A key priority for this role will be supporting the successful launch, validation and ongoing oversight of the College's strategic partnership with Riyadh University of Art, helping to establish high-quality academic provision that reflects both UK regulatory expectations and the RCA's global reputation for excellence in art and design education.

As the College's senior lead for partnership quality assurance, you will provide expert leadership on academic standards, regulatory compliance and governance, ensuring that all partnership activity is robust, compliant and aligned with institutional strategy. Working closely with senior academic leaders, professional services teams and international partners, you will play a critical role in shaping and embedding sustainable quality frameworks that support innovation while safeguarding standards.

About the Role

This is a unique opportunity to help establish and oversee academic quality arrangements for a high-profile international partnership from programme validation through to ongoing delivery, monitoring and enhancement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading quality assurance and academic governance across the College's international partnerships, with an initial focus on Riyadh University of Art.
• Designing and implementing quality frameworks, policies, procedures and guidance to support partnership provision.
• Advising Executive leadership on academic standards, regulatory compliance and institutional risk.
• Establishing quality and performance indicators and overseeing Annual Programme Review processes.
• Monitoring programme performance, student outcomes and enhancement activity.
• Overseeing external examining arrangements and assessment governance.
• Preparing reports for senior committees and contributing to institutional quality and regulatory assurance.
• Acting as the principal quality assurance contact for international partners.
• Line managing the Quality Assurance Manager.

About You

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative leader with substantial experience of quality assurance and academic governance within UK higher education.

You will bring:

• A postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive experience of programme validation, annual monitoring and external examining.
• Strong knowledge of the UK Quality Code and UK higher education regulatory requirements.
• Experience of supporting academic committees.
• The ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements in practice.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and report-writing skills.
• Experience advising senior leaders on academic standards, governance and risk.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Experience of transnational education, international partnerships or operating in complex cross-border educational environments will be highly advantageous. Experience within an art, design or creative higher education setting is also desirable.

Join us at an exciting stage in the development of our international partnerships and play a leading role in ensuring the success of the RCA's ambitious collaboration with Riyadh University of Art, while helping to shape the future of global creative education.

Please see Information Pack for further details.

Closing for applications at 11.59pm on 8 September 2026.  Interviews are expected to take place 17/18 September 2026.

Closing Date: 08 Sep 2026

Programme/Department: Administrative & Professional

Salary: £64,753 to £72,255 per annum
3 year fixed term contract, aligned to partnership delivery cycle

This is a key senior professional services role, providing high-quality planning, analysis, reporting and coordination to support institutional decision-making across the College. Working closely with the Academic Registrar and senior academic and professional services colleagues, you will help ensure that planning and performance activity is well coordinated, evidence-informed and aligned with the RCA’s strategic ambitions.

The RCA is a world-leading specialist postgraduate institution of art, design, architecture, communication and creative practice. Operating within a complex and fast-changing higher education environment, robust planning, high-quality evidence and insightful performance reporting are essential to supporting academic, operational and strategic delivery.

You will coordinate key institutional and academic planning cycles, including student number planning, recruitment and admissions monitoring, academic portfolio planning, quality cycles, student outcomes reporting and performance monitoring.

You will analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data from a range of sources, translating complex information into clear insights, briefings, dashboards, reports and recommendations for senior leaders and committees.

A key element of the role will be developing and maintaining planning models and analytical tools, including scenario modelling and options analysis to support student number planning, admissions and enrolment monitoring, programme viability, portfolio planning and resource considerations.

You will provide trusted planning and performance advice to the Academic Registrar, PVC Education and Student Success, Deans, Heads of Programme and senior professional service colleagues, providing constructive challenge and helping colleagues understand trends, risks and implications.

You will work collaboratively across Academic Registry, Schools and professional services including Finance, Recruitment, Technical Services, Data and Insight and Strategy, supporting joined-up planning and performance activity across the College.

You will have significant experience in planning, performance reporting, data analysis, academic administration, governance, business planning or strategy support, ideally within higher education or another complex organisation.

You will have strong analytical and numerical skills, advanced Excel capability and experience producing high-quality reports, briefings, dashboards or committee papers for senior audiences.

You will be confident engaging with senior stakeholders, able to influence and advise colleagues, provide constructive challenge and translate complex information into clear, practical and actionable insight.

