Quality Enhancement and Standards Team (QuEST)
Directorate of Education Enhancement
Paisley Campus with travel to other campuses
This role may be eligible at this time for visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. If requiring visa sponsorship, it is the successful candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the individual criteria to satisfy Home Office visa sponsorship requirements. If the role is offered on a part-time basis, this might also affect eligibility. More information on eligibility can be found on the Government website.
Please note that the information provided in this advert is correct at the time of writing. The University cannot guarantee sponsorship, and we encourage you to keep up to date with any changes that the Home Office may introduce.
The Quality Enhancement and Standards Team (QuEST) at the University of the West of Scotland has an exciting vacancy for a new Head of Department. The successful post-holder will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, oversight, institutional guidance and management of all aspects of the University’s quality assurance and enhancement framework. This role is an opportunity for an ambitious, diligent and innovative professional with a proven track record in quality assurance and enhancement and the ability to lead an effective University department.
QuEST is a dedicated team within the Directorate of Education Enhancement in the portfolio of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning, Teaching and Student Success. The Head of QuEST provides strategic leadership, oversight, and institutional guidance on all aspects of the University’s quality assurance and enhancement framework working with colleagues across the University to drive a quality culture of continuous improvement aligned with the UWS values of Integrity, Respect, Accountability, and Inclusivity.
As a member of the Directorate of Education Enhancement leadership team, the Head of QuEST provides briefings and reporting to Senate, the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive, and other governance groups to enable institutional oversight of quality management and academic standards, including management of engagement with sector agencies such as the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing strategic leadership, oversight, and institutional guidance on all aspects of the University’s quality assurance and enhancement framework, including strategies, processes, policies and procedures.
- Ensuring that quality assurance and enhancement approaches at the University drive a holistic quality culture, supporting the achievement of institutional strategic objectives in learning, teaching and curriculum, and enhancing the student learning experience and outcomes.
- Managing an effective department responsible for the development, delivery, and monitoring of quality and standards processes, guidance and support for the University (all campuses and provision), ensuring QuEST provides a professional, clear and sector-aligned institutional quality enhancement and assurance support service to Faculties and Departments.
- Supporting the University’s relationship with external quality bodies such as the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), ensuring the University is aligned with national and European Standards and Guidelines on quality assurance and enhancement, including the expectations of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, reflected in University approaches and processes.
- Ensuring alignment with the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework in managing the quality of the student learning experience at UWS, aligned with QAA guidance, to meet the expectations of the SFC.
The successful candidate should have the following:
- Honours degree.
- Relevant Continuing Professional Development.
- Significant experience of managing quality assurance/ enhancement in higher education including developing and contributing to institutional regulatory frameworks and quality frameworks/ handbooks, and policies and procedures.
- Senior management experience of delivering a service function within an educational context, including supporting academic / teaching colleagues.
- Experience of leading and managing the implementation of strategically aligned activity and change in an educational environment.
- Significant experience of analysing, interpreting, and presenting/ reporting complex information and data.
- Experience of drawing on external sector developments and/or statutory obligations to introduce change and enhancement within an organisation.
- Experience of implementing evidence-led enhancement and associated change in a support context leading to developments information, guidance, and training/ professional development of key stakeholders.
ABOUT US
University of the West of Scotland is a placemaking institution that is proud to be an integral part of its local communities, with a national and international reach: the University has four campuses in Scotland in Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire and Paisley, as well as a campus in London Docklands. UWS has almost 100 international partnerships and its student community comprises more than 100 nationalities.
UWS is committed to providing education opportunities for all, empowering individuals to reach their full potential. The University creates meaningful impact locally, nationally and globally through innovative learning and teaching, pioneering research, and transformative partnerships. UWS is committed to the UNSDGs and was ranked joint 1st in Scotland and joint 4th in the UK for quality education (SDG4); and 1st in the UK and 39th globally for our contribution to decent work and economic growth (SDG8) in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026.
90% of UWS research was classed as world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised internationally in the REF (Research Excellence Framework) 2021.
Our professional services teams are the backbone of UWS, providing robust and innovative solutions to support the vast range of work across learning and teaching, and research and innovation. You will join a supportive and dedicated team, playing a key role in a range of work that will help drive forward our ambition to deliver world-leading research, and graduates who will design, shape and build a new future.
We offer our staff a caring and supportive environment, across five campuses, and a competitive benefits package which includes:
- 24 days of annual leave, plus a further 12 days for public/university holidays
- An additional days leave on your birthday
- Defined benefit contribution pension scheme (including death in service benefits upon joining the scheme
- A flexible approach to working pattern and work-life balance
- Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers
- Fitness facilities across our campuses
- Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Professional, career and research development opportunities.
Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Dr Alison Gilmour, Director Education Enhancement: [email protected]
Closing Date: Wednesday 30th September 2026
Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception, where evidence would need to be provided).
The University reserves the right to shorten/extend the closing date of any position where a high/low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.
You can find out more about how the University uses your personal data as part of the recruitment process by looking at the UWS HR Applicant Privacy Notice at www.uws.ac.uk
UWS are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant.
UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.
UWS is a “Disability Confident” employer.
University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520
