Head of Executive Education

Permanent | Full-time | Hybrid working | Battersea, London

Shape the future of executive learning at the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university.

The Royal College of Art (RCA) is seeking an exceptional commercial leader to become our Head of Executive Education and take our established Executive Education and Short Course portfolio to its next stage of growth.

Ranked number one in the world for Art & Design for 12 consecutive years, the RCA is a globally influential institution where creativity, research, technology and industry come together. With more than 30,000 alumni worldwide and an ambitious new strategic plan, this is an exciting time to join us.

The opportunity

Executive Education at the RCA brings our distinctive creative expertise directly to leaders, organisations and businesses around the world. Over the past decade, we have delivered more than 200 customised executive programmes, with 1,500+ participants from over 60 countries, across programmes ranging from half-day workshops to six-month modular programmes.

Now, we want to build on that success.

As Head of Executive Education, you will provide strategic and commercial leadership across our Executive Education and Short Course portfolio. You will identify new markets, develop compelling propositions, and build relationships that generate sustainable income and long-term impact.

You will lead the end-to-end commercial and operational performance of the portfolio, from business development, proposals, pricing and contract negotiation through to programme delivery, customer experience and financial performance. You will develop a robust growth strategy, establish clear KPIs, and ensure our offer remains innovative, competitive and internationally relevant.

You will also develop new international markets and strategic partnerships, while identifying opportunities to connect Executive Education with the RCA’s wider consultancy, innovation and research capabilities.

About you

We are looking for an accomplished Executive Education, commercial learning or professional education leader with a strong track record of business development, programme development, and strategic growth.

You will bring:

• Extensive experience in a comparable senior Executive Education leadership role.
• A strong understanding of the Executive Education marketplace and commercial learning models.
• An established senior-level industry network, and experience of working with global corporations.
• Strong commercial acumen, including financial planning, pricing, business proposals and contract negotiation.
• Credibility and strong communication skills to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional leadership and change-management skills, with experience in developing high-performing teams.
• The strategic vision to identify new markets, develop innovative propositions and grow an international portfolio.

An interest in contemporary art, design, creative education and innovation would be particularly welcome, but not essential.     

Why join the RCA?

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in connecting the RCA’s extraordinary creative expertise with organisations and leaders internationally, while shaping the future growth and direction of Executive Education.

If you are an entrepreneurial, commercially driven leader who can build influential partnerships, develop innovative learning propositions and deliver sustainable growth, we would love to hear from you.

Location: Battersea, London – minimum three days onsite, with national and international travel required.

Further details: 

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