Head of Business School Accreditations and Specialist Projects in Birmingham

Department: Business School | Location: Birmingham, England | Salary: £70,564 to £79,840 per annum | Permanent | Post Type: Full Time | Reference: BUS26001

Overview

Birmingham City University’s Business School is seeking an experienced and motivated professional to take on the role of Head of Business School Accreditations and Strategic Projects. This is a key strategic position, playing a leading role in strengthening and enhancing the school’s accreditation portfolio, reputation, and global standing. Working at a senior level, the postholder will support the Business School in delivering its strategic ambitions across international accreditations, quality enhancement, and high-profile strategic projects. The role involves close collaboration with academic and professional services colleagues and regular engagement with external accreditation bodies and partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate accreditation activity across the Business School at School, Department and course level, ensuring alignment with accreditation standards and continuous improvement expectations.
• Chair the School Accreditation Committee and manage relationships with bodies such as AACSB, SBC, PRME and EFMD, and support subject-level accreditations including ACCA, CIMA and CMI.
• Contribute to wider University initiatives, including equality and charter mark activity such as Athena Swan, Stonewall and the Race Equality Charter.
• Provide expert advice to the Dean and senior leadership team, oversee accreditation submissions and action plans, and ensure that systems, processes and evidence meet the highest standards.
• Develop and maintain strong external networks to raise the school’s profile, support partnerships, student mobility and international rankings. Occasional UK and overseas travel will be required.
• Develop and maintain an accreditation strategy and roadmap, ensuring compliance with accreditation cycles and continuous enhancement.
• Chair the Business School Accreditation Committee and oversee associated working groups, ensuring governance, reporting and action tracking.
• Lead the preparation, quality assurance and submission of accreditation documentation, reports, budgets and action plans.
• Work with academic and professional services teams to gather, analyse and present high-quality data relating to teaching, research, student outcomes and impact.
• Provide authoritative advice on accreditation standards, quality assurance and good practice to senior leaders and academic teams.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with accreditation bodies, mentors and external stakeholders.
• Support strategic projects that enhance the school’s external profile, reputation and global reach.
• Coordinate preparations for accreditation visits, reviews and external panels.
• Contribute to the School’s quality assurance, enhancement activity and assurance of learning processes.
• Support the Dean in the operation of the Business School Advisory Board and monitoring its impact.
• Manage the School’s accreditation budget and resource planning in collaboration with the Director of School Operations.

Essential Criteria

• An honours or postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Significant experience of working within the Higher Education sector, with strong knowledge of regulations, policy and sector trends.
• Substantial senior-level experience of project management within a Higher Education environment.
• Proven experience of managing accreditation processes and delivering documentation for professional bodies (e.g. AACSB, SBC, PRME).
• Strong experience in data management, analysis and reporting, with evidence of producing high-quality accreditation or project documentation.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience of building and maintaining strategic external relationships at national and international level.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines while maintaining high quality and attention to detail.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to managing change and competing priorities.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of successfully managing an initial AACSB and/or EFMD accreditation within a Business School.
• Experience of budget management and resource allocation.
• Willingness to travel internationally and work flexibly when required.

Additional Information

The appointed candidate will normally be employed through our subsidiary company BCU Support Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Birmingham City University. Appointees with prior LGPS membership who wish to enter the LGPS scheme will be able to do so and will be employed by Birmingham City University directly.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom. We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations. We believe that by working together, combining our many different backgrounds and life experiences, we will empower each other to reach our full potential.

Further Details