Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AQA) Specialist at The Independent Institute of Education (IIE)

Job purpose:
The incumbent will be responsible for delivering on key accreditation and quality assurance projects, including but not limited to, new tertiary qualification development, programme reviews, regulatory site visits, policy development and review, and quality assurance audits aligned with departmental and company strategic goals.  The positioning of the Central Academic Team is evolving in alignment with the new business model of developing ‘University Status’.

There is currently no direct management responsibility, but the incumbent will need to exercise influence across faculties and departments to deliver on projects.

Key Performance Areas:
New qualification development

• Project manage the process of new qualification development from conceptualisation (including feasibility studies) to application for accreditation, including responding to conditions where required.
• Write qualification purposes and module outcomes aligned to the HEQSF criteria.
• Quality assure the curricula of qualifications developed for accreditation to meet all requirements as set out by the HEQSF and aligned to best practice in terms of curriculum design at a higher education level.
• Ensure compliance to applicable association and professional body requirements in the design and accreditation of programmes where required.
• Review and contribute to process and system enhancement.

Programme review

• Manage the cyclical review of assigned qualifications, including engaging with all stakeholders, including compiling surveys, and drafting reports.
• Analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data.
• Track and consolidate curriculum changes by qualifications and work with the faculties to monitor extent of change and implementation of agreed outcomes.

Regulatory site visits and quality assurance audits

• Manage and coordinate the planning and preparation for regulatory site visits and audits.
• Quality assure supporting evidence and self-evaluation reports.
• Fulfil the role of site coordinator for the institution.

Special projects 

• Manage graduate tracking projects and draft insight reports
• Manage and coordinate ad hoc quality assurance projects.

Qualifications:

• Postgraduate qualification required, at least a Masters, or in the process of completing a Masters.
• A postgraduate qualification in education (particularly curriculum design) would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least five years in a position which has included programme accreditation, quality assurance, curriculum design and development.

Competencies:

• Impeccable English verbal and written competency.
• High level of computer literacy.
• Excellent knowledge of the Higher Education regulatory landscape.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and make evidence-based decisions.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high-quality standard.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Strong project management, planning, monitoring, and evaluation skills.
• Proven ability to create curriculum content for a higher education qualification.
• Demonstrated knowledge of pedagogical theory and principles that can be applied to curriculum design and review.
• Demonstrated ability to influence.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to manage self and own output and to work to tight deadlines while retaining impeccable levels of accuracy.
• Ability to work under pressure.