DIRECTOR OF QUALITY AND INNOVATION
Permanent/Full-Time
Salary: £71,190.00 per annum
Interviews due to take place on Wednesday 9th September 2026
Join Us on making excellence a habit !
Are you ready to shape the future of education?
We are seeking an exceptional leader to become our Director of Quality and Innovation, a pivotal role at the heart of our college’s transformation. This is your opportunity to lead on quality improvement and innovation across Further Education, Higher Education, and Apprenticeships, ensuring our provision is not only inspection-ready but sector-leading and future-focused.
The Director will champion creative approaches to curriculum design, delivery, assessment, and the use of emerging technologies to enhance teaching, learning, and improve learner outcomes.
Working collaboratively with curriculum leaders, the Director will promote a culture of innovation, evidence-informed practice and continuous enhancement, ensuring the College remains at the forefront of sector developments and provides outstanding learner experiences.
As Ofsted Deputy Nominee and a key member of the senior leadership team, you will drive excellence in quality assurance, continuous improvement, and innovation embedding a culture where every learner thrives and every staff member is empowered to excel.
Be the Catalyst for Excellence
This is more than a leadership role it’s a chance to leave a legacy. You will influence every corner of our provision, championing innovation, digital capability, and inclusive practice. You will help shape a college that is bold, distinctive, and deeply committed to improving lives through education.
If you are a strategic thinker, a collaborative leader, and a passionate advocate for transformational change, we invite you to join us. Together, we will build a future where quality and innovation are not just priorities, they’re our signature.
The Role
As Director of Quality and Innovation, you will:
- Lead the College’s quality improvement and innovation strategy, including self-assessment, Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), and inspection/external validation readiness.
- Drive innovation in teaching, learning and assessment (TLA), with emphasis on digital learning and future-ready curriculum delivery models.
- Provide strategic accountability for Higher Education quality, working in partnership with the Heads of School and HE Quality Manager to meet QAA, OfS, and validating partner university expectations.
- Lead elements of the College’s CPD strategy related to teaching and learning, curriculum innovation, digital capability, and quality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring alignment with wider organisational development.
- Champion the student experience across FE, HE, and apprenticeships, ensuring feedback and data lead to continuous and rapid improvement.
About You
We are looking for a dynamic and resilient leader with:
- Degree-level education and a professional teaching qualification.
- A proven track record of leading quality assurance and improvement in FE, HE, or apprenticeships.
- Experience of working with Ofsted and/or QAA frameworks.
- Strong understanding of QAA, OfS, and awarding body requirements.
- Experience of designing and leading professional development strategies in teaching, learning, and digital innovation.
- Excellent communication, people management, and cross-college influencing skills.
- A passion for equality, diversity, inclusion, and above all, for improving student experience and outcomes.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact on the quality and innovation agenda of a forward-thinking College. You will work at a strategic level, influencing across all areas of provision, while fostering creativity, digital capability, and continuous improvement.
If you are a visionary leader who thrives on driving excellence and inspiring innovation, we would love to hear from you.
What can we offer you?
- Positive and enjoyable working environment
- Working 36 hours per week
- Generous holiday entitlement: 42 days per annum, plus bank holidays
- Contributory pension scheme with an excellent employer contribution
- Death in Service benefits
- Free on-site parking
- Discounted Starbucks and all other catering outlets on sites
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Discount Scheme
- Well-being events and access to a well-being portal
- CPD
- Opportunities for career development within the team and wider college
We reserve the right to close this vacancy when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are advised to complete and submit your application form as soon as possible.
St Helens College and Knowsley Community College are committed to Equality and Diversity and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, students and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas & Immigration to enable sponsorship of migrant workers. Therefore, we cannot progress applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK.
Please note we do not accept speculative calls and emails with CV’s from recruitment agencies. Any speculative CVs sent to the College will NOT be considered. If any assistant is required by agencies, jobs will be sent to them via the TALOS portal.
