Head of Legal, QA Higher Education, part of the QA Group
Home working with ad hoc travel

As Head of Legal for QA Higher Education you will provide strategic and operational legal support to the business, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks and legislation applicable in the higher education sector. You will be responsible for safeguarding the business while supporting its growth and strategic objectives.
QA Higher Education is part of the wider QA Group which is a global learning and development business headquartered in the UK and as such this role will report into QA's Group General Counsel with a dotted reporting line to QA Higher Education's CFO.
The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping legal strategy and the strategic direction of QA Higher Education ensuring legal considerations are embedded within the organisation's commercial and operational plans.
The successful candidate will also work in close collaboration with the current Head of Legal for QA Higher Education, who is transitioning to a new role within the QA Group, to ensure a smooth and effective handover.
Ad-hoc travel across the UK to mainly Leeds, Birmingham and London required
Here's a little of what you'll be doing (please click through to read the FULL job description):

Legal Strategy and Compliance

Provide regulatory support to the business, including on OfS regulations, Consumer Protection Law, CMA guidelines, and student finance rules.
Monitor regulatory changes affecting the education sector and advise on business impact.
Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and governance frameworks to meet legal and regulatory obligations.
Advise on contract negotiations, partnerships, and collaboration agreements to ensure legal compliance and manage risk.
Support internal audits and investigations relating to regulatory or legal issues, ensuring prompt resolution and reporting.
Deliver training and guidance to staff on regulatory requirements, legal obligations, and compliance best practices.
Liaise with external legal counsel and regulatory bodies as required to ensure alignment with evolving standards and expectations.
Contribute to the development of a proactive legal risk management culture across the organisation
Commercial Contracts

Draft, negotiate, and manage agreements with university partners, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and institutional policies.
Oversee student contracts, ensuring terms comply with consumer protection laws, CMA guidance, and regulatory standards.
Manage supplier, partnership, and commercial agreements to support operational and strategic objectives.
Advise on contract risk allocation, dispute resolution mechanisms, and appropriate termination provisions.
Develop and maintain standard contract templates and guidance materials to streamline contracting processes and ensure consistency.
Support tender processes, procurement activities, and contract renewals
Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across all areas of business activity, implementing proactive risk management strategies.
Develop and maintain risk registers, ensuring regular reporting to the Group General Counsel, Board and governance bodies.
Provide strategic advice on risk mitigation measures, contractual protections, and compliance frameworks.
Manage disputes, complaints, and regulatory investigations, coordinating responses and liaising with external counsel where necessary.
Act as a key point of contact for regulatory advice, dispute resolution, and escalation processes.
Support early dispute resolution through negotiation, mediation, and settlement strategies to protect the organisation's interests.
Deliver training and awareness programmes on legal risk, compliance obligations, and dispute avoidance.
Monitor emerging legal risks in the education and commercial sectors, advising on potential business impacts and mitigation plans.

Data Protection & Intellectual Property

Ensure compliance with UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and wider data privacy laws, advising on student data management, information security, and records retention.
Review and advise on data sharing agreements, international data transfers, and data protection impact assessments (DPIAs).
Support internal audits and investigations into data breaches and regulatory reporting obligations.
Oversee and protect intellectual property rights relating to QA Higher Education's intellectual property portfolio, including branding, course content, and technology assets.
Advise on licensing, copyright, trademarks, and related commercial exploitation of intellectual property.
Corporate
Support the Group General Counsel with corporate governance matters, including statutory filings, board resolutions, and company secretarial compliance.
Assist with corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, reorganisations, and financing transactions as applicable.
Conduct due diligence reviews and contribute to deal structuring and negotiation from a legal perspective.
Support corporate policy development and ensure compliance with Companies Act and other corporate and business regulations.
Employment Law

Work collaboratively with QA Higher Education's People Team to advise on a broad range of employment law matters, including contracts, policies, disciplinary and grievance processes, redundancies, and employment disputes.
Support the resolution of employment tribunal claims, mediations, and settlement agreements.
Deliver training and updates to HR and management teams on employment law developments and risk mitigation strategies.
Ensure employment policies align with evolving regulatory, diversity, and inclusion standards.
External Counsel Management

Manage relationships with external law firms for specialist legal advice across areas such as l