Director of Professional Development in London

We are currently recruiting a Director of Professional Development for a permanent contract. This role is hybrid, with work performed both from home and in our Oxford or London hubs, in line with the institute’s hybrid working policy. Colleagues may work their hours flexibly during core business times and are offered formalised flexible working agreements. The starting salary is £82,935 for Oxford and £90,060 for London. To apply, please send a CV and cover letter by 7 July 2026.

Purpose of the job

The Director of Professional Development is the institute's strategic and operational leader for the IFoA's lifelong learning propositions, with responsibility for all education quality and standards, qualifications development and delivery, learning pathways and continuing professional development (CPD). This role ensures that the institute's professional development framework remains globally respected, future‑focused and aligned with the evolving needs of employers, members, policymakers, regulators and practitioners across international markets. The postholder is accountable for the full lifecycle of professional learning and assessment – from qualification design and accreditation to CPD strategy, delivery, innovation and quality assurance – ensuring the institute remains the global benchmark for excellence in the actuarial profession and meets the IFoA's strategic and commercial objectives.

Principal Accountabilities

• Strategic and Operational Leadership: Working with the Chief Membership Officer and professional development team, lead the global strategy and plans for professional education, qualification frameworks and CPD, ensuring alignment with the institute's mission and long‑term strategic growth objectives. Serve as executive sponsor for innovation in learning, assessment methodologies and digital professional education. Act as the senior authority for professional education standards, ensuring they remain relevant, evidence‑based and internationally recognised. Accountable for the end‑to‑end delivery of the IFoA professional qualification to meet quality, education standards and commercial objectives, including curriculum development and management, question item development, exam operational delivery, marking and awarding. Governance – reporting to, working with and supporting the IFoA Education Committee and its sub‑committees and groups as required.
• Professional Qualification & Education Standards: Oversee the research, design, development, delivery and review of all professional qualifications and certification routes. Ensure global consistency in standards while adapting pathways for practice and regional contexts, regulatory environments and market needs. Lead the development and governance of syllabi, competency frameworks, assessment models, recognition of prior learning and learning support content and products.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Define and drive the development and delivery of global CPD strategy to uphold lifelong learning for all members, within a product lifecycle approach. Oversee design, development and quality assurance of CPD offerings, including digital learning content and products, events, micro‑credentials and partner‑led CPD. Ensure CPD frameworks promote currency of practice, ethical competence and professional excellence.
• Education Standards, Quality Assurance & Accreditation: Maintain rigorous quality assurance across all qualifications, examination assessments, providers and assessment partners, and CPD delivery channels. Ensure compliance with national and international regulatory requirements, accreditation bodies and chartered standards. Lead audit processes, risk management and continuous improvement of professional education and assessment standards.
• Assessment and Qualification Systems & EdTech: Lead the institute's transformation agenda for education and assessment, including the adoption of digital platforms, AI‑enabled assessment and content tools, remote proctoring, digital credentials and data‑driven quality assurance. Provide leadership for the institute's global assessment and qualification systems, ensuring they are robust, scalable and secure internationally. Oversee the end‑to‑end digital ecosystem supporting professional qualifications, assessments, learner records, CPD tracking and education provider management. Champion innovation in assessment methodologies – including formative assessment, competency‑based evaluation, scenario‑based testing and digital simulations – ensuring global relevance and credibility.
• Stakeholder & Partner Engagement: Build strong relationships with and manage regulators, academic and higher education institutions, awarding bodies, training providers, and international associations and bodies. Define roles, work packages and effectively manage the IFoA's internal and external faculty and subject matter experts to deliver on the professional development and assessment plan. Represent the institute as a global thought leader in professional education, development and future skills for the actuarial profession. Work closely with Membership, Marketing & Communications, Markets and Policy functions with integrated planning to strengthen the value proposition for learners, exam candidates and members.
• Leadership & Operational Excellence: Lead and develop high‑performing teams across professional qualifications development, learning design, CPD, accreditation and quality assurance. Manage budgets, forecasting, revenue models and commercial development of assessment and learning products. Develop data‑driven insights to inform strategy, product development and global market growth. Act as executive advocate for learners and exam candidates, influencing organisational priorities and cross‑functional decision‑making.

Decision‑making and Complexity: The postholder sets objectives and deliverables for the Professional Development function, referring matters outside their own remit to the Chief Membership Officer. They exercise significant autonomy in leading a complex, multi‑stream function with global reach, making decisions with long‑term implications for the institute's qualifications, regulatory compliance and commercial performance. The role requires sophisticated judgement in balancing regulatory requirements, commercial objectives, learner needs and professional standards simultaneously across multiple international markets.

Knowledge and Experience: Proven executive or senior leadership experience within a professional body, chartered institute, awarding organisation or global education environment. Deep expertise in the development and delivery of qualification frameworks, assessment strategies and professional education standards. Experience overseeing qualifications and CPD programmes at scale, ideally in a membership‑based or regulated profession. Strong familiarity with global education systems and international accreditation. Track record of leading multi‑disciplinary teams and managing complex stakeholder ecosystems. Visionary leadership and strategic thinking with the ability to influence at board level. Strong expertise in digital assessment and learning, product management, innovation and future skills. Commitment to professional ethics, integrity, inclusion and evidence‑based practice.

Alternative Format and Adjustments: Please email the HR team if you require any information regarding our vacancies in an alternative format or any adjustments to support you to fully participate in any part of the application and recruitment process. Any information shared will be used only to enable us to make reasonable adjustments to support candidates to participate in the recruitment process and will not inform selection decisions.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion: The IFoA encourages applicants from a variety of backgrounds and experience and welcomes diversity with regard not only to protected characteristics but also diversity of thought. Diversity, equity and inclusion are more than just words for us. That’s why we are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels included and respected, and where no one is unfairly discriminated against. Consequently, we promote diversity, equity and inclusion in all our policies, practices and procedures and actively encourage applications from a diverse range of potential candidates. All applications for our roles are considered on merit alone, and if you don’t meet all the criteria but believe you have something to offer, we want to hear from you.