Head of Quality Advancement

University of Southampton Malaysia; Iskandar Puteri; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southampton Malaysia is seeking a dynamic Head of Quality Advancement to lead the independent Quality Advancement portfolio and manage an integrated ecosystem of institutional quality assurance and advancement on campus.

The post holder will plan and deliver readiness for self-accreditation, establish ISO 21001-aligned systems, and run risk-based internal quality audits, advising senior leaders with expert judgement.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or MQF Level 7 or equivalent substantial professional experience.
• Extensive experience in higher-education quality assurance, institutional accreditation, quality management, management systems or internal audit.
• Proven experience leading a significant institutional accreditation, self-assessment, certification, quality transformation or quality assurance programme.
• Strong knowledge of Malaysian higher-education quality and regulatory requirements, including MQA, MoHE and MQF.
• Experience in designing, implementing or evaluating internal quality assurance or management systems, including risk-based audits or institutional reviews.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues and exercise judgement.
• Ability to resolve complex issues using initiative, evidence and established procedures; know when to seek advice.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills; able to motivate others.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence stakeholders.
• Excellent written and spoken English, with ability to communicate in Bahasa Melayu.

Responsibilities

• Lead UoSM's institutional self-accreditation readiness programme and interpret local regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate institutional gap and maturity assessments and oversee self-review reports and evidence base.
• Coordinate external certification, surveillance and recertification activity.
• Advise process owners and coordinate the Educational Organisations Management System aligned with ISO 21001.
• Design and deliver a risk-based internal quality audit mechanism with an audit charter and multi-year plan.
• Analyse regulatory, audit and stakeholder information to support strategic quality decisions.
• Develop assurance policies, dashboards and reporting for senior leadership and committees.
• Build relationships across UoSM, UoS and external bodies; lead cross-university quality initiatives.
• Leverage AI and digital tools to improve efficiency, data accuracy and decision-making.

Skills

Leadership

Quality assurance

Regulatory knowledge

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Communication

English proficiency

Bahasa Melayu ability

Education

Master’s degree or MQF Level 7

Equivalent professional experience

Tools

ISO 21001

ISO 9001

Auditing standards

Job description

The University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) is seeking a dynamic Head of Quality Advancement to lead the independent Quality Advancement portfolio and manage an integrated ecosystem of institutional quality assurance and advancement. The post holder will plan and deliver UoSM's readiness for self-accreditation, establish and maintain an Educational Organisations Management System aligned with ISO 21001, and operate a risk-based internal quality audit. Applying extensive specialist knowledge and professional judgement, the role will provide authoritative advice to senior leaders, evaluate complex evidence, develop policies and procedures, allocate resources, and lead corrective and continual-improvement activity across academic and professional services. The portfolio will remain independent from the functions it reviews and will report significant assurance findings directly to the Chief Academic Officer, with a dotted reporting line to the CEO and Provost.

Key Responsibilities

Lead UoSM's institutional self-accreditation readiness programme. Interpret Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) and Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) requirements. Based on MQA's Institutional Quality Audit Framework (IQAF), coordinate institutional gap and maturity assessments; oversee the self-review and self-evaluation reports and evidence base; commission independent mock audits; monitor readiness risks and corrective actions; and maintain continuing readiness following the award of self-accrediting status.

Plan, establish and continually improve an Educational Organisations Management System aligned with ISO 21001. Define scope, governance, processes, performance measures, document and record controls, risk and opportunity arrangements, management review and certification readiness; advise process owners; and coordinate external certification, surveillance and recertification activity.

Design and deliver a risk-based internal quality audit mechanism covering academic quality systems, EOMS processes and relevant institutional controls. Maintain an audit charter, methodology and multi-year plan; ensure auditor independence and competence; report nonconformities and systemic risks; verify corrective-action effectiveness; and elevate significant or overdue matters through the agreed reporting lines.

Critically analyse and interpret specialised regulatory, audit, performance and stakeholder information. Support partnerships and new programmes by providing authoritative advice and recommendations on complex or unprecedented quality issues; develop and improve institutional assurance policies, procedures, dashboards and reporting; and advise senior leadership teams, project boards and University committees on quality maturity, compliance and institutional risk.

Build effective relationships across UoSM, the wider University of Southampton (UoS) and relevant external bodies. Influence process owners to achieve agreed outcomes; represent UoSM in professional networks; and develop institutional capability through guidance, briefings, workshops, assessor development and participation in cross-University working groups and committees.

Strong inclination to use and apply artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools within daily work processes to enhance efficiency, service quality, data accuracy, and decision-making, in compliance with organisational policies, data protection requirements, and ethical standards.

Perform any other duties as allocated by the line manager in consultation with the post holder, including supporting institutional events and compliance with university procedures.

Requirements

A Master’s degree or qualification equivalent to Level 7 of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF), or equivalent substantial professional experience.

Extensive experience in higher-education quality assurance, institutional accreditation, quality management, management systems or internal audit, with significant practical and/or managerial experience.

Proven experience leading a significant institutional accreditation, self-assessment, certification, quality transformation or quality assurance programme.

Strong knowledge of Malaysian higher-education quality and regulatory requirements, including MQA, MoHE and MQF.

Experience in designing, implementing or evaluating internal quality assurance or management systems, including risk-based audits or institutional reviews.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify emerging issues, assess complex or incomplete information and exercise sound professional judgement.

Ability to resolve complex and sensitive issues using initiative, evidence and established procedures, while knowing when to seek advice or elevate significant risks.

Strong leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to set clear expectations and create an environment that engages, develops and motivates others.

Ability to provide authoritative, evidence-based advice and recommendations on complex and sensitive quality and assurance matters.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence diverse stakeholders across organisational boundaries.

Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate effectively in Bahasa Melayu.

Added Advantage

MQA Certified Officer in Quality Assurance of Higher Education (CQA) qualification.

Formal Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor qualification, or relevant professional registration.

Experience with ISO 21001 or ISO 9001 certification, self-accreditation or transnational higher education.

Experience coordinating cross-functional quality, accreditation or institutional improvement initiatives.

Ability to communicate in Mandarin or other languages.

The University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) is an international branch campus of the University of Southampton, a founding member of the Russell Group and one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities. Established in 2012 and located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, UoSM offers foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, providing students with a globally recognised UK education in Malaysia.

As part of a globally connected university with campuses in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and India, UoSM is committed to academic excellence, research, innovation and industry engagement, preparing graduates to make a positive impact in an increasingly interconnected world.

The University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) is an international branch campus of the University of Southampton, a founding member of the Russell Group and one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities. Established in 2012 and located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, UoSM offers foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, providing students with a globally recognised UK education in Malaysia.

As part of a globally connected university with campuses in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and India, UoSM is committed to academic excellence, research, innovation and industry engagement, preparing graduates to make a positive impact in an increasingly interconnected world.