About CECOS College London
Since 1998, CECOS College London has been recognised as a prestigious name in further and higher education in the UK. Our mission is to provide and promote opportunities for personal, professional, and academic growth for students from all backgrounds. The programmes we offer are market-oriented and structured to meet future demands. Our courses help individuals develop the tools, gain the skills, and enhance the abilities required to become productive professionals.
At CECOS, we are committed to creating a learning experience shaped by commitment, enthusiasm, discipline, effectiveness, insight, and creativity. Our goal is to prepare students for the next stage of their academic or professional careers, whether through progression to university degrees or applying their skills in the workforce.
About the Role
The Director of Quality provides strategic leadership to strengthen and enhance quality assurance, quality improvement, and governance across all CECOS College provision. The role has an initial focus on ensuring the Higher Education (HE) provision is fully prepared for Office for Students (OfS) quality assessments while maintaining compliance with Ofsted, awarding body, and other regulatory requirements.
Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Quality will develop and embed a robust quality framework that promotes excellence in teaching, learning, assessment, and student outcomes. The role will lead quality reviews, analyse performance data, oversee self-assessment and quality improvement planning, and drive continuous enhancement across all curriculum areas.
A key aspect of the role is supporting staff development by promoting effective pedagogical and andragogical practice, strengthening quality assurance processes, and fostering a culture of reflective practice, accountability, and continuous improvement. Through a collaborative, data-informed, and people-centred approach, the Director of Quality will help ensure CECOS College consistently delivers high-quality educational provision and an outstanding learner experience. You will be based in London with regular travel to other locations in UK and would be managing a team.
Key Responsibilities:
The Director of Quality is responsible for providing strategic leadership for quality assurance, quality enhancement, compliance, and continuous improvement across all CECOS College provision. The postholder will ensure that the College consistently meets the expectations of the Office for Students (OfS), Ofsted, awarding organisations, and other regulatory bodies while fostering an outstanding learning experience for students.
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the College’s quality strategy, ensuring a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across Higher Education (HE), Further Education (FE), Apprenticeships, and other provision.
- Develop and implement an organisation-wide Quality Strategy, Quality Cycle, and Quality Calendar that aligns quality assurance, enhancement, governance, and operational delivery.
- Provide strategic advice to the Managing Director, Principal, and Senior Leadership Team on quality, compliance, risk, and performance.
- Lead monthly quality reviews and contribute to strategic governance meetings, presenting clear evidence of performance, risks, and improvement actions.
Quality Assurance & Enhancement
- Develop, implement, and continuously review quality assurance systems to ensure compliance with OfS Conditions of Registration, Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF), awarding body requirements, and relevant regulatory frameworks.
- Lead the production, monitoring, and evaluation of Self-Assessment Reports (SARs), Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs), and departmental quality reviews.
- Establish robust quality monitoring processes, including observations, learning walks, audits, performance reviews, and quality improvement activities.
- Drive continuous improvement through evidence-based evaluation, action planning, and impact measurement.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure the College maintains full regulatory compliance and inspection readiness at all times.
- Develop governance dashboards and reporting frameworks that provide accurate, timely, and meaningful performance information for senior leaders and governors.
- Strengthen quality governance through effective monitoring, risk management, and performance reporting.
- Ensure policies, procedures, and quality documentation remain current, compliant, and reflective of best practice.
Teaching, Learning & Assessment
- Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive Teacher Development Framework that promotes outstanding pedagogical and andragogical practice.
- Promote excellence in teaching, learning, assessment, feedback, curriculum design, and learner engagement.
- Oversee lesson observation frameworks, quality reviews, coaching programmes, and professional development initiatives.
- Monitor the impact of teaching quality on learner achievement, progression, retention, attendance, and satisfaction.
- Lead the Annual Teaching & Learning conference
Quality Improvement & Performance
- Conduct comprehensive evaluations of quality systems, learner outcomes, curriculum performance, and operational effectiveness.
- Analyse quality, compliance, and performance data to identify strengths, risks, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
- Lead organisational quality improvement projects to enhance learner outcomes and operational performance.
- Ensure improvement actions are effectively implemented, monitored, and evaluated.
Data, Analytics & Performance Reporting
- Establish robust data collection, validation, and reporting systems to support evidence-based decision-making.
- Monitor OfS B Metrics, student outcomes, attendance, achievement, progression, continuation, completion, and graduate outcomes.
