Permanent | Full-time | Hybrid working | Battersea, London

Shape the future of executive learning at the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university.

The Royal College of Art (RCA) is seeking an exceptional commercial leader to become our Head of Executive Education and take our established Executive Education and Short Course portfolio to its next stage of growth.

Ranked number one in the world for Art & Design for 12 consecutive years, the RCA is a globally influential institution where creativity, research, technology and industry come together. With more than 30,000 alumni worldwide and an ambitious new strategic plan, this is an exciting time to join us.

Executive Education at the RCA brings our distinctive creative expertise directly to leaders, organisations and businesses around the world. Over the past decade, we have delivered more than 200 customised executive programmes, with 1,500+ participants from over 60 countries, across programmes ranging from half-day workshops to six-month modular programmes.

Now, we want to build on that success.

As Head of Executive Education, you will provide strategic and commercial leadership across our Executive Education and Short Course portfolio. You will identify new markets, develop compelling propositions, and build relationships that generate sustainable income and long-term impact.

You will lead the end-to-end commercial and operational performance of the portfolio, from business development, proposals, pricing and contract negotiation through to programme delivery, customer experience and financial performance. You will develop a robust growth strategy, establish clear KPIs, and ensure our offer remains innovative, competitive and internationally relevant.

You will also develop new international markets and strategic partnerships, while identifying opportunities to connect Executive Education with the RCA’s wider consultancy, innovation and research capabilities.

We are looking for an accomplished Executive Education, commercial learning or professional education leader with a strong track record of business development, programme development, and strategic growth.

You will bring:

• Extensive experience in a comparable senior Executive Education leadership role.
• A strong understanding of the Executive Education marketplace and commercial learning models.
• An established senior-level industry network, and experience of working with global corporations.
• Strong commercial acumen, including financial planning, pricing, business proposals and contract negotiation.
• Credibility and strong communication skills to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional leadership and change-management skills, with experience in developing high-performing teams.
• The strategic vision to identify new markets, develop innovative propositions and grow an international portfolio.

An interest in contemporary art, design, creative education and innovation would be particularly welcome, but not essential.     

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in connecting the RCA’s extraordinary creative expertise with organisations and leaders internationally, while shaping the future growth and direction of Executive Education.

If you are an entrepreneurial, commercially driven leader who can build influential partnerships, develop innovative learning propositions and deliver sustainable growth, we would love to hear from you.

Location: Battersea, London – minimum three days onsite, with national and international travel required.

Closing Date: 20 Sep 2026

Programme/Department: Senior Manager - Non academic

Salary: Competitive salary in the region of £85,000 per annum

This is a high-profile, fixed-term opportunity to play a pivotal role in a major international partnership between the Royal College of Art and the Riyadh University of Arts. The project aims to establish internationally distinctive educational provision that responds to Saudi Arabia's cultural ambitions, integrating research excellence, creative practice, industry engagement, and pedagogical innovation.

This is a fixed term role, full time for 3 years and then reducing to 0.2 (1 day per week) for the following 2 years.

As the Project Coordinator, you will operate at the intersection of applied research, strategic thinking, and structured project delivery. You will contribute to the development of innovative academic programmes and strategic initiatives across architecture, design, urban design, and visual arts.

Working closely with the Project Director, senior academics, and external partners in the UK and the MENA region, your contributions will directly influence:

Curriculum Design: Co-writing and editing strategic documentation, including Pedagogical and Research Strategies.

Stakeholder Engagement: Researching and identifying key partners across academia, government, and industry within the Saudi and MENA context.

Operational Excellence: Coordinating complex project delivery, from stakeholder meetings and workshops to the development of post-launch training content.

We are looking for an individual who moves confidently between research and structured project delivery. You possess a strong understanding of the cultural sector in the MENA region, specifically within architecture, design, and visual arts. You have a proven track record of coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder projects and demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communication skills.

While not mandatory, proficiency in Arabic or prior curatorial/editorial experience in the MENA region would be an asset.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a transformative international education project that will shape new academic programmes, research strategies, and long-term institutional partnerships. You will be contributing ideas that strengthen the intellectual and creative ambition of a partnership designed to thrive on the global stage.

We are looking for a collaborator who shares our vision of consistency, authority, and creative freedom. If you are ready to apply your skills to a high-impact, international initiative, we invite you to help us build a distinctive and innovative future.

Closing Date: 20 Sep 2026

Programme/Department: Administrative & Professional

Salary: £44,840 to £48,416 per annum
5 year post (1fte for 3 years then 0.2fte for 2 years)