Interim Head of Executive Education (fixed term 6-9 months)

Location: Battersea, London/Hybrid

Contract: Interim (Fixed Term for 6-9 months) Full-time (part-time may be considered at a minimum of 0.6fte)

The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading university of art and design. We are seeking to appoint a commercially astute Interim Head of Executive Education to lead and grow our Open and Custom Executive Education and Short Courses portfolio.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to build on our strong foundations and drive the next phase of growth, innovation and impact in lifelong learning.

The Role

Reporting to senior leadership, you will lead the operational delivery and commercial development of Executive Education at the RCA. Working closely with academic leads, commercial partners and professional services teams, you will oversee end-to-end programme delivery — from client engagement and proposal development through to costing, pricing, contract negotiation and course delivery (in-person and online).

You will:

• Embed Executive Education within the College’s portfolio of revenue-generating activities.
• Lead business development activity, building relationships with UK and international clients to secure repeat business and new market opportunities.
• Oversee recruitment, sales and strategic marketing of open programmes.
• Ensure all programmes are costed in line with full economic costing principles and generate appropriate surplus.
• Monitor KPIs including financial performance and client and participant satisfaction.
• Provide strong leadership to the Executive Education team, fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, innovation and service excellence.

This is a highly visible, business-facing leadership role requiring strong commercial judgement and the ability to navigate effectively between academic & corporate environments.

About You

You will bring:

• Demonstrable knowledge of the Executive Education marketplace and current trends.
• Significant experience in a comparable Executive Education or senior business engagement role (within higher education or a relevant sector).
• A strong track record of developing high-quality proposals, negotiating contracts & managing financial performance.
• The credibility and interpersonal skills to engage senior stakeholders within academia and industry.
• Experience managing multiple complex projects and competing priorities.
• Proven leadership and people management capability.
• A solution-focused, entrepreneurial mindset with sound analytical & commercial judgement.
• An undergraduate degree (essential); postgraduate qualification desirable.
• An interest in creative education, innovation and contemporary art & design.

Knowledge of the UK and international higher education landscape, particularly within short course & Executive Education markets, would be advantageous.

Why Join Us?

This interim appointment offers the opportunity to shape and strengthen Executive Education at a globally recognised institution, contributing directly to growth, impact and long-term sustainability.

Closing for applications at 11.59pm on Sunday 15th March 2026

RCA Benefits available here: https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/work-at-the-rca/staff-benefits/

The Royal College of Art (RCA)  aims to foster an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity & maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students and stakeholders are respected. 

We recognise the broad range of experiences that a diverse staff & student body brings and how this  strengthens our research and enhances our teaching. In order for RCA to remain a world-leading institution we are committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles throughout all of our processes, from application through to appointment.

Please tell us if you need any assistance in applying or if you need the information in a different format.

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