Director of Quality and Institutional Effectiveness
Job Description
The Position: Director of Quality and Institutional Effectiveness
Tenure: Permanent
Employing Authority: National College of Ireland
Location: Mayor Street Lower, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1
Organisation website: www.ncirl.ie
Role Summary
The Director of Quality and Institutional Effectiveness (QIE) leads the strategic development and operational delivery of quality assurance and enhancement activities across the College. Reporting to the Registrar, this role is central to ensuring the institution meets its obligations under the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) statutory framework and adheres to national and European standards for higher education quality. This role supports effective institutional decision-making by overseeing data-driven initiatives that enhance programme quality, the quality of the NCI learner experience and organizational effectiveness. The Director will promote a culture of continuous quality improvement, academic excellence, and institutional accountability.
Key Relationships
* Reports to the Registrar.
* NCI President
* Deans of Schools
* Collaborates with NCIs Senior Management Team members.
* Primary liaison with QQI and peer reviewers.
* Supports Academic Council and related QA committees.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead on QQI action plans, relationships, engagement and reporting, including annual reporting (AQRs) and responses to cyclical institutional reviews (CINNTE).
* Oversight of NCIs Programme Lifecycle Management structure, including internal and external programme validation, annual monitoring, revalidation and/or retirement processes.
* Lead the development, implementation and management of NCIs quality assurance and enhancement policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with QQI and ESG standards, as appropriate.
* Lead strategic quality enhancement initiatives across academic and support units including overseeing the cyclical review of administrative/support services.
* Promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making by managing the collection, analysis, and reporting of programme quality data.
* Advise senior leadership on institutional effectiveness and quality assurance strategies.
* Support academic governance, risk and planning processes overseen by NCI’s Academic Council and its sub-committees.
* Serve as primary liaison with QQI and other regulatory agencies.
* Collect, analyze, and report on key academic quality metrics.
* Provide staff training and promote student-centred institutional policies and practices.
Essential Qualifications and Experience and Core Competencies
The successful candidate for the role of Director of Quality and Institutional Effectiveness will possess the following:
Qualifications and Experience
* A Level 9 or higher qualification (e.g., Master’s or Doctorate) in a relevant discipline is essential.
* A minimum of 5 years’ experience in quality assurance, higher education administration, academic governance, or a related field.
* Proven success in internal and/or external quality assurance processes at the programme, school, or institutional level.
* Demonstrated ability to facilitate evidence-based, data-informed decision-making that enhances academic quality and institutional effectiveness.
* Significant experience using data analysis and reporting tools to support strategic planning and programme evaluation.
* Proven ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across institutional teams and with external stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.
* Active participation in professional quality assurance networks or forums is desirable.
* Excellent leadership, communication, organisational, and project management skills.
Core Competencies
Strategic Leadership and Vision*: Shapes and delivers strategic initiatives aligned with national and institutional priorities; fosters a culture of continuous improvement and academic excellence.
Quality Assurance and Regulatory Expertise*: Expert knowledge of the QQI statutory framework and European Standards and Guidelines (ESG); demonstrated success in developing and implementing robust QA systems.
Institutional Effectiveness and Data-Informed Practice*: Leads initiatives that promote data-informed planning, evaluation, and quality enhancement; synthesises complex data into actionable insights.
Stakeholder Engagement and Influence*: Builds effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies; acts as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and governance bodies.
Governance and Policy Development*: Advises and supports academic governance structures; develops institutional policies that align with legal and regulatory requirements.
Project and Change Management*: Successfully leads strategic and cross-functional quality enhancement initiatives; skilled in managing change and institutional reviews.
Analytical and Technological Proficiency*: Strong command of data systems and tools; communicates insights clearly to support strategic decisions and quality assurance.
Communication and Capacity Building*: Communicates persuasively across all levels of the institution; designs and delivers training to embed a quality-focused culture.
Desirable Experience
Knowledge of the Athena Swan Charter and experience promoting gender equality, diversity, and equity.
Conditions of Service
* Tenure: Permanent contract of employment.
* Salary: Executive 3 Salary Band €93,182 - €124,863.
* Pension: Defined Contribution Pension Scheme.
* Probation: Subject to a six-month probationary period.
* Location: Based at Mayor Street Lower, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1.
* Working Hours: Minimum of 35 hours per week (five-day week), with potential evening and weekend work as required.
* Annual Leave: The annual leave allowance is 27 days.
National College of Ireland is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and provide equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion, or any other protected grounds.
Additional Important Information
The successful applicant will be subject to Garda vetting and must not have any convictions under the Sex Offenders Act 2001.
The functions and responsibilities assigned to the Director of Quality and Institutional Effectiveness are based on the current stated role and objectives of the College. These functions and responsibilities may alter in line with operational and strategic plans, and priorities of NCI.