Head of Quality & Partnerships (1FTE, FTC)

3 year fixed-term contract, aligned to partnership delivery cycle

The Royal College of Art is seeking an exceptional higher education professional to join us as Head of Quality & Partnerships, a pivotal senior role leading academic quality assurance, governance & standards across our growing international partnership portfolio.

A key priority for this role will be supporting the successful launch, validation & ongoing oversight of the College's strategic partnership with Riyadh University of Art, helping to establish high-quality academic provision that reflects both UK regulatory expectations and the RCA's global reputation for excellence in art and design education.

As the College's senior lead for partnership quality assurance, you will provide expert leadership on academic standards, regulatory compliance and governance, ensuring that all partnership activity is robust, compliant and aligned with institutional strategy. Working closely with senior academic leaders, professional services teams & international partners, you will play a critical role in shaping and embedding sustainable quality frameworks that support innovation while safeguarding standards.

About the Role

This is a unique opportunity to help establish & oversee academic quality arrangements for a high-profile international partnership from programme validation through to ongoing delivery, monitoring & enhancement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading quality assurance & academic governance across the College's international partnerships, with an initial focus on Riyadh University of Art.
• Designing & implementing quality frameworks, policies, procedures & guidance to support partnership provision.
• Advising Executive leadership on academic standards, regulatory compliance & institutional risk.
• Establishing quality and performance indicators and overseeing Annual Programme Review processes.
• Monitoring programme performance, student outcomes & enhancement activity.
• Overseeing external examining arrangements and assessment governance.
• Preparing reports for senior committees & contributing to institutional quality & regulatory assurance.
• Acting as the principal quality assurance contact for international partners.
• Line managing the Quality Assurance Manager.

About You

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative leader with substantial experience of quality assurance and academic governance within UK higher education.

You will bring:

• A postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive experience of programme validation, annual monitoring and external examining.
• Strong knowledge of the UK Quality Code and UK higher education regulatory requirements.
• Experience of supporting academic committees.
• The ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements in practice.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and report-writing skills.
• Experience advising senior leaders on academic standards, governance and risk.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Experience of transnational education, international partnerships or operating in complex cross-border educational environments will be highly advantageous. Experience within an art, design or creative higher education setting is also desirable.

Join us at an exciting stage in the development of our international partnerships and play a leading role in ensuring the success of the RCA's ambitious collaboration with Riyadh University of Art, while helping to shape the future of global creative education.

Closing for applications at 11.59pm on 8 September 2026.

Interviews are expected to take place 17/18 September 2026.

Further details: Information Pack 

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 and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students and stakeholders are respected. 

Please tell us if you need any assistance in applying or if you need the information in a different format. In your message to resourcing@rca.ac.uk include:

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