Academic Quality & Standards Lead

About Us 

Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS) is one of New Zealand’s leading private degree-granting institutions, delivering a range of NZQA-approved programmes to domestic and international students. 

At AIS, we are committed to providing a supportive and student-centred learning environment that empowers students to succeed. With small class sizes, experienced faculty, and a strong focus on personalised education, we help students build the skills and confidence to achieve their goals. 

At AIS, our people and strong sense of community are at the heart of everything we do. We foster a welcoming, inclusive campus culture and are passionate about making a meaningful impact on our students’ lives through education. 

To find out more, please visit: https://www.ais.ac.nz 

Quality & Standards Lead

Location: Mt Albert Auckland

Full-time | Permanent | Onsite - AIS Campus 

AIS is seeking an experienced academic quality assurance practitioner to lead the day-to-day development, operation and improvement of its academic quality systems. Reporting to the Quality Director, you will ensure that quality practices, policies and academic governance processes are current, effective and aligned with regulatory requirements.

You will work closely with academic leaders, Administrative Services, Student Services and one supporting administrator. At AIS, quality assurance is an active and collaborative function, requiring you to work alongside academic staff, stay close to day-to-day delivery, identify issues early, and confidently provide the guidance, training and constructive challenge needed to strengthen practice.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Maintain effective academic governance cycles, reporting and decision tracking so that actions are clear, completed and properly recorded.
• Lead the development and review of policies, procedures and the Quality Management System, maintaining alignment between documented requirements and institutional practice.
• Lead academic quality assurance processes, including moderation, assessment standards and academic integrity procedures.
• Coordinate quality reporting and evidence for governance, monitoring, evaluation, audits and other external engagements.
• Identify quality and compliance risks, monitor corrective actions and escalate material concerns to the Quality Director.
• Provide practical advice, guidance and quality-related development to academic and operational staff.
• Set priorities and provide day-to-day direction, review and support for the supporting administrator.
• Work across Academic Delivery, Administrative Services and Student Services to resolve issues and embed consistent, proportionate quality practice.

This advertisement summarises the main responsibilities of the position. Further detail is provided in the position description, which will be made available to candidates during the recruitment process. 

About You

Good quality assurance is rigorous, evidence-based, and useful. You can distinguish a material risk from a minor process issue, explain requirements clearly and address gaps before they become normal practice.

You will bring:

• Strong experience in tertiary education quality assurance, compliance or academic management, ideally within a New Zealand private training establishment or comparable regulated provider.
• Practical knowledge of NZQA requirements and the quality assurance expectations applying to degree-level tertiary provision; familiarity with TEC and other relevant education requirements is also valuable.
• Knowledge of wider New Zealand tertiary education requirements, including SDR, international student, StudyLink or Public Trust requirements, is highly desirable.
• Experience with academic quality processes such as moderation, assessment standards, academic integrity, self-assessment and governance reporting.
• The ability to interpret regulation and policy, assess risk and translate requirements into clear and proportionate processes.
• Strong policy writing, analytical and evidence-review skills, with close attention to accuracy and follow-through.
• Experience with SELMA, Moodle, CRM and Microsoft 365 would be advantageous.
• Clear, diplomatic communication and the credibility to work effectively with academic leaders, teaching staff and operational teams.
• Experience supervising or directing administrative work, together with a supportive and accountable approach to working with others.

Why work with us? 

• Growing and dynamic organisation: Be part of a well-established institution with a strong reputation and continued growth in the education sector. 

• Forward-thinking environment: Work in an organisation that values innovation, continuous improvement, and high-quality education. 

• Collaborative and supportive culture: Join a diverse, inclusive community where teamwork, connection, and support are at the heart of everything we do. 

• Diverse and multicultural community: Work alongside staff and students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, celebrating global perspectives. 

• Staff benefits and development: Enjoy access to campus facilities and opportunities for ongoing learning and professional development. 

To Apply:  

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter explaining how your experience prepares you to lead quality assurance and standards at AIS.

Suitable candidates will be contacted as applications are received.

Questions about your identity help us appreciate the diversity of individuals looking to work with us, ensuring we’re attracting applications from people with identities and perspectives that are as diverse as our students. 

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.