An understanding of the UK higher education environment, including governance, assurance, quality, student outcomes, regulatory expectations and institutional performance, is essential.

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a role with significant institutional influence, helping to connect data, planning and performance with strategic priorities at one of the world’s leading specialist postgraduate universities.

Please see Information pack for further details of this exciting new role.

Closing for applications: 11.59pm, 14 September 2026 with interviews expected to take place 24 September 2026

Closing Date: 14 Sep 2026

Programme/Department: Administrative & Professional

Salary: £49,533 to £53,609 per annum
Full time and permanent role

Philanthropy plays a significant role in the life of the RCA. Working with alumni, donors, companies, trusts and foundations, we raise vital support that enables our students and staff to perform at their best and helps deliver the College’s vision for the future.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Advancement & Alumni, you will manage a portfolio of high-value prospects and donors, developing relationships and securing six- and seven-figure gifts that support the RCA’s strategic priorities, including capital projects, academic ambitions and scholarships.

You will develop and implement creative cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies, working closely with senior colleagues, academics and other stakeholders to develop compelling cases for support. You will represent the RCA at meetings and engagement activities, including international travel where appropriate, and provide expert advice to senior colleagues on fundraising approaches and donor relationships.

A key part of the role will be identifying new philanthropic opportunities, developing high-quality proposals and cases for support, and ensuring donors receive excellent stewardship throughout their relationship with the College. You will also work collaboratively across Finance, Academic, Marketing & Communications and Advancement & Alumni to ensure a seamless and inspiring donor experience.

We are looking for a highly motivated and entrepreneurial fundraising professional with significant experience working with high-net-worth individuals and securing major philanthropic gifts, including experience managing a portfolio and soliciting seven-figure donations. You will have excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills, alongside the ability to develop fundraising strategies and deliver multiple complex activities to demanding deadlines.

Experience of working in higher education, particularly with international donors, would be advantageous. Knowledge of Raiser's Edge or a similar fundraising CRM is also desirable.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a genuine and direct impact on the future of the RCA, working within a small, ambitious and highly collegiate team.

If you are an accomplished fundraiser with the credibility, creativity and drive to secure transformational philanthropic support, we would love to hear from you.

Please see Information Pack for further details of this exciting new role at the No. 1 University for Art and Design.

Closing for applications at 11.59pm on 6th September 2026

First round interviews are expected to take place on 22nd and 23rd September 2026 

Closing Date: 06 Sep 2026

Programme/Department: Administrative & Professional

Salary: £49,533 to £53,609 per annum

Engagement, Brand & Marketing
Grade 7 | Part-time (0.5 FTE) | Fixed-term until 31 August 2027

Are you a relationship-focused marketing professional with experience in higher education and student recruitment? The Royal College of Art is looking for a Partnerships Marketing Manager to help strengthen our UK and global partnerships and support the recruitment of exceptional postgraduate students from around the world.

As the world's leading postgraduate university of art and design, the RCA is home to a diverse, international community of artists, designers, architects, communicators and creative innovators. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the College's domestic and international recruitment ambitions through collaborative partnerships and strategic marketing.

Working within our Engagement, Brand & Marketing team, you will build and maintain productive relationships with higher education partners, student recruitment agents and international representatives. You will lead the delivery of joint marketing initiatives, support partnership events, ensure marketing information is accurate and consistent, and evaluate activity to drive continuous improvement.

You will also help manage our small network of student recruitment agents, supporting communications, training materials, data reconciliation, quality assurance and relationship management. Working closely with colleagues across the College, you'll ensure partnership activity is effectively represented within wider marketing campaigns and aligned with the RCA's strategic objectives.

We're looking for someone with experience in higher education marketing and partnership or relationship management, ideally involving student recruitment agents or similar external networks. You'll be an excellent communicator with strong organisational skills, an eye for detail, good data analysis skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Knowledge of higher education marketing regulations, including CMA guidance, and confidence working with digital systems are essential.

An interest in contemporary art, design and culture, along with experience of event or budget management, would be an advantage.

This is a 0.5 FTE fixed-term position until 31 August 2027. We are flexible in how the hours are worked, although occasional attendance at partnership events outside of normal working days may be required.

If you're passionate about building successful partnerships and want to contribute to the continued success of the world's number one university for art and design, we'd love to hear from you.

