Academic Director, Pathways & Quality Assurance

Navitas; Parramatta; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits

Flexibility

Job summary

Western Sydney University International College (WSUIC) in Parramatta seeks an Academic Director to provide academic leadership across the college, ensuring delivery, quality and continuous improvement of programs. You will report to the College Director and work with staff, university partners and Navitas to uphold standards.

You will lead program convenors, drive governance, workforce planning, budgets and accreditation, while expanding the portfolio and ensuring regulatory compliance

Qualifications

• Excellence in academic leadership and management within higher education.
• Ability to build high-performing, sustainable teams and manage resources within budget.
• Experience in teaching, learning design, assessment, and improvement.
• Proven ability to collaborate with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead academic quality assurance, governance and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive teaching practice to maximise student engagement, success and retention.
• Provide strategic leadership for academic workforce planning, recruitment and development.
• Oversee staffing, workload allocation and resource management for compliance and effectiveness.
• Manage teaching budgets and resources to deliver high-quality outcomes within financial targets.
• Lead development, accreditation and implementation of new programs.
• Ensure compliance with TEQSA, quality standards and regulatory obligations.
• Foster strong partnerships with university stakeholders and contribute to governance.

Skills

Academic Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Budget Management

Strategic Planning

Quality Assurance

Team Leadership

Education

Doctoral qualification in relevant discipline

SFHEA or equivalent

Job description

Western Sydney University International College (WSUIC) is a TEQSA accredited Higher Education Provider, located in Parramatta (Sydney).

We are a pathway college, offering a personalized academic environment designed to enable domestic and international students to gain entry into a Western Sydney University bachelor degree. Our college is a joint venture between Western Sydney University and Navitas. Western Sydney University is a modern, forward-thinking, research-led institution at the heart of Australia’s fastest-growing and most economically significant region. Ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide, over 85% of its assessed research is rated ‘World Standard’ or above. The University is ranked #1 globally and nationally in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings (2022, 2023, and 2024) for its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Navitas is a leading global education provider that has helped generations of learners transform their lives through education. Western Sydney University International College offers University Foundation Studies and Diploma programs for students that have not met the direct entry requirements into Bachelor degrees at Western Sydney University.

Job Description

The Academic Director provides academic leadership across WSUIC, ensuring the effective delivery, quality and continuous improvement of the College’s academic programs. Reporting to the College Director and Principal, the Academic Director leads Program Convenors and works closely with academic staff, Western Sydney University and Navitas stakeholders to maintain academic standards, strengthen student outcomes and support the College’s strategic priorities.

The Academic Director is responsible for:

• Leading academic quality assurance, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
• Driving excellence in teaching practice and delivery to maximise student engagement, success, and retention.
• Providing strategic leadership for academic workforce planning, including recruitment, performance management, and professional development.
• Overseeing academic staffing, workload allocation, and resource management to ensure compliance and operational effectiveness.
• Managing teaching budgets and resources to deliver high-quality educational outcomes within financial targets.
• Leading the development, accreditation, and implementation of new programs, expanding the portfolio in high-demand disciplines.
• Ensuring compliance with university requirements, professional accreditation standards, and regulatory obligations, including TEQSA.
• Fostering strong partnerships with university stakeholders and contributing to academic governance, reporting, and work-integrated learning initiatives.

Qualifications

• A doctoral qualification in a discipline aligned with one or more programs offered at WSUIC, together with substantial experience in the administration and management of an academic unit.
• Demonstrated excellence in academic leadership and management within a higher education environment, including the ability to build high-performing and sustainable teams, manage resources effectively within budget, and oversee a broad range of academic functions.
• Substantial experience in teaching and learning, including demonstrated understanding of scholarly and contemporary approaches to the design, delivery and evaluation of learning and teaching effectiveness.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and build strong, productive and sustainable relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders and partners.
• Demonstrated experience in academic governance, quality assurance, curriculum development, assessment and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of higher education regulatory and compliance requirements, including relevant quality and standards frameworks.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate and engage students and staff.
• Previous experience working at a Pathway College
• Senior Fellowship of Advance HE (SFHEA) or equivalent recognition of leadership in higher education learning and teaching.

Additional Information

• We offer careers across our global operations.
• We recognise and reward.
• We understand the importance of showing appreciation.
• We care for you. We offer a range of employee benefits, support to help you be your best, and flexibility, to help us all thrive.
• Navitas is where work has meaning. Our impact is far-reaching – we create lasting legacies for students and communities.
• Access to LinkedIn Learning for your development

Diversity Equity and Inclusion

• At WSUIC we promote and embrace an inclusive and diverse workforce. We believe equality, flexibility, and diversitydeliver a rich collaborative environment. We strive to ensure that all our staff – no matter where they are from or who they are – feel safe, supported, and given opportunities to thrive.
• We encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, of all ages and genders, First Nations and Indigenous peoples, and people of diverse community groups.

How to Apply

Applications are assessed upon receipt. For enquiries about the role, please contact Dr Ankit Agarwal [e-mail] .

All applicants must have full working rights within Australia to be considered. Successful candidates depending on their role may be, required to provide a Working with Children Check and undergo a Police Check.

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