Chief Academic Officer — Strategic Higher Ed Leader (Part-Time)

Online Education Services; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Wellbeing initiatives

Paid parental leave

Study assistance

Purchased leave

Employee benefits

Job summary

OIHE in Melbourne seeks a Chief Academic Officer to lead academic strategy, governance, quality assurance and regulatory compliance. Reporting to the CEO, you will collaborate with Academic Board, oversee TEQSA accreditation, and drive continuous improvement across academic operations.

This part-time contract offers hybrid work and a competitive package, with a focus on enhancing student outcomes and institutional growth across the Australian higher education sector.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in academic leadership within an Australian higher education provider, including TEQSA/HESF compliance and course accreditation processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading TEQSA accreditation and reaccreditation activities.
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum design, quality assurance, and assessment governance.
• Experience leading and developing academic staff, including sessional and adjunct teaching teams.
• High-level academic and stakeholder communication skills, including the ability to advise a Board and engage with regulators.
• Extensive knowledge of TEQSA, HESF, AQF, academic governance, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience managing academic risk, compliance, and quality assurance systems.
• A track record of driving continuous improvement, innovation, and institutional growth.
• A doctoral level qualification

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic academic leadership across the Institute.
• Lead academic governance and support the Academic Board in fulfilling its responsibilities.
• Oversee course accreditation, re-accreditation, review, and development activities.
• Support the ongoing maintenance of TEQSA registration and course accreditation compliance.
• Lead TEQSA reaccreditation activities and provide a strong continuous improvement and innovation lens across academic operations.
• Ensure compliance with TEQSA, HESF, AQF, and broader higher education regulatory requirements.
• Champion academic integrity, assessment of governance, and student academic matters.
• Provide expert advice and reporting to the Academic Board, Governing Body, and Executive Leadership Team.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance teaching quality and student outcomes.
• Represent the Institute with regulators, industry stakeholders, and external partners

Education

Doctoral degree

Job description

OES is a global education services partner, working with universities, employers, and industry bodies to deliver market-leading online learning solutions. Our purpose is to enhance lives through education, and our vision is to be the world\'s most impactful enabler of education.
As part of the Online Education Services (OES) Group, the Online Institute of Higher Education (OIHE) is a registered higher education provider committed to delivering innovative, high-quality online education. OIHE combines academic excellence with industry relevance to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in today\'s workforce.

The Opportunity:

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and strategic academic leader to join the Online Institute of Higher Education (OIHE) as Chief Academic Officer. Based in Melbourne and reporting to the CEO, you will lead the Institute\'s academic strategy, governance, quality assurance and regulatory compliance functions. As a key member of the leadership team, you will work closely with the Academic Board, lead TEQSA accreditation and compliance activities, and drive academic excellence, innovation and continuous improvement across the organisation. This role plays a critical part in ensuring OIHE delivers outstanding student outcomes while supporting the Institute\'s ongoing growth and success.

This is a part-time, 12-month fixed-term contract. We are looking for someone that can work 3 or 4 days a week and are open to discuss what will work best for the successful candidate during the recruitment process.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic academic leadership across the Institute.


• Lead academic governance and support the Academic Board in fulfilling its responsibilities.


• Oversee course accreditation, re-accreditation, review, and development activities.


• Support the ongoing maintenance of TEQSA registration and course accreditation compliance.


• Lead TEQSA reaccreditation activities and provide a strong continuous improvement and innovation lens across academic operations.


• Ensure compliance with TEQSA, HESF, AQF, and broader higher education regulatory requirements.


• Champion academic integrity, assessment of governance, and student academic matters.


• Provide expert advice and reporting to the Academic Board, Governing Body, and Executive Leadership Team.


• Drive innovation and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance teaching quality and student outcomes.


• Represent the Institute with regulators, industry stakeholders, and external partners

About You:

We are seeking an accomplished academic leader who combines deep regulatory expertise with a passion for educational excellence and innovation.

You will bring:

• Substantial experience in academic leadership within an Australian higher education provider, including direct experience with TEQSA/HESF compliance and course accreditation processes.


• Demonstrated experience leading TEQSA accreditation and reaccreditation activities.


• Demonstrated experience in curriculum design, quality assurance, and assessment governance.


• Experience leading and developing academic staff, including sessional and adjunct teaching teams.


• High-level academic and stakeholder communication skills, including the ability to advise a Board and engage with regulators.


• Extensive knowledge of TEQSA, HESF, AQF, academic governance, and regulatory frameworks.


• Experience managing academic risk, compliance, and quality assurance systems.


• A track record of driving continuous improvement, innovation, and institutional growth.


• A doctoral level qualification

Why Join us?

As part of the broader OES Group, you\'ll join a purpose-driven organisation committed to transforming lives through education. This is a rare opportunity to shape the academic direction of a growing higher education provider and influence outcomes that impact students, industry partners and the wider education sector. We offer a flexible, hybrid working model, a collaborative and values-led culture, and a genuine commitment to supporting our people through professional development, wellbeing initiatives, paid parental leave, study assistance, purchased leave and comprehensive employee benefits. Most importantly, you\'ll have the opportunity to work alongside a high-performing Executive Leadership Team and Academic Board while making a meaningful contribution to the future of higher education.

If you\'re interested in this exciting opportunity to join a newly created role, we\'d love to hear from you.

At OIHE, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, where we encourage candidates of any nationality, age, background, disability, and gender identity to apply. If you feel aligned to the role and would like to further explore your suitability, we welcome your application and would love to consider your fit for the role at OIHE.