Dean Of Studies

Boyden; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

UNSW College, aligned with UNSW Sydney, seeks a Dean of Studies to provide enterprise-wide academic leadership and to shape the College’s growth, governance and strategy for its applied education expansion. The role requires credibility, judgement and the ability to navigate academic and external stakeholder settings.

The successful candidate will bring substantial leadership experience in higher education, a data-driven approach to decision making, and a commitment to student success and

Qualifications

• Substantial leadership experience in higher education or vocational education.
• Strong communication skills and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in governance, regulatory affairs, and academic risk.

Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise-wide academic leadership to shape strategy, quality, governance and institutional risk management.
• Lead on performance, student outcomes and academic integrity across the College.
• Engage with academic, executive and external stakeholders to turn strategy into outcomes.

Job description

UNSW College is a registered Higher Education Provider committed to opening worlds of possibilities for more than 10,000 learners each year. Strategically aligned with UNSW Sydney, the College delivers English language, Foundation Studies, Diploma and Pre-Masters programs that provide students with access to UNSW’s world-class degrees. As it enters its next phase, the College is also expanding into applied higher education, with initial offerings in Bachelor of Applied Business and Applied IT commencing in late 2026.

The Dean of Studies is a senior academic leader within UNSW College and works closely with the CEO, Executive Director Academic, Board and Academic Board to shape academic strategy, quality, governance, regulatory affairs and institutional academic risk. The role provides enterprise-wide academic leadership, ensuring the College’s growth, diversification and innovation are grounded in academic excellence, regulatory confidence and institutional integrity.

As UNSW College expands beyond traditional pathways education into applied higher education, workforce pathways, industry-connected learning and new educational ventures, the Dean of Studies provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure the College remains a trusted and respected education provider while advancing its ambition to become a leading outcomes-focused institution.

We are seeking an accomplished and values-led academic leader who is passionate about student success and energised by the opportunity to shape the next chapter of UNSW College. The successful candidate will bring the credibility, judgement and influence to work across academic, executive, governance and external stakeholder settings, and the leadership capability to turn strategy into outcomes. Outstanding communication skills, commercial acumen and a data-led approach to decision making are essential, as is the ability to inspire confidence, think creatively and lead with integrity in a dynamic environment.

Applications are welcome from candidates with substantial leadership experience in higher education, vocational education, pathway or applied education settings, or other education-first institutions where academic quality, student outcomes, innovation and governance have been central to their work.

Closing date: 30 November 2026