Head of Quality and Governance

Victoria College of Arts and Design; Slough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 7.2 weeks

Workplace pension

Employee assistance programme

Private confidential support services

Job summary

Victoria College of Arts and Design is seeking a Head of Quality and Governance to provide strategic leadership in academic quality, regulatory compliance, and institutional governance. You will act as Information Controller, CMA lead, and Secretary to the Board, ensuring OfS conditions are met and robust governance is maintained.

You will lead OfS registration, quality assurance, and governance programs, coordinating with internal audit, policy teams, and senior management.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in quality assurance, governance, regulatory compliance within UK higher education.
• Strong knowledge of OfS regulatory framework and conditions of registration.
• Experience supporting or servicing boards, committees, or governance structures.
• Excellent written communication for reports, papers, and regulatory submissions.

Responsibilities

• Lead OfS registration delivery and oversee all stages from submission to registration.
• Develop and enhance governance, quality assurance, and compliance frameworks.
• Act as Secretary to the Board and maintain governance documentation.
• Lead CMA compliance and internal audit coordination with assurance functions.
• Oversee student representation processes and ensure effective student participation.

Skills

Quality assurance

Governance

Regulatory compliance

OfS expertise

Board support

Policy development

Reporting

Project management

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Education

Higher education experience

Job description

Job Title: Head of Quality and Governance

Location: Canary Wharf – London

Hours: Full-time, Monday–Friday 9:00–17:00

Salary: £60,000 - £65,000

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Job Purpose

The Head of Quality & Governance provides strategic leadership and oversight for academic quality, regulatory compliance, and institutional governance. The role ensures the organisation meets all relevant Office for Students (OfS) conditions of registration, maintains regulatory compliance, and upholds high standards of academic governance, quality and standards. The role also acts as Information Controller, Lead for CMA (Competition & Markets Authority) compliance and Secretary to the Board of Governors and its sub-committees.

Key Responsibilities

1. Office for Students (OfS) Registration

• Lead the successful delivery of VCAD's Office for Students (OfS) registration application, overseeing all stages from submission through to registration and implementation.
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, and institutional workstreams to ensure timely achievement of registration requirements and regulatory milestones.
• Monitor, analyse, and interpret developments within the OfS regulatory framework, providing expert advice and assurance to the Senior Management Team and Board of Governors.
• Act as the primary institutional contact for OfS engagement, coordinating relationships with external advisers, legal counsel, and other regulatory parties.
• Hold overall responsibility for compliance with OfS Conditions C (Protecting the Interests of Students) and E (Management and Governance) and provide leadership and assurance in relation to the institution's compliance with the OfS quality and standards conditions, working collaboratively with academic and operational colleagues.
• Oversee the development and implementation of regulatory compliance frameworks, ensuring the institution remains compliant with all ongoing conditions of registration and regulatory obligations.

2. Quality Assurance

• Lead the development, implementation, review, and continuous enhancement of the institution's quality assurance, governance, and regulatory compliance frameworks, policies, and procedures.
• Work closely with the Quality and Governance Manager to oversee all cyclical quality assurance and enhancement processes, including programme approval, modification, periodic review, annual monitoring, and action planning.
• Ensure the effective operation of processes that maintain academic quality, safeguard academic standards, and support continuous improvement across the institution.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of quality, standards, and performance data to identify trends, inform decision-making, and support regulatory compliance.
• Lead institutional preparations for external reviews, audits, and regulatory scrutiny, ensuring the availability of accurate evidence and documentation.
• Work closely with the Internal Audit and Compliance Manager to ensure robust assurance arrangements and the timely implementation of recommendations arising from audits and reviews.
• Maintain oversight of institutional records, policies, and evidence required to demonstrate compliance with OfS requirements and other relevant regulatory and quality bodies.
• Provide regular reports and assurance to the Senior Management Team and Board of Governors on quality, standards, regulatory compliance, and associated risks.