Please see Information Pack for more details.

Closing for applications:   11.59pm on 31 August 2026

Interviews are expected to be held  14 September 2026

We acknowledge that AI can be a useful tool; however, these application questions have been selected to showcase the expertise and knowledge you will bring to the role. We value hearing your personal experience and ask that you consider answering them in your own words to demonstrate your background in this field.

Closing Date: 31 Aug 2026

Programme/Department: Administrative & Professional

Salary: £44,693 to £48,269 per annum pro rata
17.5 hour per week until 31.8.27

InnovationRCA, Battersea, London
0.7 FTE (24.5 hours per week) | Permanent

InnovationRCA is the Royal College of Art's centre for entrepreneurship and commercialisation, supporting ambitious founders, transformative technologies and innovative ventures to create real-world impact. We are seeking an experienced finance and compliance professional to join our senior leadership team as Head of Reporting and Compliance.

This is a varied and influential role with responsibility for financial reporting, compliance, budgeting and portfolio oversight across InnovationRCA, its associated subsidiaries and the RCA Design & Innovation S/EIS Investment Fund. Working closely with the Director of InnovationRCA, colleagues across the College and external partners, you will help ensure the effective governance, financial stewardship and continued success of our innovation activities.

Key responsibilities include:

Compliance

• Act as the first point of contact for all subsidiary and RCA Design & Innovation S/EIS Fund compliance matters, recommending escalation to external experts and our FCA Authorised Representative provider where appropriate.
• Undertake Company Secretarial responsibilities for three subsidiaries, providing recommendations to the Director of InnovationRCA and the RCA Chief Financial Officer regarding statutory monitoring, annual filings and governance requirements.

Accounts and Budget Management

• Lead the day-to-day financial control of InnovationRCA, providing budget approvals in line with agreed plans and programme budgets.
• Act as the lead for finance matters, supporting the Director of InnovationRCA with budget preparation, financial forecasting, variance analysis and identifying areas of financial risk.

Portfolio

• Monitor InnovationRCA and RCA Design & Innovation S/EIS Fund company portfolios, analysing performance against key performance indicators.
• Provide expert guidance, support and compliance training to founders and new Incubator colleagues, including Directors' responsibilities and reporting obligations.

Reporting

• Lead the preparation of high-quality reports and documentation for internal senior management and external organisations, including Research England and the Financial Conduct Authority.

We are looking for a qualified accountant with substantial experience in financial management, reporting and compliance. You will possess excellent analytical skills, experience of financial modelling, strong commercial awareness and the ability to communicate complex financial and regulatory matters clearly to a wide range of audiences. Experience of working with investment funds, start-ups or within the higher education sector would be advantageous.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting InnovationRCA's growing portfolio of ventures and investment activities while contributing to one of the world's leading postgraduate universities for art and design.

Please see Information Pack for further details of this exciting role.

Closing for applications at 11.59pm on 28^th August 2026

Interviews are likely to take place on 14^th September 2026

We acknowledge that AI can be a useful tool; however, these application questions have been selected to showcase the expertise and knowledge you will bring to the role. We value hearing your personal experience and ask that you consider answering them in your own words to demonstrate your background in this field. 

Closing Date: 28 Aug 2026

Programme/Department: Administrative & Professional

Salary: £55,040 to £61,322 per annum pro rata
24.5 hours per week, permanent role

Internal Opportunity

The Royal College of Art is seeking an exceptional academic leader to become our next Dean of Creative Education. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of postgraduate creative education at the world's leading university of art and design.

As a senior cross-College leader, you will provide strategic direction for the RCA's distinctive model of creative education, ensuring that creative practice remains at the heart of teaching, learning, research and the student experience. Working collaboratively across Schools and Professional Services, you will lead College-wide initiatives that enhance academic quality, educational innovation, student success and inclusive practice.

Reporting to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Success), you will play a pivotal role in developing and delivering the College's educational strategy, supporting curriculum innovation, academic practice, staff development and technology-enhanced learning. You will also provide strategic oversight of student success, academic enhancement, libraries and learning resources, while championing equity, diversity and inclusion across all aspects of the educational experience.

This role requires an inspiring and collaborative leader who can influence across a complex organisation, bringing together colleagues from different disciplines and professional services to deliver meaningful institutional change. You will represent the RCA externally, contributing to national and international conversations about the future of creative higher education and strengthening the College's reputation as a global leader in postgraduate art and design education.

