Dean

SP Jain London School of Management; England; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading business education institution in London seeks a Dean to oversee academic operations and strategic direction. The role requires extensive leadership experience in higher education and a strong understanding of academic governance and quality assurance. The Dean will engage with industry, regulators, and inspire a student-centered approach while ensuring compliance with standards. This permanent, full-time appointment is based in Canary Wharf with competitive remuneration and benefits.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays

NEST pension scheme

Performance bonuses up to 20%

Qualifications

• Extensive senior academic leadership experience required.
• Strong knowledge of UK's higher education regulatory environment.
• Experience in curriculum development and pedagogy.
• Ability to lead teams while maintaining external partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead teaching and learning across the school.
• Ensure compliance with quality assurance and governance.
• Engage with industry and regulators.
• Serve as Accountable Officer with the OfS.

Skills

Senior academic leadership experience

Knowledge of UK higher education regulations

Curriculum development

Ability to innovate in technology and AI

Student-centered leadership

Education

Doctoral qualification (PhD or equivalent)

Job description

SP Jain London School of Management is the UK branch of the SP Jain Group, a highly successful global business school network with campuses in Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and now London. Established in Canary Wharf, our London campus is home to a growing community of students and staff, located in one of the world’s most dynamic business districts.

We are proud to have been granted New Degree Awarding Powers by the Office for Students (OfS), positioning us among a small group of private providers with the authority to deliver and award our own UK degrees. As part of the wider SP Jain Group, our mission is to connect business education with industry, technology and global mobility. We believe that students should graduate not only with strong academic foundations, but with the skills, confidence and international experience to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.

SP Jain London combines the entrepreneurial spirit of a start-up with the backing of a proven global institution. With 200–300 students currently and plans to grow further, we are ambitious, innovative and deeply committed to quality and student outcomes.

Overview Of The Role

We are now seeking our next Dean – the most senior academic leader of SP Jain London, reporting directly to the President of the SP Jain Group. In many institutions this role would be titled Provost, and it represents the pinnacle of academic leadership within our London campus.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the academic operations and strategic direction of a young, ambitious business school, embarking on its next phase of development. As Dean, you will lead across teaching and learning, quality assurance, academic governance, regulatory compliance and programme innovation. Importantly, you will serve as Accountable Officer with the OfS, safeguarding our reputation, acting as our academic moral compass, and ensuring that the highest standards are met.

The role carries both strategic scope and hands-on responsibility. It will appeal to an academic leader who can combine intellectual credibility with pragmatism, able to build institutional reputation while also ensuring day-to-day delivery in a start-up environment (albeit supported by an established and successful group). We are looking for someone who can lead our academic community, engage with industry and regulators, and inspire students through a visible, student-centred approach.

Practical Considerations

• Location: Our campus is in Canary Wharf, London. The role is based here and the Dean should expect to be on-site three to four days per week.
• Work Arrangement: Permanent, full-time appointment.
• Salary: Competitive, commensurate with the seniority of the role and the expectations of leading a well-regarded business school. Annual discretionary performance bonuses (up to 20%) are available (based on KPIs), with annual salary reviews in line with or above sector benchmarks.
• Benefits: 27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, NEST pension scheme, and the opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the future of a globally recognised institution.

Essential Criteria

• Extensive senior academic leadership experience, ideally as a Dean, PVC, Provost or another comparable position with institution-wide responsibility.
• The credibility to serve as the No.1 academic leader of the School, reporting directly to the President, while being hands-on in a start-up environment.
• Balancing strategic vision with operational delivery will be crucial.
• Strong knowledge of the UK’s higher education regulatory environment, including the Office for Students, academic governance and quality assurance.
• Demonstrable strength in teaching and learning, including curriculum development, pedagogy and assessment, with the ability to embed innovation in technology and AI.
• Academic credibility, supported by a doctoral qualification (PhD or equivalent), with an understanding of research and experience of business school accreditation processes.
• Evidence of leadership that is student-centred, values-driven and focused on widening participation, inclusion and graduate employability.
• A proven ability to lead and inspire academic and professional teams, including adjuncts and visiting faculty, while maintaining strong external partnerships with industry and professional bodies, and other partners.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in both public and private higher education.
• Knowledge of international higher education systems, with the ability to connect London’s ecosystem to a global network.
• Experience of leading institutions or faculties through growth, change, transformation and regulatory scrutiny.
• The ability to raise institutional profile through conferences, networks and industry engagement, strengthening brand visibility in the UK and globally.