Academic Director

AcademicLeadership Opportunity | Higher Education | Growth Phase! Southern Cross Education Institute – Higher Education (SCEI-HE) is entering a significant growth and strategic expansion phaseacrossAustralia and internationally.We areseekingan accomplished and visionary Academic Director to lead academic excellence, governance, and institutional positioning atanexecutive level.This role is not simply aboutmaintainingstandards, it is about elevating themacross our multiple existing and future campuses.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a rare opportunity to shape the academic future of a nationally recognised higher education provider with ambitious plans across Education, Early Childhood, Community Services and Social Work, with further program disciplines in development.

The Opportunity As Academic Director, you will:

Lead academic strategy aligned with institutional growth

Direct a team of7academic operations staff

Driveacademic governance andadvisethe CEO and Board

Strengthen regulatory performance and accreditation outcomes

Drive curriculum innovation and academic quality

Build and mentor high-performing academic teams

Enhance student progression,retentionand graduate employability

Position SCEI-HE strongly within the Australian higher education landscape

You will work closely with the Director of Quality Assurance & Compliance to ensure institutional readiness across TEQSA, HESF and professional accreditation frameworks,whilemaintaininga clear strategic lens on expansion and reputation.

Strategic Focus Areas Academic Governance & Leadership

Oversight of academic boards and committees

Executive-level academic advice and decision-making

Organisational capability development and succession planning

Accreditation & Regulatory Performance

Leadership of accreditation and reaccreditation processes

Academic input into TEQSA submissions

Relationship management with professional bodies (e.g. VIT, AASW, ACECQA, CWA)

Curriculum design aligned to AQF and HESF

Assessment integrity,moderationand benchmarking

Continuous improvement driven by student outcomes data

Scholarship & Academic Culture

Implementation of the Scholarship Framework

Promotion of scholarly activity and evidence-informed practice

Alignment with TEQSA expectations for scholarship

About You You are a senior academic leader with substantial experience within Australian higher education and a strongtrack recordin governance,accreditationand regulatory compliance.

You will bring:

A PhD in a relevant discipline

Deep knowledge of TEQSA, HESF, AQF and ESOS

Proven experience leading accreditation and reaccreditation

Financial and resource management acumen

Demonstratedsuccess leading change and growing teams

Current professional registration or recognised accreditation (e.g. VIT, AASW, ACECQA-approved status) is highly regarded.

Why Join SCEI-HE?

Executive reporting line totheCEO and exposure to highly qualified academics and governance professionalswho siton the Academic and Corporate Boards

Direct influence on institutionalidentity,strategyand growth

Supportive and collaborative executive environment

This is an opportunity for a strategic academic leader who wants to build, influence and leave a lasting institutional legacy.

#J-18808-Ljbffr