Are you a senior VET leader ready to shape academic strategy, governance, compliance and product excellence at an enterprise level?
We are seeking an experienced Head of Academics to lead the academic quality, regulatory integrity, compliance, product strategy and funding governance. This is a pivotal role responsible for safeguarding our licence to operate, strengthening regulatory confidence, and driving sustainable academic growth.
Reporting directly to the CEO, you will act as the organisation's academic authority, providing governance leadership across the Standards for RTOs, ASQA expectations, product integrity, assessment quality and funded program oversight.
About Us
Foundation Education Group consists of two Registered Training Organisations (RTOs): the Australian Institute of Personal Trainers (RTO and Foundation Education (RTO Together, we are leaders in delivering high-quality online and face-to-face education across Australia. We offer a broad range of Certificate and Diploma qualifications in fitness, business, education and health, in addition to a variety of industry-focused short courses.
About the Role
The Head of Academics provides enterprise leadership across academic strategy, governance, compliance and product stewardship, and funded program oversight. You will integrate quality, regulatory oversight, product portfolio management and funded program governance into a cohesive academic system that safeguards licence-to-operate and supports sustainable growth. Leading three academic directorates, you will ensure audit readiness, regulatory confidence and alignment between compliance, product and funding strategy
Key Responsibilities
* Define and execute the Academic Strategy aligned to corporate objectives, VET reform, industry demand and funding environments.
* Act as custodian of academic governance and the Standards for RTO's
* Lead enterprise compliance with the Standards for RTOs (including 2025 Standards), AQF,training package requirements, ASQA regulatory expectations and funding body contracts.
* Oversee audit readiness, validation, moderation, risk profiling and self-assurance frameworks, ensuring audit-defensible systems and evidence standards.
* Establish and maintain robust academic governance frameworks, policy oversight and risk registers.
* Govern the full product lifecycle across accredited and non-accredited offerings, maintaining a forward 12–24 month roadmap aligned to industry demand and commercial sustainability.
* Provide oversight of Training & Assessment Strategies (TAS), assessment system integrity and validation frameworks to ensure regulatory compliance and educational integrity.
* Lead systematic industry consultation, ensuring traceable evidence that informs product and delivery design.
* Steward government-funded programs including traineeships, apprenticeships and VET in Schools -protecting the organisation from funding, regulatory or compliance risk.
* Lead, coach and develop a high-performing academic leadership team.
* Embed accountability, transparency and evidence-based decision-making across the academic function.
What Success Looks Like
* Sustained regulator and funding body confidence
* External audit outcomes limited to minor findings, with timely closure
* Mature, proactive self‑assurance model reducing reactive remediation On-time product launches and structured transitions aligned to roadmap milestones
* Accurate, compliant and timely AVETMISS/TVA and Quality Indicator submissions
* Clear visibility and disciplined execution of the product roadmap
* Protection against funding recoveries arising from academic or compliance issues.
About You
You are an experienced senior leader within the Australian VET/RTO environment with:
* Deep knowledge of the Standards for RTOs (including 2025 Standards), AQF, training packages, ASQA expectations and government funding contracts
* Proven leadership of complex academic, compliance, product and government-funded portfolios
* Experience overseeing TAS, validation systems and audit-defensible assessment framework
* Strong governance, risk and audit management capability, including self-assurance models
* Commercial literacy with the ability to balance academic integrity, portfolio viability and funding sustainability
* Strong data-driven decision-making skills and financial acumen
* Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills with regulators, funding bodies, industry and executive leadership
You are strategic, analytical, collaborative and resilient, with the confidence to influence at Board and CEO level.
Why Join Us?
* Executive-level impact and influence
* Opportunity to shape academic direction during sector reform
* High-visibility leadership role reporting to the CEO
* Collaborative and forward-thinking executive team
* Commitment to innovation and continuous improvement
If you are a strategic VET leader ready to drive academic excellence, regulatory confidence and sustainable growth, we would love to hear from you.