About The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education:
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is a world-leading quality agency with unmatched experience of providing impartial regulatory and collaborative quality assurance and enhancement. It supports universities and colleges in working with students and learners, governments, funders and regulatory bodies in all four nations and across the globe to evidence and enhance the excellent quality and high standards of the education they provide.
QAA works towards a greater public understanding – domestically and internationally – of how excellent quality is demonstrated in UK higher education, and how autonomous providers both assure its delivery and address weaknesses. Its mission is critical: safeguarding the standards and improving the quality and value of qualifications for students and learners, and protecting and promoting the reputation of higher education. QAA is also the regulator of the Access to HE Diploma, which transforms lives by offering students from non-traditional backgrounds access to higher education. QAA’s work is underpinned by the belief that a high-quality academic experience for learners is a good in itself, furthers human understanding and knowledge, and supports economic and broader societal progress, giving the organisation a strong purpose.
QAA’s strategy for 2023-27 focuses on four pillars (Standards; Assurance and enhancement; International; Leadership), with its unique role as the custodian of quality for the sector in the UK and globally being the common thread. Read more about QAA’s strategy here.
QAA has deep expertise, excellent brand recognition and reputation as the authority on quality and standards in higher education, which allows it to act a voice and convener for the sector’s commitment to quality and standards. Looking ahead, QAA has real ambition to consolidate this position in the UK across all four nations and apply that expertise internationally. It is looking to build even deeper relationships with its members to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of the sector, and be more agile and suitably commercially-oriented to ensure that it is sustainable for the long term. It is an exciting time for a new Chair to join and ensure that universities and colleges continue to be highly regarded, work well and deliver consistently high quality education for their students.
Role specification:
The Chair of QAA is responsible for providing strategic guidance, governance oversight, and ensuring the effective functioning of the Board. This individual will play a crucial role in shaping the direction of the organisation, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and strong governance. The Chair works closely with the CEO and other senior executives along with key stakeholders.
Key responsibilities:
Provide strong and effective leadership to the Board, facilitating productive discussions and decision-making
Foster an environment of open communication and collaboration among Board members
Ensure that the Board’s composition, structure, and committees are aligned with best practices and regulatory requirements
Uphold the highest standards of governance and ethical conduct, monitoring and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards
Collaborate with the CEO and Executive team to define and execute QAA’s strategic vision and goals, the development of business strategies, market expansion, and risk management initiatives
Regularly review the organisation’s financial and operational performance, working with the Executive team to address any concern
Assess risks and opportunities, adjusting strategies as needed to ensure sustainable growth
Act as an ambassador, cultivating relationships with key stakeholders, including Government, regulators, universities, colleges, students and members, to maintain transparency and trust
Person specification:
QAA seeks a strategic leader with board-level experience and proven chairing skills. They will have an understanding gained through experience (as an executive or non-executive) of the higher or tertiary education sectors and be able to influence and be a credible ambassador for teaching, learning and quality. A strong convener and collaborator, they will be adept at navigating a complex stakeholder landscape and will ideally have led through cultural change and bring a commercial mindset.
Candidates will have operated in a strategic leadership position in a university, higher education or tertiary education provider in an executive or non-executive capacity, to bring big picture thinking, an appreciation of how the sector operates, senior-level connectivity and an ability to influence within the sector. The successful candidate will be adept at managing complex stakeholders, including government and the regulator, and building strong working relationships across the sector. Candidates will have experience of running a financially sustainable organisation from within or outside of the sector, with an understanding of commercial opportunities to complement QAA’s core sector and membership offering. Ideally, candidates will have supported an organisation through cultural change and growth.
In terms of personal skill and attributes, the successful candidate will be effective in the role of Chair, with the ability to bring different viewpoints to consensus. They will be diplomatic, a strong convener and collaborator, and ideally have an enterpreneurial and innovative outlook. They will be passionate about championing, and being a custodian of, quality within higher and tertiary education.
Diversity
QAA welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.
To apply for this position, please contact:
laura.cecil@nurole.com
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is partnering with Nurole, the leading board-level search specialist, to find its next Chair. You can find out more and apply here. To arrange an informal conversation or in case of any other queries, please contact laura.cecil@nurole.com.
