Company: William College
Job Title: Provost
Location: ON-SITE, William College, Stratford, London, UK
Reporting To: CEO / BOG
Employment Type: Full-time
Working Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm
Salary: Competitive
About Us
William College is a dynamic and forward-thinking private higher education institution delivering high-quality UK degree programmes in partnership with Bath Spa University and Birkbeck University. We currently offer Business Management (Law), HRM and LLB Law Degrees with a Foundation Year under a franchise arrangement, with a strong focus on academic excellence, student success, and professional development. As part of our strategic vision for growth and diversification, we are also actively exploring the future delivery of Criminology and Policing programmes, further strengthening our portfolio in the fields of law, justice, socio-legal studies, and public service education.
About you
We are looking for an ambitious and experienced senior academic leader who thrives in dynamic, innovative, interdisciplinary and multi-sector environments. You will have a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities in both private education and public universities and have the ability to navigate complex regulatory and legal frameworks with confidence. You will be a strategic thinker with a proven ability to drive academic excellence while maintaining commercial awareness. You will be confident in managing relationships with university partners and regulatory bodies. You will be a people person, with strong values aligned to widening participation, access and transformation through educational attainment, and be capable of inspiring academic teams to achieve high standards in teaching, learning, and student outcomes. You will be student centred and recognise the centrality of student engagement and participation in all aspects of college life.
Key Responsibilities
- By the deployment of Institutional Strategic Framework, provide strategic leadership for academic governance, quality and standards, ensuring full alignment with OfS Conditions of Registration and sector expectations
- Act as a principal advisor to the CEO and Board of Governors on matters relating to academic performance, quality, and student outcomes
- Using Agreed Key Performance Indicators, lead the delivery and continuous improvement of student outcomes (continuation, completion, progression) through data-informed strategy, policy, delivery, intervention and review
- Act as the lead for deployment and monitoring of Institutional Risk Framework, particularly relating to academic risks
- Oversee the design and enhancement of an inclusive, high-quality academic student experience, embedding engagement, retention, and success
- Empower through innovation in learning and teaching strategies student educational gain aligned to the Colleges ambition to widen participation and enable excellent outcomes.
- Ensure robust quality assurance and enhancement frameworks, including programme approval, monitoring, review, and revalidation with awarding partners
- Embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across staff recruitment, development and progression curriculum, assessment, and academic practice, addressing differential outcomes
- Lead the development of innovative, digitally enabled learning, teaching and assessment strategies
- Foster a culture of academic collegiality, collaboration, and people-centred leadership across academic and professional services teams
- Strengthen and manage strategic partnerships with awarding bodies and regulators, ensuring compliance and effective academic oversight.
- Contribute to institutional strategy and academic planning, including portfolio development, growth, and new programme initiatives.
- Work as part of the Executive Leadership Team, and Senior Management Team, and with all staff, students and stakeholders in a manner that empowers and enables participation and engagement and demonstrates commitment to William College mission and values.
Person Specification
Essential
- A doctoral degree or equivalent academic qualification)
- Significant academic leadership and management experience in either or both of the private higher education sector and public universities.
- Strong knowledge of the UK higher education regulatory framework (OfS) and franchise provision arrangements.
- Strong experience of partnership working, and of managing relationships with partner universities, particularly in franchised programme delivery.
- Strong alignment of values with those of the College, and demonstrable evidence of values led decision making
- Proven track record in quality assurance, academic governance, and academic development.
- Demonstrable experience in curriculum development and programme validation processes.
- Strong leadership, strategic planning, people development, talent acquisition and decision-making abilities.
- Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Evidenced commitment to delivering a high quality, sustainable and outcome orientated student experience
- Commitment to Equality, Inclusion and diversity, with evidence of enabling and empowering all teams and individuals to contribute to the success of the College, its learners and staff.
Desirable
- Professional recognition (e.g., Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy) would be an advantage.
- Experience of working in an international or transnational education environment.
- Knowledge and understanding of legal education and professional pathways in the UK.
- Knowledge and experience in leading programme expansions or new market development.
- Knowledge and experience of partnership development at home and overseas.
- Applied research and scholarly activity, knowledge exchange and income generation, with published outputs and evidence of income generation.
Our commitment
As an institution, we are committed to promoting an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
We are dedicated to embedding inclusive practices across all areas of our work and to fostering a culture of belonging where every member of our community can thrive and reach their full potential.
Benefits
- Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
- Workplace pension scheme.
- Company Sick Policy.
- Statutory maternity/paternity pays.
- Career development opportunities
- Training and self-development opportunities.
- Gym membership discounts
- Retail discount schemes
- Cinema discounts
- Grocery discounts
- Cycle to work
- Investing and savings opportunities
- Financial wellbeing – personal debt advise.
- Financial wellbeing education
- My Mind Pal (mental fitness)
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