Accreditation and Quality Assurance Lead

ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.
They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now.
Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

As a high-growth start-up, the ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Lead - Accreditation and Quality Assurance will play a pivotal role in advancing the quality assurance framework within the university. This position will support the Director Accreditation and Quality Assurance will be responsible for:

• Assist in reviewing and auditing of the internal quality assurance at ALU,
• processing the institutional and programmatic licensing with national regulatory institutions.
• Assist in conducting self-assessment of ALU institutions and producing reports for the purpose of quality audits.
• Assist in ensuring compliance to external regulatory requirements and external regulations.
• Provide support in securing voluntary prestige accreditations with international accrediting agencies.
• developing and enhancing the internal quality assurance standards and processes.
• representing the Director Accreditation and Quality Assurance in appropriate committees as required.

The Lead Accreditation and Quality Assurance is a position of mid managerial responsibility whereby they will report to the Director Accreditation and Quality Assurance on the overall quality assurance and licensing of one or more ALU institutions  as assigned under their portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Internal Quality Assurance

• Development, implementation, and review of the University’s Quality Assurance Framework, ensuring it aligns with national and international higher education standards.
• Evaluate mechanisms for tracking, monitoring, and reporting the University's adherence to quality standards.
• Conduct  internal quality audits and produce quality audit reports.
• Manage and review the Quality Assurance Framework of ALU for continuous enhancement.

2. Accreditation and Regulatory Management

• Responsible for  ensuring compliance with accreditation requirements, assisting in preparing self-study reports, documentation, and review processes.
• Serve as a liaison with accrediting bodies, ensuring open communication and timely updates on compliance and quality issues.
• Develop policies, regulations and guidelines to support compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards, providing guidance and training to departments as needed.
• Produce, process and followup on  applications for accreditation of programmes
• Produce self assessment reports for institutional audits.
• Responsible for portfolio writing and documentation for the International Scrutiny Panels for awarding powers.

3. Institutional Effectiveness and Continuous Improvement

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Manage and administer internal processes for the enhancement of the quality of academic programs, student services, and administrative processes. 
• Conduct workshops and training sessions on quality improvement methodologies and tools.

4. Prestige and Professional Accreditations

• To collaborate on  applications  for prestige and /or professional accreditations 

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Support

• Lead academic departments, BUs and student services regarding quality assurance practices.
• Act as a point of contact for quality-related queries, providing guidance and support to academic units on quality assurance matters.
• Members of committees and working groups focused on quality assurance and academic governance.
• Lead cross-functional teams to implement quality improvement projects, monitoring progress, and ensuring sustainable outcomes.

6. Policy Development and Compliance

• Develop, review and manage  University-wide policies related to quality assurance, assessment, and accreditation and are compliant with legal, ethical, and accreditation standards.
• Regularly review institutional policies and  processes for compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
• Address non-compliance issues promptly and make recommendations for improvement.
• Produce reports regarding non compliance issues.

7. Planning and Leadership Development

• Assist the Director in developing strategies for the Quality Assurance department, identifying opportunities to enhance quality assurance practices across the institution.

Qualifications

Education

• Masters Degree in any field from a recognised university.

Experience

• At least 7 years of experience in quality assurance of higher education with in depth understanding of external and internal regulatory and quality assurance systems.
• Proven experience in managing quality assurance processes, audits, and accreditation preparations.
• Experience in producing self assessment reports.
• Experience with conducting or preparing for programme review.
• Experience with online education and quality assurance.
• Familiarity with higher education laws and regulations.
• Familiarity with quality assurance frameworks, accreditation processes, or compliance standards in higher education is highly advantageous.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to assess quality assurance -related data, identify trends, and make evidence-based recommendations through the production of reports.
• Proficiency in managing quality assurance projects, from planning through execution and reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Strong focus on accuracy, consistency, and compliance in all quality assurance documentation and processes.
• Ability to engage, influence, and collaborate with various stakeholders across the university.
• Open to evolving responsibilities, especially in preparation for transitioning into a Lead role.