Overview:

Full-time, permanent position with on-site requirements and some flexibility.

Circa 140K + Superannuation 11.5%

Excellent office location - Franklin Street, Melbourne

Be part of a globally recognized institution. Lead a committed team of academic professionals dedicated to student success.

Opportunities for professional growth, training and leadership development.

Our Values - Passion | Impact | Inclusion | Integrity | Courage | Imagination

About RMIT University Pathways (RMIT UP)

RMIT UP, owned by RMIT University, provides education solutions for students, academics, and professionals in Australia and globally.

Our mission is to offer transformative learning experiences and pathways that open global opportunities, guided by RMIT’s values of inclusion, imagination, integrity, courage, passion, and impact. We place student and customer experience at the forefront of everything we do.

Our key programs include Foundation Studies, ELICOS English for Academic Purposes (EAP), language testing, and Informit, a leading research database focused on Australasian content.

About Foundation Studies

Foundation Studies has been designed to provide international and high school students with a direct academic entry pathway to RMIT University. RMIT’s Foundation Studies offers four streams: Art, Design and Architecture; Business; Science, Engineering and Health; and General (which allows students to choose subjects from any stream).

About the role

Reporting to the CEO, we are seeking a high performance, high care leader to oversee all aspects of the operations of Foundation Studies and other Academic Preparation programs within RMIT UP including realising the vision for Pathways programs across all Pathway delivery offshore partner sites.

The Associate Director will lead curriculum development, educator professional growth, and student engagement strategies while maintaining academic excellence and compliance. You will work closely with senior managers to continuously innovate and improve the teaching and learning experience for students, as well as mentor and develop academic staff to ensure they meet the highest professional standards.

This includes:

Leadership & Innovation: Lead and inspire academic teams, fostering a culture of teaching excellence, continuous improvement, and psychosocial safety. Champion innovative curriculum design and high-quality teaching practices.

Strategic Direction: Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to shape and implement the Pathways program strategy, ensuring academic quality and alignment with global standards.

Program Oversight: Oversee the development, delivery, and quality assurance of academic programs, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards (ESOS Act, National Code of Practice, TEQSA).

Student Success: Drive initiatives to enhance student retention, progression, and outcomes. Implement effective strategies for student engagement and academic support in collaboration with the Student Experience and Wellbeing team.

Professional Development: Lead the professional development of academic staff, ensuring continuous improvement and excellence in teaching practices.

Compliance & Reporting: Manage academic compliance, reporting, and accreditation processes. Regularly assess key performance metrics and implement strategies for improvement.

About You

To be successful in this position you will need:

Qualifications: Post-graduate qualification in Education, TESOL, Applied Linguistics, or extensive experience in pathway college management.

Leadership Expertise: Significant experience in leading academic teams and managing educational programs, ideally in pre-tertiary pathways programs such as Foundation Studies and ELICOS.

Compliance Knowledge: Strong understanding of compliance requirements, including the ESOS Act, National Code of Practice, and TEQSA standards.

Strong Communication: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to lead teams, engage stakeholders, and influence change across diverse cultural environments.

Strategic Vision and Operational Excellence: Proven ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives that enhance program quality and student outcomes

What we offer you

We provide a variety of flexible work arrangements and leave options.

Health and wellbeing benefits, including subsidized gym memberships, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and access to discounted childcare.

Social activities and community groups to help you connect and engage.

To Apply

Please submit your CV and a cover letter addressing your suitability for this position by clicking on the ‘Apply’ link.

For more details, refer to the Position Description below.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/content/dam/rmit/au/en/careers/position-descriptions/pd_associate-director-academic-pathway-programs-2025.pdf

Additional Information

Pre-employment Checks: Appointment is subject to a successful Working with Children Check and National Police Check.

Visit our website: www.rmit.edu.au/up

Email HR: [email protected] (Please note: Applications will NOT be accepted via this email. To apply, submit your application via our careers website.)

Cover letters should be addressed to HR. For a confidential discussion, contact Taruna Kapoor at [email protected].

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At RMIT UP, we foster a culture of safety, wellbeing, and inclusion, ensuring everyone feels valued and respected. We embrace diversity and treat all individuals with fairness, regardless of gender, gender identity, marital or family status, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, cultural or socio-economic background, perspectives, or experiences.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child-safe organisation. We actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates.

As a Disability Confident Recruitment Team, we are happy to adjust the recruitment process to meet accessibility needs. Please contact us at [email protected] with your preferred communication method, and we will be in touch to discuss your requirements.

Read our Child Safety Policy: Child Safety Policy

We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to responding to every applicant.

Applications Close: 16 Apr 2025 11.59 pm

RMIT Up is a successful provider of a range of education solutions supporting lifelong development goals to students, academics and professionals located in Melbourne and overseas.

Our people are integral to the success of our Company. We are experienced professionals who are committed to providing the highest standard of service and support to our clients and colleagues. At RMIT Up we offer a friendly, supportive and flexible working environment and culture with a range of employee benefits including access to health and wellbeing services and discounts, discounted travel, professional development opportunities and more.