Executive Dean

JR United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000

Job description

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About Us:

William College is a dynamic, forward-looking private higher education institution offering high-quality UK degree programmes in collaboration with UK universities. Currently, we deliver Business Management (Law) and LLB Law degrees with a Foundation as a franchise provider, placing strong emphasis on academic excellence, student achievement, and professional development. With a student community of just over 1,000, we are a small but ambitious institution. As part of our strategic growth and diversification plan, we are actively exploring the introduction of Criminology and Policing programmes to further strengthen our portfolio in law, justice, and public service education — with the potential for steady growth in our student body over the coming years.

About you:

We are looking for an ambitious and experienced academic leader who thrives in dynamic and multi-sector environments. You will have a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities in both private education and public universities, and the ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks with confidence. You will be a strategic thinker with a proven ability to drive academic excellence while maintaining commercial awareness. Must have a strong understanding of partnership relationships to ensure strong student outcomes. You will be confident in managing relationships with university partners and regulatory bodies, and capable of inspiring academic teams to achieve high standards in teaching, learning, and student outcomes.

The Role:

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced academic leader to join us as executive dean. The successful candidate will oversee all academic operations, ensuring the highest academic standards, regulatory compliance, and strong collaborative relationships with our UK university partner and relevant regulatory bodies. This role will play a critical part in the continued development and growth of the institution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and academic oversight across all faculties and programmes including curriculum development, quality assurance, pedagogy, teaching and learning, and enhancing of the students’ academic experience.
• Ensure full compliance with academic and regulatory frameworks including OfS, and franchise provisions.
• Have a strong understanding of partnership relationships to ensure strong student outcomes.
• Lead the quality assurance processes and oversee periodic review and revalidation cycles in collaboration with the partner university.
• Foster a culture of academic excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead on the development and implementation of academic policies and procedures.
• Support student success and ensure an excellent academic and student experience.
• Provide academic leadership in institutional strategy, governance, and planning.
• Represent the College with regulatory and accreditation bodies.
• Mentor and develop academic teams, ensuring professional development and high performance.
• Actively contribute to business development strategies, including programme expansion and academic collaborations.

Person Specification:

• A doctoral degree or equivalent academic qualification.
• Significant academic leadership experience in both the private higher education sector and public universities.
• Strong knowledge of the UK higher education regulatory framework (OfS) and franchise provision arrangements.
• Experience of managing relationships with partner universities, particularly in franchised programme delivery.
• Proven track record in quality assurance, academic governance, and academic development.
• Demonstrable experience in curriculum development and programme validation processes.
• Strong leadership, strategic planning, and decision-making abilities.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience of working in an international or transnational education environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of legal education and professional pathways in the UK.
• Experience in leading programme expansions or new market development.

Qualifications Required:

• A doctoral degree (PhD, EdD or equivalent) is essential.
• Professional recognition (e.g., Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy) would be an advantage.