Head of Legal
Posted 21 hours 42 minutes ago by QA Limited
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, a global learning and development business headquartered in the UK. This role reports to QA's Group General Counsel, with a dotted line to QA Higher Education's CFO. The successful candidate will help shape legal strategy and embed legal considerations within the organisation's commercial and operational plans.
The role involves working closely with the current Head of Legal, who is transitioning to a new role within the QA Group, to ensure a smooth handover.
Ad-hoc travel across the UK to Leeds, Birmingham, and London is required.
Key Responsibilities:- Legal Strategy and Compliance
- Provide regulatory support, including on OfS regulations, Consumer Protection Law, CMA guidelines, and student finance rules.
- Monitor sector regulatory changes and advise on their impact.
- Develop policies, procedures, and governance frameworks to meet legal obligations.
- Advise on contract negotiations, partnerships, and collaboration agreements.
- Support audits and investigations related to legal or regulatory issues.
- Draft and negotiate agreements with university partners, ensuring compliance.
- Oversee student contracts, ensuring they meet legal standards.
- Manage supplier, partnership, and commercial agreements.
- Advise on risk, dispute resolution, and termination clauses.
- Identify and mitigate legal risks across business activities.
- Maintain risk registers and report to senior management.
- Manage disputes and regulatory investigations, liaising with external counsel as needed.
- Data Protection & Intellectual Property
- Ensure compliance with UK GDPR and data privacy laws; advise on student data management.
- Corporate
- Support corporate governance, statutory filings, and transactions such as M&A and reorganisations.
- Employment Law
- Advise on employment contracts, policies, disputes, and tribunal claims.
- External Counsel Management
- Manage relationships with external law firms for specialized legal advice.
- Qualified solicitor with 8+ years PQE, preferably with higher education experience.
- Strong knowledge of OfS regulations, student contracts, and consumer laws.
- Experience in contract negotiation, risk management, dispute resolution, and compliance.
- Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to senior stakeholders.
- Capable of managing multiple priorities efficiently.
QAHE is a private UK higher education provider partnering with UK universities to deliver a range of programmes. We serve over 17,000 students worldwide across various subject areas, including Accountancy, Business, Computing, and more. We are committed to making quality higher education accessible and fostering a safe, inclusive environment, complying with all relevant safeguarding legislation.