Dean

Up Education; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PD allowance

Values-driven culture

Job summary

Acknowledge Education is seeking a Dean to lead learning and teaching across multiple campuses and delivery modes in Australia. You will shape academic strategy, oversee performance, and ensure regulatory compliance with HESF, ESOS, and AQF standards.

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will drive curriculum innovation, student outcomes, and governance, while collaborating with industry and senior leaders to grow academic excellence across UP Education Group.

Qualifications

• Doctoral qualification (PhD or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Significant senior academic leadership experience within higher education.
• Demonstrated success leading learning and teaching excellence initiatives and academic staff performance.
• Strong experience in academic governance, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF), ESOS Act, National Code and AQF.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire and develop high-performing academic teams.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with operational effectiveness in a complex environment.
• Valid Working with Children Card.
• Experience within multi-campus, international or private higher education environments.
• Experience within dual-sector education settings.
• Fellowship of Advance HE (or equivalent).
• Established record of scholarship, research and publication.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for learning and teaching across the institution.
• Lead and develop Heads of School, Course Coordinators, and academic staff to deliver exceptional student outcomes.
• Drive innovation in curriculum delivery, pedagogy, and digital learning environments.
• Champion student engagement, retention, progression, and completion initiatives.
• Ensure the effective delivery of accredited courses across multiple campuses and delivery modes.
• Contribute to Academic Board and academic governance activities.
• Ensure compliance with the HESF, ESOS Act and AQF requirements.
• Build relationships with industry, professional bodies and external stakeholders.
• Support sustainable academic operations, workforce planning and resource management.

Skills

Academic leadership

Governance & compliance

Curriculum development

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Education

PhD or equivalent

Job description

Acknowledge Education | Full-Time | Flexible Campus Location

Shape the Future of Higher Education

Acknowledge Education is a leading Australian education provider with over 139 years of educational heritage. As part of the UP Education Group, we deliver higher education, vocational education and training, English language programs, and professional education to more than 6,000 students annually across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

We are seeking an exceptional academic leader to join our executive academic team as Dean.

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will provide strategic and operational leadership across the institution's academic delivery, ensuring excellence in learning and teaching, student success, academic staff performance, and regulatory compliance.

This is a highly influential leadership role where you will drive innovation in teaching and learning, lead academic teams across multiple campuses, and contribute to the continued growth and success of one of Australia's most dynamic education providers.

Working closely with senior academic and operational leaders, you will help shape the academic experience of our students while ensuring delivery aligns with institutional strategy, quality standards, and industry expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for learning and teaching across the institution.
• Lead and develop Heads of School, Course Coordinators, and academic staff to deliver exceptional student outcomes.
• Drive innovation in curriculum delivery, pedagogy, and digital learning environments.
• Champion student engagement, retention, progression, and completion initiatives.
• Ensure the effective delivery of accredited courses across multiple campuses and delivery modes.
• Contribute to Academic Board and academic governance activities.
• Ensure compliance with the Higher Education Standards Framework, ESOS Act, National Code and AQF requirements.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with industry, professional bodies and external stakeholders.
• Support sustainable academic operations, workforce planning and resource management.

Qualifications

About You

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• A doctoral qualification (PhD or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Significant senior academic leadership experience within higher education.
• Demonstrated success leading learning and teaching excellence initiatives and academic staff performance.
• Strong experience in academic governance, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF), ESOS Act, National Code and AQF.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire and develop high-performing academic teams.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• The ability to balance strategic leadership with operational effectiveness in a complex environment.
• Valid Paid/Employee Working with Children Card.
• Experience within multi-campus, international or private higher education environments.
• Experience within dual-sector education settings.
• Fellowship of Advance HE (or equivalent).
• An established record of scholarship, research and publication.

Additional Information

Why Join Acknowledge Education?

• Opportunity to play a key leadership role within a growing national education provider.
• Genuine opportunity to influence academic strategy and student outcomes.
• $1,500 annual professional development allowance.
• Supportive, collaborative and student-centred culture.
• Career growth opportunities across Acknowledge Education and the broader UP Education Group.
• Be part of a values-driven organisation committed to transforming lives through education.

If you are a strategic and innovative academic leader ready to make a meaningful impact, we would love to hear from you.

Questions about your identity help us appreciate the diversity of individuals looking to work with us, ensuringwe’reattracting applications from people with identities and perspectives that are as diverse as our students.

We are an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equity, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.