Academic Director

INTO University Partnerships; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Exeter International Study Centre in Exeter invites an accomplished Academic Director to lead the academic function, shaping strategy, developing people and ensuring students receive an exceptional experience from day one.

Based on site, you'll line-manage a team of Academic Managers and work with university colleagues to deliver high-quality programmes and innovative Transnational Education initiatives, strengthening outcomes and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience within international education.
• Strong leadership and people management capability.
• Ability to lead through change and complexity.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Practical, hands-on approach with strategic thinking.
• Experience of and understanding of university pathway space.

Responsibilities

• Lead Academic Managers and academic teams.
• Drive a positive, high-performing culture across the centre.
• Build strong relationships with students, university partners and other stakeholders.
• Overseeing academic operations, timetabling quality assurance and resource planning.
• Leading innovative Transnational Education (TNE) projects and initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Academic leadership

Job description

About the job

• Permanent
• Onsite at University of Exeter
• £56,000-£77,000, depending on experience

University of Exeter International Study Centre | Exeter

This is an opportunity to lead at the heart of one of the UK's most distinctive international education partnerships.

Based at the University of Exeter International Study Centre, you'll join a centre that welcomes students from more than 70 nationalities, delivers outstanding student outcomes, and continues to innovate in a rapidly evolving international education landscape. Working closely with the Centre Director, you'll lead the academic function of the centre, shaping strategy, developing people, and ensuring students receive an exceptional academic experience from day one.

We're looking for someone who wants to be visible, present and influential. As Academic Director, you'll be the academic face of the centre, building relationships with students, inspiring academic teams, partnering with university colleagues and helping to create a culture where both people and performance thrive.

You'll directly line managea team of 3 Academic Managers and oversee a wider academic staff population of around 50 colleagues. While academic quality and standards remain central to the role, success will come from your ability to develop leaders, strengthen accountability, and create an environment where teams feel empowered, engaged and motivated.

Key areas of focus will include:

• Leading and developing Academic Managers and academic teams
• Driving a positive, high-performing culture across the centre
• Building strong relationships with students, university partners and other keystakeholders
• Overseeing academic operations,timetabling quality assurance and resource planning
• Leading innovative Transnational Education (TNE) projects and initiatives

The centre is entering an exciting chapter. Student outcomes, progression rates and student satisfaction continue to strengthen, while innovative Transnational Educationand programme development initiativesare creating opportunities to extend our impact beyond the UK. As part of this, you'll have the opportunity to lead academic initiatives internationally and play a key role in shaping how programmes are delivered across global partnerships.

What makes this role particularly unique is the breadth of influence you'll have. From contributing to strategic decisions with senior university leaders to engaging directly with students around the centre, you'll have the opportunity to make a visible impact every day.

We're particularly interested in speaking to candidates who bring:

• ExtensiveExperience within international education
• Strong leadership and people management capability
• The confidence to lead through change and complexity
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• A practical, hands-on approach combined with strategic thinking
• Experience of and understanding of university pathway space

This is a predominantly campus-based position, reflecting the importance of being present for students, staff and university partners. The successful candidate will be based on-site at the University of Exeter International Study Centre Monday to Friday, becoming a visible and accessible leader within the centre community.

If you're looking for an opportunity to lead a talented academic team, influence the direction of a major international education partnership, and help shape the future of a centre with ambitious plans, we'd love to hear from you.

Timeline:

Please apply by 17:00 on Friday 20th November.