Director of Compliance and Quality Assurance

Global University Systems GmbH; Potsdam; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International working environment

Central Berlin campus

Professional development resources

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Gisma University of Applied Sciences in Berlin seeks a Director of Quality Assurance and Compliance to lead a risk-based QA and compliance framework across all academic activities. You will drive regulatory compliance and continuous enhancement while aligning with strategic objectives.

The role requires strategic leadership, strong regulatory expertise, and the ability to collaborate with academic and professional services colleagues in an international higher education setting.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Educational Management or Higher Education.
• Policy, Quality Assurance, or related field, or equivalent senior professional experience.
• Substantial experience in academic QA and enhancement in higher education, in Germany and internationally.
• Experience managing external regulatory reviews, audits and accreditation.
• Excellent English (C1+) and strong German (C1–C2 preferred).
• Strategic thinker with integrity and ability to influence diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and continuous improvement of the academic QA framework across the University.
• Act as institutional lead for external quality assurance and accreditation processes.
• Advise Presidium and governance bodies on regulations and QA policies.
• Develop partnerships ensuring QA processes apply to joint and validated programmes.
• Oversee QA strategy, data management, and regulatory compliance across all activities.
• Ensure delivery of QA activities and provide professional support to faculties.

Skills

Regulatory expertise

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder communication

Leadership

Data analysis

英语能力

Education

Master's degree or higher in Educational Management or Higher Education

Doctoral degree (preferred)

Job description

Your Responsibilities

The Role

We invite applications for the position of Director of Quality Assurance and Compliance, a senior leadership role within Gisma University of Applied Sciences. Reporting directly to the Presidium and serving as a member of the University's senior management team, the postholder will be responsible and accountable for leading a risk-based, enhancement and compliance-led assurance framework across all academic activities.

The Director will provide strategic leadership for the design, implementation, monitoring, and continuous enhancement of academic quality assurance systems, ensuring full compliance with national and international regulatory requirements and alignment with the University's strategic objectives.

This role requires a professional with strong regulatory expertise, strategic acumen, and the ability to work effectively with both academic and professional services colleagues in a dynamic, international higher education environment.

Key Activities and Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the University's academic quality assurance and enhancement framework in line with national standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring that academic standards and quality are maintained at an appropriate and defensible level.
• Act as the primary institutional lead for external quality assurance and accreditation bodies, managing all preparations, submissions, site visits, reporting, and follow-up actions related to external reviews and audits.
• Provide expert advice to the Presidium, Senate, and other academic governance bodies on academic regulations, quality-related policies, and compliance matters, contributing as appropriate to their development and revision.
• Develop and strengthen collaborative partnerships with academic and institutional partners, ensuring the consistent application of agreed quality assurance processes across joint and validated programmes.
• Assume overall responsibility for the University's academic quality assurance strategy, including policies, procedures, regulations, and the effective management and use of quality-related data and management information.
• Ensure the effective and timely delivery of academic quality assurance activities across the University and establish appropriate structures and processes for the provision of professional support to Faculty and academic leadership.
• Monitor and interpret changes in the national and international regulatory and quality assurance landscape, as well as broader developments in the higher education sector, and advise senior management on implications and required institutional responses.
• Oversee and safeguard the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment practices, promoting a culture of continuous enhancement and academic integrity.
• Ensure University-wide compliance with requirements set by German regulatory and governing bodies, and with applicable legal and statutory obligations.
• Support the Presidium through high-quality analysis, reporting, and briefing materials to inform strategic decision-making.
• Act as a key advisor to academic governance bodies, ensuring robust decision-making processes, regulatory compliance, and effective documentation standards.
• Oversee and ensure effective secretariat support to the Senate, Presidium, and Examination Board, including the coordination of agendas, documentation, and governance processes in line with institutional and regulatory requirements.

Your profile

Required Qualifications

• A Master's degree or higher, preferably in Educational Management, Higher Education
• Policy, Quality Assurance, or a related field, or equivalent senior professional experience.
• Substantial and demonstrable experience in academic quality assurance and enhancement in higher education, within Germany and preferably in an international context.
• Proven experience of managing external regulatory reviews, audits, and accreditation processes, including the preparation of institutional submissions and reports.
• Excellent command of English (C1 level or higher) and strong German proficiency (C1–C2 preferred).
• A strategic and analytical thinker with strong conceptual skills, high levels of transparency and integrity, and the ability to influence, persuade, and communicate effectively across diverse stakeholder groups.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in a relevant academic or professional discipline.
• Recognised professional qualification in quality management or compliance (e.g., CQI, ISO-related certifications, or equivalent).
• Experience within the German higher education regulatory environment, including familiarity with FIBAA, AQAS, or equivalent accreditation bodies.
• Track record of institutional leadership in quality assurance across multiple campuses or in a networked higher education context.
• Prior experience within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and knowledge of
• European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) for Quality Assurance.

Technical & Strategic

• Strategic and analytical thinking with strong conceptual skills.
• Expert knowledge of academic quality assurance frameworks and regulatory requirements Strong data analysis and quality information management skills
• Ability to manage complexity, competing priorities, and ambiguity
• Excellent written and spoken English (C1+) and German (C1–C2 preferred).

Interpersonal and Professional

• High levels of transparency, integrity, and professional judgement.
• Commitment to continuous enhancement, inclusivity, and institutional excellence.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication across diverse groups.
• Proven ability to lead and manage quality audits, reviews, and accreditation processes.
• Collaborative leader with experience working across academic and professional services.

Why us?

• A strategic, senior leadership role with direct impact on the University's quality culture and regulatory standing.
• A stimulating, international working environment within a growing and innovative university.
• Opportunities to shape and enhance quality assurance frameworks at both programme and institutional level.
• Access to professional development resources, networks, and sector-leading practice.
• Modern, well-equipped campus facilities in central Berlin.
• A collaborative and supportive institutional culture that values integrity, transparency, and continuous improvement.