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About the Role

We are looking for a Senior Academic Director to provide strategic oversight and operational leadership to ensure a consistent, high-quality, and student-centred academic environment. This role directly leads a team of Academic Directors and oversees institutional priorities related to student engagement, continuation, completion, progression, satisfaction, and academic quality. A key focus is driving operational excellence, strengthening support for students and staff, and enhancing the overall student experience.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight and day-to-day operational leadership for the academic experience.
Ensure a consistent, high-quality, and student-centred academic environment.
Directly lead a team of Academic Directors.
Oversee the effective delivery of institutional priorities relating to student engagement, continuation, completion, progression, satisfaction, and academic quality.
Ensure campus-based delivery is cohesive, efficient, and aligned with University strategic ambitions.
Drive operational excellence and embed consistent academic standards.
Strengthen support for students and staff.
Ensure campus operations contribute positively to institutional performance measures.
Champion an engaged academic culture.
Foster high-performing teams.
Lead initiatives that enhance the overall student experience.

Requirements

Accomplished and confident academic leader.
Extensive experience in managing managers and guiding multi-disciplinary teams.
Professionalism, clarity, and a strong sense of purpose.
Demonstrated meaningful impact on continuation, completion, progression, and satisfaction.
Ability to translate institutional priorities into effective, high-quality practice.
Assurance in leading operational change.
Ability to strengthen performance and embed processes across complex environments.
Thorough understanding of quality assurance and regulatory frameworks.
Ability to use data as a central tool in decision-making.
Ability to analyse information with precision and draw clear insights.
Ability to use evidence to guide strategy, identify risks, and drive improvements.
Effective collaboration across departments and stakeholder groups.
Ability to build strong relationships that support cohesive, student-centred delivery.
Professional credibility, analytical capability, and collaborative mindset required to lead academic operations at scale.

Skills

Leadership
Strategic oversight
Operational leadership
Team management
Quality assurance
Regulatory compliance
Data analysis
Collaboration
Stakeholder management

Location

Remote
Coventry head office
Campus locations

Work Type

Permanent
Full-time
Remote working arrangement with travel

Experience Level

Senior leadership

Salary/Compensations

£100,000 - £120,000 per annum

Benefits

30 days holiday + bank holidays
Christmas closure
Generous Aviva pension plan with company contributions starting from 7%
BUPA Cash Plan
Private Medical Insurance
Access to Perkbox benefits
Free study of any Arden course
Discount for family and friends on courses
Golden Ticket to gift a free Arden education

About the Company

Arden University is an aspirational and multi-award-winning university.
Delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through passion for innovation and digital education.
Vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide.
Ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.
Expanding into new disciplines, forging worldwide partnerships, and expanding locations.
Committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible.
Values: Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness.

Equal Opportunity

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.
If you have a disability, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
Actively welcome applications from all groups.