- Produce regular quality and performance reports for the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Governors.
- Ensure live data informs strategic planning, quality assurance, and organisational improvement.
Leadership & Staff Development
- Provide leadership, mentoring, and professional support to Quality Managers, Curriculum Leaders, and academic teams.
- Develop competency frameworks, workforce development plans, and annual CPD programmes aligned with organisational priorities.
- Foster a collaborative culture of reflective practice, innovation, and professional excellence.
- Promote consistency of quality standards across all campuses and provision through effective leadership and regional collaboration.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Lead stakeholder engagement activities including staff, students, employers, awarding organisations, and partner institutions.
- Analyse stakeholder feedback to inform quality enhancement and strategic planning.
- Strengthen relationships with external regulators, validation partners, awarding bodies, and collaborative partners.
Student Experience
- Monitor and evaluate the learner journey from recruitment and admissions through to achievement, progression, and destination outcomes.
- Ensure high standards of Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG), safeguarding, learner support, attendance, behaviour, and student engagement.
- Champion an inclusive, student-centred approach that enhances satisfaction, success, and employability.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead organisational self-evaluation activities and identify opportunities for innovation and enhancement.
- Embed a culture of continuous improvement through regular review, reflection, benchmarking, and evidence-based decision-making.
- Ensure quality systems remain responsive to regulatory changes and sector best practice.
- Drive organisational excellence by aligning quality improvement with the College’s strategic objectives.
Reporting & Accountability
- Report directly to the Managing Director and Principal on all aspects of quality, compliance, governance, and organisational performance.
- Provide weekly operational updates and monthly strategic performance reports.
- Attend Senior Leadership Team, Academic Board, Quality Committee, and Governance meetings as required.
- Produce comprehensive reports, quality dashboards, and annual quality evaluations to support strategic decision-making.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The postholder will be expected to undertake any other duties appropriate to the role and the evolving needs of the College.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
- Master’s degree in education, Quality Assurance, Educational Leadership, Management, or a related discipline.
- A recognised teaching qualification and/or quality assurance qualification.
- Significant senior leadership experience in quality assurance, quality enhancement, or academic governance within the Further or Higher Education sector.
- Extensive experience leading quality improvement strategies across Higher Education (HE), Further Education (FE), Apprenticeships, or skills provision.
- Demonstrable knowledge of the Office for Students (OfS) regulatory framework, B Conditions of Registration, Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF), awarding organisation requirements, and quality assurance processes.
- Proven experience in leading Self-Assessment Reports (SARs), Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs), inspection preparation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Experience of developing and implementing organisation-wide quality assurance frameworks, quality cycles, and governance systems.
- Strong understanding of curriculum quality, teaching, learning and assessment, pedagogical and andragogical practice, and learner outcomes.
- Experience of analysing performance data and using evidence to drive strategic decision-making and quality improvement.
- Proven experience of leading and developing high-performing teams and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.
Desirable
- Fellowship or membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. Advance HE, Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Chartered Quality Institute (CQI)).
- Experience supporting successful OfS quality assessments and/or Ofsted inspections.
- Experience working with validating universities, awarding organisations, or collaborative partners.
- Qualification in coaching, mentoring, leadership, or organisational development.
- Experience within both Higher Education and Further Education environments.
Skills & Competencies
- Exceptional strategic leadership and organisational development skills.
- Strong understanding of quality assurance, governance, compliance, and regulatory frameworks.
- Excellent knowledge of teaching, learning, assessment, curriculum quality, and student experience.
- Outstanding analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and produce evidence-based recommendations.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to influence, inspire, and build credibility with senior leaders, academic staff, governors, regulators, and external partners.
- Strong project management and change management capabilities.
- High levels of integrity, professional judgement, and accountability.
- Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, equality, diversity, inclusion, and excellence in education.
- Ability to foster a positive culture of collaboration, reflective practice, and professional development across the organisation.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
CECOS Group is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.
Data Protection and Privacy Notice
CECOS Group is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Personal data provided as part of your application (including your CV and any supporting documents) will be used solely for the purpose of assessing your suitability for this role and for related recruitment and selection activities. Your information will be retained securely for a limited period in line with our Data Retention Policy and then deleted or anonymised.
By submitting an application, you consent to the processing of your data for recruitment purposes. For further details, please refer to the College’s Privacy Notice, available on our website or upon request.
