE (or willingness to work towards). (Desirable) 

Experience and knowledge 

• Significant experience of academic leadership and management within further or higher education.
• Proven experience of delivering and managing Business and/or Law programmes.
• Experience of teaching and supporting international students, with an understanding of their academic, cultural and pastoral needs.
• Demonstrable experience of curriculum design, annual programme review and quality assurance processes.
• Working knowledge of UK higher education quality frameworks, including QAA expectations and partner university regulations.
• Experience of managing assessment processes, including examination boards, reassessments and academic misconduct procedures.
• Experience of line managing academic staff, including recruitment, induction, performance management and development.
• Experience of working collaboratively with university partners and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to use management information and student data to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Relevant management experience within a university-embedded international college or pathway provider. (Desirable)
• Experience of working with External Examiners and responding to external reports. (Desirable)
• Experience of leading new programme or module development. (Desirable)
• Understanding of the UK higher education regulatory and governance environment. (Desirable) 

Skills 

• Strong academic leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality academic and quality assurance documentation.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• High level of IT literacy, including effective use of VLEs and academic management systems.
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills, particularly in relation to academic standards and student issues.
• Ability to translate strategic priorities into operational plans and measurable outcomes.
• Experience of leading change and managing organisational or curriculum transformation. (Desirable)
• Strong presentation and stakeholder-engagement skills. (Desirable) 

Personal qualities 

• Empathy with international students and a strong commitment to an inclusive, student-centred approach.
• Flexible, adaptable and resilient, with the ability to respond positively to change.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• High levels of professionalism, integrity and accountability
• Commitment to continuous professional development and reflective practice. (Desirable)
• Interest in innovation in teaching, learning and assessment. (Desirable) 

This job description is provided as a guide to the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive description of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to periodic revision.  

To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Oxford International is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Recruitment checks, including checks with past employees, are undertaken in accordance with our Recruitment and Selection policy.  

Oxford International is an equal opportunity employer. Every applicant and employee has the same opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.