Chief Academic Officer

About the College
The College of Law is the school of professional practice for lawyers, with locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Auckland. A non-university higher education provider with self-accrediting authority, it delivers practical legal training, continuing legal education and fully accredited postgraduate programs in applied law. More than 60,000 graduates have come through the College, and more than 400 staff support its work.

The Role
As the College's most senior academic leader and a member of the Executive Committee, the Chief Academic Officer is accountable for the quality, integrity and relevance of everything the College teaches. Reporting to the Group Chief Executive Officer, you will establish a clear academic direction and a robust academic culture. Your responsibilities include:

• Leading academic governance, compliance and quality assurance with higher education regulators and admitting authorities, and supporting the independent Academic Board, which you may chair.
• Providing strategic leadership of award curricula, ensuring qualifications are rigorous, professionally relevant and future focused.
• Leading teaching quality and the capability of the College's academic and teaching workforce.
• Championing student learning, achievement and outcomes.
• Leading a research and scholarship strategy aligned to the College's mission.
• Building relationships with the legal profession, law firms, courts, regulators and universities, as a senior ambassador for the College.

The College is considering an alternative organisational design. This role will continue, although some accountabilities may change.

What We Are Looking For
You are a senior academic leader with significant experience leading academic strategy, curriculum, and teaching and learning in a complex higher education environment, preferably in a legal education or related professional discipline. You hold a doctoral-level postgraduate qualification or equivalent academic and professional standing, with a strong record of academic achievement, scholarship, research or professional practice.
You understand academic governance, quality assurance, academic integrity and the Australian higher education regulatory environment. You have credibility and networks in the legal profession or higher education sector, and you lead change, build high-performing academic teams and operate confidently at executive and governing body level. You are collegial, able to challenge and influence at senior levels, and committed to student success.
The role requires flexible working hours and interstate and international travel to support operations across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

How to apply:
Candidate information: Please click on the "Additional Information" button to download a copy of the Candidate Information Pack. For more information, please contact Emma Alberici at ealberici@derwentsearch.com.au or call 0419 683 660 quoting reference number: 34969.

To apply: Your application will require a (no more than two page) cover letter and a (no more than four page) resume.

Applications close: 25th October 2026