Director of Quality Assurance

About Us: 

Coventry University, founded in 1843, is a forward-looking, modern institution with a proud tradition of providing high-quality education. Students benefit from state-of-the-art equipment and facilities across various academic disciplines, including business, computing, health, design, engineering, and performing arts. Coventry University has been described by Times Higher Education as “one of the most innovative modern universities, bold in its vision of the 21st-century student experience”.

Position Overview: 

As Director of Quality Assurance, you will ensure the highest academic and quality standards across the University. Coventry University seeks a candidate with strong experience in university quality management, capable of leading and implementing effective quality assurance processes to enhance the student experience as well as reporting the university’s quality report to external quality organizations such as, but limited to the IQAA

As the Director of Quality Assurance, you will oversee key personnel and activities focused on maintaining and improving academic quality, while advising senior managers on the process to meeting regulatory compliance of Coventry University UK guidelines and the local requirements as well as protecting the University’s reputation.

This role influences the University’s standing locally, nationally, and internationally, shaping its academic credibility and student satisfaction and experiences.

Success requires strong communication and collaboration with senior staff, using skills in influencing, negotiating, guiding, and providing clear direction when necessary.

You will support the University’s Leadership Team in shaping the academic quality strategy by developing and reviewing quality assurance and enhancement systems, including risk-based reviews that clearly demonstrate the quality of education and academic standards to all stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advise the Senior Management Team on academic quality, teaching standards, student progression, and graduate outcomes in line with local and UK requirements.
• Lead external reviews and audits related to academic quality and standards.
• Oversee the development and implementation of academic policies to support continuous improvement and student success.
• Ensure compliance with the UK Quality Code for Higher Education and other relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Design and manage a continuous academic review process across all taught programmes to monitor and enhance student experience and outcomes.
• Engage students and the Students’ Union in academic quality assurance and review processes.
• Represent the university in external quality networks, including the IQAA and QAA’s Quality Enhancement Network.
• Manage approval and review processes for new and existing academic programmes, including acting as secretary to validation panels and academic committees.
• Coordinate annual reviews of taught and research student provision, including analysis of key performance indicators.
• Serve as secretary to the Academic Boards, ensuring agendas, actions, and reports are managed effectively.
• Chair the Quality Network to drive cross-institutional dialogue on academic quality and improvement with other local adn international universities as well as relevant local and multinational organizations and governmental authorities.
• Attend the Quality Assurance Committee between CU UK and CUK.
• Manage student experience surveys and reporting on outcomes reflecting academic development.
• Represent the university in external quality networks, including the IQAA and QAA’s Quality Enhancement Network.

Qualifications Require:

1. Education
   • Master’s degree (or higher) in Education, Quality Management, Business Administration, or another relevant discipline.
2. Professional Experience
   • Significant senior-level background (normally 8 years +) in quality assurance and enhancement within a university or transnational higher-education environment.
   • Proven track record of designing, implementing, and evaluating institution-wide quality-management systems, including risk-based programme and institutional reviews.
   • Experience leading external reviews and accreditation exercises (e.g., QAA, OfS, professional bodies) and demonstrable success in upholding academic standards.
   • Direct responsibility for advising or servicing senior academic-governance committees (e.g., Senate, Academic Standards Committee) and writing high-impact policy or review reports.
   • Hands-on management of student-experience and graduate-outcome metrics, with evidence of data-driven interventions that improved progression and attainment.
3. Knowledge & Skills
   • Expert knowledge of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, Office for Students requirements, and comparable international regulatory frameworks.
   • Advanced ability to influence, negotiate, and broker consensus with senior leaders and external partners.
   • Excellent analytical, report-writing, and presentation skills in English.
   • Competence in managing networks of external examiners, internal moderators, and academic reviewers.
   • Strong project-management skills, including setting and monitoring KPIs for academic quality.
4. Leadership & Personal Attributes
   • Strategic thinker able to align quality-assurance activity with institutional vision and global expansion goals.
   • Inclusive leader skilled at motivating cross-functional teams and fostering a student-centred quality culture.
   • High professional integrity and judgement, capable of safeguarding institutional reputation under pressure.
   • Willingness to be based in (or travel frequently to) Astana, Kazakhstan, and work effectively in an intercultural context.

Why Join Us?

Coventry University Kazakhstan offers a unique opportunity to shape the digital foundations of a modern international campus. Join a mission-driven institution committed to innovation, student success, and global excellence in higher education.