National Manager, Quality Assurance and Compliance

About NextEd Group

NextEd Group is an ASX-listed private education provider with a diverse portfolio across higher education, vocational education, and international student markets. We are committed to delivering high-quality education, exceptional student experiences, and strong outcomes for our stakeholders.

With 640 employees nationally and a footprint across five states, NextEd Group is focused on its "Better Before Bigger" strategy, driving excellence in compliance, quality and innovation while preparing for sustainable growth.

The Role

The National Manager, Quality Assurance and Compliance leads the organisation's quality and compliance functions across a complex portfolio. As an ASX-listed company, NextEd operates 5 Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and holds Higher Education accreditations, with campuses and operations across five states and multiple funding sources. The role manages key relationships with regulators, government agencies and industry bodies, ensuring compliance and assurance standards are consistently met at scale.

The role ensures NextEd Group consistently meets all statutory and regulatory obligations, maintains a robust quality assurance framework, and drives continuous improvement across all business divisions.

The role operates in a hybrid centralised/decentralised model, setting group-wide strategy and frameworks while supporting division-specific quality and compliance responsibilities.

The National Manager also represents NextEd in relevant boards, committees and professional associations to meet regulatory requirements and contribute to sector policy and advocacy.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with the ESOS Act, National Code, TEQSA, ASQA, CRICOS, and VET Quality Frameworks and other applicable legislation and quality frameworks.
• Lead and manage external audits, re-registration and accreditation processes.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and advise on impacts.
• Oversee and manage third-party arrangements, ensuring due diligence, clear contracts, and systematic monitoring of any partners or brokers involved in training, assessment, or marketing services.
• Lead the implementation of a robust academic integrity framework, embedding prevention, detection, and reporting measures across the institution.

Quality Assurance

• Lead and manage the internal quality assurance and audit program ensuring alignment with ASQA, TEQSA and CRICOS standards with rectification tracking.
• Maintain and enhance frameworks, policies and processes to ensure consistent, high-quality education delivery across RTO and Higher Education divisions.
• Strengthen academic governance frameworks, ensuring effective course accreditation, monitoring, review, and alignment with Academic Board responsibilities.
• Partner with academic and operational leaders to drive improved student outcomes.
• Review and govern the design, approval, and ongoing review of Training and Assessment Strategies (TAS) and academic programs, informed by systematic industry and stakeholder consultation.
• Lead and drive the assessment validation and moderation, ensuring representative sampling, independent review, and timely rectification to strengthen assessment integrity and outcomes
• Embed a risk-based self-assurance approach, ensuring quality review cycles are mapped, evidence-based, and feed directly into organisational improvement plans.
• Drive a culture of scholarly practice and professional development to maintain staff capability and compliance with vocational and higher education standards.

Government, External Relations and Representation

• Build strong and constructive relationships with regulators, government agencies, and peak bodies.
• Represent NextEd Group in regulatory consultations, forums, academic boards and industry associations.
• Provide timely insights on policy changes and government priorities to inform decision-making.
• Coordinate responses to regulatory audits, reviews, and consultations, ensuring the organisation's position is clearly represented.
• Engage with international education stakeholders, including agent networks and the Tuition Protection Service (TPS), to meet CRICOS/ESOS obligations.

Governance and Risk

• Identify and report quality and compliance risks to senior management and the Board's Audit & Risk Committee.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and transparent regulatory reporting, including AVETMISS/NCVER data quality and the Annual Declaration on Compliance.
• Act as Privacy Officer for the organisation, ensuring compliance with the Privacy Act and related obligations.
• Oversee preparation and submission of the Modern Slavery Statement and ensure compliance with Modern Slavery legislation.
• Support enterprise risk management and governance frameworks.
• Oversee governance of refunds and Tuition Protection Service (TPS) obligations, ensuring robust tuition assurance and compliance with ESOS requirements.

Leadership and People

• Lead and develop the Quality and Compliance team including two direct reports.
• Provide training, guidance and support to managers on compliance and quality obligations.
• Build a culture of accountability, commerciality, transparency and continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Experience

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline and/or equivalent demonstrated experience in compliance, quality assurance, or risk management.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and maintaining standardised best practice compliance frameworks across a Group.
• Extensive experience in quality assurance, compliance, or risk management within education.
• Strong track record of managing compliance with TEQSA, ASQA and CRICOS frameworks.
• Demonstrated success working with regulators, government and industry bodies.
  
  Experience leading teams and delivering outcomes in complex organisations.
• Knowledge of privacy, modern slavery and corporate compliance frameworks are desirable.

Key Capabilities

• Ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into practical solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including with regulators and government.
• Strong analytical, governance and risk management capability.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative, values-driven leadership style.
• Strong prioritisation and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines effectively.

The NextEd Value…

The NextEd Employee Value Proposition

We are boldly stepping into the future with an enviable portfolio of education brands and great people, putting us in a strong potential to help "unleash potential".

At NextEd you can:

• Have great experiences and interactions every day.
• Work with meaning and purpose and be proud of the transformative experiences we give our students and colleagues.
• Be a part of something bigger.
• Shape and impact the future of education.

Employee Benefits

• Competitive salary package tailored to your experience and role.
• 24/7 wellbeing support through Sonder's Employee Assistance Program & platform membership.
• Medibank Corporate health covers discount.
• Continuous learning with full access to Tribal Habits' online training library.
• Your voice matters – share feedback through regular Culture Amp engagement surveys.

NextEd Purpose: Unleashing Potential

NextEd Vision: To be Australia's most progressive education company

NextEd Values:

Be Bold - Courageous, commercially responsible, and forward-thinking people who are inspired to deliver and support impactful innovation and sustainable growth.

Be Respectful - Honest and considerate people who show gratitude for the efforts of others and take responsibility for their actions.

Be Inclusive - Diverse and engaged teams who are agile, connected, and aligned to putting collective success before individual achievements.

Be Excellent - Passionate and results-driven people who are renowned for delivering great student experiences, strong performance, and positive impact.