Job Description
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Job Details
Are you a strategic quality leader ready to drive real change? USP College is recruiting a Director of Quality to join our senior team. This is more than a compliance role; you will provide inspirational leadership to our teaching and learning function, embedding a culture of excellence in everything we do. You will own the quality strategy, lead our Ofsted readiness, and ultimately ensure our students achieve outstanding outcomes. If you are an influential leader with a passion for quality in further education, apply now to join our ambitious team.
Main Purpose of the Role:
We are seeking a visionary Director of Qualityto provide strategic leadership across all aspects of quality assurance and continuous improvement at the College. This is a senior leadership role, central to driving our Quality Strategy and ensuring that outstanding teaching, learning, and assessment are embedded throughout the organisation.
The Director will lead on ensuring the College not only meets but exceeds the expectations of Ofsted and other regulatory bodies, while delivering sustainable improvements in the student experience and outcomes. Acting as a key advisor to senior leadership and governors, the Director will champion a whole-College approach to quality, inspire their team, and foster a culture of excellence and accountability.
Key Responsibilities:
In this role, you will:
- Lead the development and implementation of the College's Quality Strategy, ensuring alignment with strategic aims.
- Provide inspirational leadership to the Quality and Teaching & Learning teams, building a culture of high performance.
- Act as the College's Quality Nominee and Awarding Body Nominee, overseeing compliance with all regulatory requirements.
- Drive the self-assessment and quality improvement planning cycle, ensuring robust monitoring and measurable impact.
- Lead the College's preparation for external reviews, including Ofsted inspections.
- Use data and KPIs strategically to inform interventions, track performance, and drive continuous improvement.
- Work collaboratively to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment practices, embedding innovation and digital learning.
- Ensure the student voice shapes improvements to learning, teaching, and support.
- Oversee compliance, safeguarding, and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), embedding them within all quality processes.
- Lead a strategic staff development programme that strengthens quality assurance and pedagogical practice.
About You:
We're looking for someone who is:
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and dynamic leader who thrives on driving high standards and continuous improvement. You will be a confident communicator, able to engage staff at all levels, and have the credibility to represent the College with regulators and external bodies. With a strong grasp of compliance, quality assurance, and teaching excellence, you will bring strategic vision and the ability to deliver measurable impact.
The right candidate will have:
Essential:
- Significant senior management experience in leading quality assurance and improvement within Further Education or a regulated sector.
- A proven track record of delivering successful quality strategies that raise standards and improve outcomes.
- Experience of supporting or leading institutions through external inspections such as Ofsted.
- Strong knowledge of FE regulatory frameworks, including Ofsted EIF, ESFA funding rules, and awarding body compliance.
- Evidence of continued professional development in quality assurance, compliance, or education management.
- Exceptional leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
- Advanced skills in data analysis, performance monitoring, and strategic planning.
Desirable:
- Degree and/or teaching qualification (PGCE, Level 5 DET, or equivalent).
- Qualification in quality assurance, compliance, or audit (e.g. ISO, Lean Six Sigma, Lead Auditor).
- Experience as a nominee for awarding bodies or regulatory inspections.
- Experience of curriculum design or oversight in post-16 education.
- Knowledge of digital learning quality standards and evaluation.
- Experience in leading organisational change through quality processes.
Why choose us?
Our strategy is to create a Career Focused, Digital Learning environment, ensuring that the learner experience and our relationship within our community, local and regional employers, are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to be selected as finalists for the AoC Beacon awards for effective use of digital Technology in FE. Providing a high achieving, focused learning environment allowing our students to achieve the grades they need for higher educations, or the skills and aptitude required to secure a suitable role in their chosen career. Our college is set in the leafy suburbs of Essex, with easy access to surrounding areas and amenities, we are based in a well-connected location both by road and rail.
What we offer:
- A dedicated and friendly team of professionals who are keen to develop and learn
- Excellent pension provision
- Annual Staff Awards
- CPD days - opportunities to grow and development through mentorship and coaching
- Free onsite parking
- Staff appreciation days
- Eye care vouchers
- Onsite Starbucks & Restaurant
- Well-being days & activities
- Electric Vehicle Scheme*
- Discounted gym membership
- Hybrid Working available
- Fully immersive teaching rooms allow simultaneous online teaching at multiple locations
- Free Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7, 365 days offering legal & financial advice, as well as general support & guidance
* subject to terms & conditions