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Head of Quality

Are you a dynamic and experienced quality leader ready to shape the future of education? USP College is seeking a highly skilled and passionate Head of Quality to lead our quality assurance and compliance functions. This pivotal role ensures that our college not only meets—but exceeds—regulatory standards, driving a culture of continuous improvement and excellence across all areas.

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Job Details

As the Head of Quality, you will be the College’s key quality and compliance lead. You will champion institutional quality assurance and compliance processes, lead audits and reviews, and support senior leaders in focusing on the strategic impact of quality improvements. Your leadership will play a vital role in enhancing student outcomes and experience.

Duties and responsibilities

  • Lead all aspects of internal quality assurance (IQA) and regulatory compliance.
  • Manage audits, inspections, and external accreditation processes.
  • Develop and monitor compliance and performance KPIs using data systems.
  • Support strategic priorities including digital learning quality and blended delivery.
  • Lead the development of Self-Assessment Reports (SARs) and Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs).
  • Design and deliver training for staff on compliance, quality systems, and regulatory standards.
  • Work cross-functionally to embed a culture of safeguarding, EDI, and continuous improvement.

Essential:

  • Proven experience in managing quality assurance and compliance within an education or regulated environment.
  • Track record of leading audits, managing institutional reviews, and developing QA frameworks.
  • Strong knowledge of regulatory bodies (Ofsted, awarding bodies, ESFA/ILR rules).
  • Advanced data analysis skills to inform strategic decisions.
  • Leadership capability across cross-functional teams.
  • Highly organised, with excellent problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

Desirable:

  • Degree qualified with a relevant teaching or education management qualification (e.g. PGCE, Level 5 DET).
  • Certification in quality assurance or audit (e.g. ISO, Six Sigma, Lead Auditor).
  • Experience as a regulatory nominee or involvement in inspection preparation.
  • Familiarity with digital learning quality standards.
  • Project management experience in a post-16 education setting.

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

This role is considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. Self-declaration is subject to Ministry of Justice guidance on the disclosure of criminal records, further information can be found on GOV UK

USP College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, we therefore expect all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service, and any other checks that the role requires to ascertain suitability for working with children and/or vulnerable adults, which may include online searches.

We will hold and process any personal data, including sensitive (special category) personal data, relating to you in accordance with our legal obligations, in the manner set out in the Privacy Notice for staff and in accordance with our Data Protection Policy, which is set out on the College’s website, found here. You should familiarise yourself with our Data Protection Policy (and all other subsidiary policies to it) and comply with them at all times. Neither the Privacy Notice for Staff nor those policies form a part of your contract of employment.

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