Head of Operations

My client, a well-established and growing higher education provider, is seeking to appoint a Head of Operations - Academic to lead academic, quality, and institutional operations during a period of strategic growth. This is a senior leadership role with a clearly defined pathway to Director level, based on performance and impact.

Responsibilities

• Providing values led leadership across academic, quality, and institutional operations teams, driving accountability, clarity, and high performance
• Leading programme development, validation, and expansion, with a particular focus on Allied Health and postgraduate provision aligned to market demand
• Overseeing academic governance and quality assurance, ensuring full compliance with regulatory and awarding body requirements
• Strengthening institutional operations and student facing processes to deliver a consistent, high quality learner experience
• Using academic data, learner outcomes, and performance metrics to inform decision making and identify opportunities and risks
• Working cross functionally with Finance, Admissions, Marketing, and Student Services to ensure alignment and shared ownership of academic direction
• Championing digital transformation across academic and operational systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness
• Representing the organisation externally at sector forums, conferences, and partner meetings
• Embedding and modelling behaviours that support a collaborative, student centred culture

Candidate Qualifications

• An experienced academic leader with a strong belief in the transformative power of education
• Strategically minded with the operational capability to translate vision into delivery
• Confident navigating the Irish higher education landscape, including regulatory and awarding body frameworks
• A strong communicator with the ability to build trust and credibility across teams and stakeholders
• A mentor and people leader who supports teams to achieve high standards and continuous improvement
• Ambitious, with a clear desire and readiness to progress into a Director level role

Requirements

• A Master's degree (essential); Doctorate or senior leadership qualification (desirable)
• Minimum 5 years' experience in academic leadership, including programme development and quality assurance
• Strong knowledge of the Irish higher education system and compliance environment
• Experience within private higher education (desirable)
• Financial awareness and operational capability
• A proven track record of improving quality, performance, or learner outcomes
• A structured, values led leadership style

Benefits

• A senior leadership role with a defined progression route to Director level
• Opportunity to shape academic strategy and institutional operations during a period of growth
• High levels of influence and autonomy
• A collaborative, values driven culture with a strong focus on learner impact
• Hybrid working

For a confidential discussion and more information on the role, please contact Sarra Hadi

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