Independent Board Director - QAA

To support its mission to safeguard UK academic standards and improve quality in higher education for the benefit of three million students in the UK and worldwide, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) seeks to appoint a new Director who will bring relevant expertise, an entrepreneurial outlook, and commitment to the values of higher education to join its Board.

QAA is the independent quality body for UK higher education and one of the world’s experts in quality assurance. We are trusted by higher education providers and regulatory bodies to maintain and enhance quality and standards. We provide expert services to our UK higher education members, so that they can give their students the best possible experience. We work with governments, agencies and institutions globally to benefit UK higher education and its international reputation. QAA has emerged from a major change programme as a refreshed and reinvigorated organisation, with a largely new senior leadership team, and from November 2021 with a new chief executive.

The Leadership Team reports into the Board, which is responsible for developing and overseeing the strategic direction, policy development, finances, and performance of QAA. The QAA Board represents a wide range of interests, within higher education as well as other areas, with members appointed for their experience of industry, commerce, finance, or the practice of a profession, and includes two student members. The Board also has members appointed by bodies representing UK higher education institutions and funding councils. QAA is seeking to appoint a new Director, who can add value to the Board by bringing industry expertise, commercial flair, and a creative edge. Direct sector knowledge of higher education is well represented on the board, and they are very keen to engage candidates who offer a view of higher education through a different lens.

Candidates are likely to come from outside the sector but should have a personal or professional appreciation of how higher education benefits society, and a sympathy for higher education institutions as centres of teaching, learning and knowledge exchange. Ideally, candidates will bring a business-like approach and an eagerness to drive innovation, as well as an entrepreneurial outlook that will encourage ambition and support the board to consider opportunities for growth and development in the UK and more broadly.

Following a recent skills audit, which identified areas of expertise less represented at board level, we are particularly interested to hear from candidates who can demonstrate expertise, knowledge or insight into one, or more, of the following areas:  digital enhancement, marketing, business development or membership organisations. The Board meets four times a year and has a strategy away day, and Board Directors will also be asked to join a sub-committee where there is a vacancy or where their expertise is best placed to support. QAA is committed to ensuring its diverse membership and beneficiaries of its work are fully represented at board level and throughout the organisation, and welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Closing date: Monday 31st January 2022

Please click ‘Apply’ to be directed to the Peridot Partners website and to contact the advising consultants to discuss this role in more detail.


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