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