We are looking for a candidate with significant senior academic leadership experience, a strong understanding of creative and practice-based education, and a proven track record of developing educational strategy within higher education. You will bring outstanding communication and relationship-building skills, experience of leading institutional change, and a passion for fostering an inclusive, innovative and supportive academic community.

If you are an ambitious educational leader who is excited by the opportunity to shape the future of creative education at the Royal College of Art, we would welcome your application.

How to apply

Please apply using the short application form with upload for:

• A current CV.
• A supporting statement (maximum 2,000 words) responding to the following four questions: 

1. Educational Strategy and Leadership
    Describe your experience of leading educational strategy and institutional change. How would you shape and deliver a distinctive, future-focused creative education strategy that enhances academic quality, curriculum innovation and student success across the College? 
2. Leading Across an Organisation
    This role requires leadership through influence rather than direct authority. Provide an example of where you have successfully led change across multiple teams, disciplines or professional services. What approach did you take and what was the outcome?
3.  Building an Inclusive Academic Community
    How have you fostered an inclusive culture that supports academic excellence, collaboration and staff development? Please include examples of how you have promoted equality, diversity and inclusion, educational enhancement, or professional practice. 
4. Vision for the Role
    What do you see as the most significant opportunities and challenges for creative higher education over the next three to five years, and how would you position the Royal College of Art to respond? Please outline your priorities for the first 12 months in the role.

Please see Information Pack for further details.

This role closes for internal applications at 11.59pm on 2nd September 2026

Interview are expected to take place on 10th September 2026

Closing Date: 02 Sep 2026

Programme/Department: Senior Manager - Academic

Are you an exceptional organiser with a passion for delivering high-quality learning experiences? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, client-focused environment where no two days are the same? The Royal College of Art is looking for an Executive Education Coordinator to help shape and deliver our internationally recognised Executive Education portfolio.

As the world's leading university of art and design, the RCA works with global businesses, governments, cultural organisations and professionals to deliver innovative executive education that develops creative leadership and human-centred thinking. Each year, we welcome more than 1,500 participants from over 60 countries to our portfolio of executive programmes, short courses, masterclasses and events.

As Executive Education Coordinator, you'll play a key role in planning and delivering a diverse programme of online, in-person and hybrid executive education courses. Working closely with academic colleagues, research centres, external clients and professional services teams, you'll coordinate projects from concept to completion, ensuring every programme is delivered to the highest standard while providing an outstanding participant experience.

We're looking for someone who combines excellent project management and organisational skills with commercial awareness and exceptional customer service. You'll be confident managing multiple priorities, coordinating budgets and financial processes, building strong stakeholder relationships and supporting business development opportunities that help grow our Executive Education portfolio.

You'll also contribute to marketing activity, develop engaging course content and communications, coordinate online enquiries and bookings, and use participant feedback to continuously enhance our programmes. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys collaborating with a wide range of people while taking ownership of complex projects in a creative, internationally renowned institution.

We're looking for someone with:

• Excellent project management, organisational and administrative skills. 
• Experience delivering multiple events or programmes, both in-person and online. 
• Strong financial and budget management experience. 
• Outstanding communication, stakeholder management and customer service skills. 
• Commercial awareness with the confidence to support business development activities. 
• The ability to manage competing priorities, solve problems proactively and work independently. 
• Strong digital skills across collaboration, project management and CRM platforms. 

Experience within higher education or executive education is desirable, alongside an interest in contemporary art, design and innovation.

If you're excited by the opportunity to help deliver world-class executive education and work with leading academics, industry partners and global professionals, we'd love to hear from you.

Join the Royal College of Art and help shape the future of innovative Executive Education.

Please see Information Pack for more details on this exciting role.

Applications will close at 11.59pm on 31 August 2026 with interviews held between 14-17 September 2026.

We acknowledge that AI can be a useful tool; however, these application questions have been selected to showcase the expertise and knowledge you will bring to the role. We value hearing your personal experience and ask that you consider answering them in your own words to demonstrate your background in this field. Therefore responses identified solely AI generated will not be considered as part of the selection process.

Closing Date: 31 Aug 2026

Programme/Department: Administrative & Professional

Salary: £44,693 to £48,269 per annum