Head of Quality and Compliance

**Company Description**
Acknowledge Education is a leading training provider with campuses throughout Australia offering a variety of courses in a range of industries such as health, community services, social work, business, civil construction and hospitality. In our 139-year history in education, we remain true to our mission to stay a challenging, relevant and creative leader in the education industry

True to our name, we acknowledge and celebrate the unique aspirations and achievements of every student. From our roots as an English language school in Victoria, we've evolved into a national academic powerhouse, with campuses in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane educating over 6,000 students every year.

We are looking for a **senior, systems-minded compliance leader** to take ownership of AE’s risk and regulatory posture across our higher education and VET operations. You will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the AE Board and regulatory bodies including TEQSA and ASQA.

This is not just a compliance role. It’s a **change leadership position**—designed for someone ready to lift capability, and lead AE into its next chapter of growth and integrity.
- ** Regulatory Leadership**
- Lead and evolve AE’s compliance frameworks to ensure alignment with TEQSA’s Higher Education Standards Framework and ASQA’s RTO Standards.
- Oversee CRICOS, ESOS Act, and National Code compliance for international student operations.
- Manage all regulatory submissions, self-assessments, and notifications of material change.
- Act as AE’s key liaison for audits, site visits, and inquiries.
- ** Enterprise Risk & Governance**
- Maintain AE’s enterprise risk and compliance registers.
- Advise the CEO and Board on regulatory risk exposure and strategic implications.
- Ensure strong internal controls across academic, marketing, admissions, and student services.
- ** Culture Building & Capability Uplift**
- Lead a cross-functional approach to compliance awareness, training, and accountability.
- Embed a proactive, integrity-first culture across the organisation.
- Partner with academic leaders to uplift governance and quality assurance.
- ** Remediation & Crisis Response**
- Respond to compliance breaches, regulator notices, or whistleblower reports with discipline and transparency.
- Drive effective remediation planning and evidence-based reporting.

**Qualifications** Must Have**:

- 7-10+ years of senior experience in regulatory compliance within Australian higher education or vocational education.
- Expertise in TEQSA and ASQA frameworks, including experience managing audits or regulatory responses.
- Strong understanding of CRICOS, ESOS Act, and the National Code.
- Proven track record leading compliance transformations in complex, fast-changing environments.
- Board-level communication and strategic stakeholder engagement skills.

**Nice to Have**:

- Legal, governance, or regulatory qualifications.
- Experience in dual-sector (HE + VET) environments.
- Experience working in a private equity or regulatory recovery context.

**Why Now? Why You?**

This is a **rare, high-impact opportunity** for a seasoned compliance leader to:

- Take the reins in a business poised for reform and growth
- Build a contemporary, best-practice compliance culture from the inside out
- Influence strategy at the executive and board level
- Restore regulator trust and redefine AE’s reputation for quality and integrity

**Additional Information**
- Opportunities to grow within the organization
- $1,500 professional development allowance
- Incredibly committed and supportive team of student-centric professionals
- Be part of a fast-growing organization working in an agile environment

**We are an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equity, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.