3. Governance

• Act as Secretary to the Board of Governors and its sub-committees, ensuring the effective operation of governance processes and compliance with regulatory and constitutional requirements.
• Provide high-quality governance advice and assurance to the Board, its committees, and the Senior Management Team on matters relating to governance, risk, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure effective governance structures, reporting arrangements, and lines of accountability are maintained across the institution.
• Lead the development, implementation, and review of governance-related policies, procedures, and frameworks to support institutional effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain oversight of the institution's governance framework, including risk registers, policy registers, committee records, and governance documentation.
• Coordinate the annual governance cycle, including meeting schedules, forward plans, action tracking, and Board effectiveness reviews.
• Lead institutional preparations for external reviews, audits, inspections, and regulatory engagement, ensuring the timely provision of accurate documentation and evidence.
• Monitor and report on governance, regulatory, and compliance risks, escalating significant matters to the Senior Management Team and Board as appropriate.
• Provide regular reports and assurance to the Board and its committees on governance effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and institutional risk management.

4. Internal Audit and Compliance

• Lead and manage the Internal Audit and Compliance function, ensuring effective assurance and monitoring arrangements are in place across the institution.
• Lead institutional compliance with Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requirements and wider consumer protection obligations.
• Develop and implement compliance monitoring frameworks to ensure ongoing adherence to regulatory, statutory, and institutional requirements.
• Monitor compliance with Office for Students (OfS) conditions of registration and other applicable regulatory requirements, identifying and mitigating compliance risks.
• Oversee the planning and delivery of the internal audit programme and ensure audit recommendations are implemented and monitored effectively.
• Produce and present compliance, audit, and assurance reports to the Senior Management Team, Board of Governors, and relevant committees.
• Maintain oversight of regulatory risks and support the development of appropriate control and assurance mechanisms.
• Promote a culture of compliance, continuous improvement, and accountability across the institution.

5. Student Voice & Representation

• Ensure student feedback is systematically collected, analysed, and used to inform institutional decision-making, quality enhancement, and continuous improvement activities.
• Oversee mechanisms for student representation across academic and governance committees, ensuring meaningful and effective student participation.
• Monitor trends arising from student feedback, surveys, complaints, and student representative activity, providing reports and recommendations to the Senior Management Team and Board.
• Oversee the training, development, and support of student representatives to enable effective engagement with quality assurance and governance processes.
• Foster a culture of partnership between students and the institution to enhance the student experience and academic provision.

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience in quality assurance, governance, regulatory compliance, or a related field within UK higher education.
• Developing OfS application and dealing with conditions of registration specifically under transitional arrangement applied to Franchise provision
• Strong working knowledge of the Office for Students (OfS) Regulatory Framework and Conditions of Registration.
• Experience of supporting or servicing Boards, committees, or senior governance structures.
• Experience of developing, implementing, and monitoring policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality reports, papers, and regulatory submissions.
• Strong organisational, project management, and key contact management skills.
• Ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements, guidance, and data, and translate these into practical institutional actions.
• Experience of analysing and presenting data to support decision-making and assurance activities.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and professional judgement.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and promoting a culture of quality and compliance.

Desirable

• Experience of leading or supporting a successful Office for Students registration application.
• Knowledge of QAA Quality Code, CMA guidance, UK GDPR, and higher education regulatory requirements.
• Experience of risk management, internal audit, and assurance processes.
• Experience of acting as Secretary to a Board, governing body, or senior committee structure.
• Experience of managing staff and leading cross-institutional projects.
• Relevant professional qualification in quality assurance, governance, compliance, audit, risk management, or higher education administration.

Benefits

• Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
• Workplace pension scheme.
• Company Sick Pay.
• Statutory maternity and paternity pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme (HA Wisdom Wellbeing)
• Virtual GP access (Livi)
• 'Speak Up Service' - confidential support service to report any workplace concerns
• Specialist physical and mental wellbeing support services with 24/7 confidential counselling support (Wisdom)
• Specialist menopause support, including online CBT (Wisdom)
• Financial, legal and medical advice services provided (Wisdom)
• Life & Leadership coaching (Wisdom)
• Financial coaching (MUNNY)
• Discounts and perks, offering savings on shopping, activities and more (Bright Exchange)
• Career development and training opportunities.
• Training and self-development opportunities.