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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

External Counsel Management

Manage relationships with external law firms for specialist legal advice across areas such as litigation, employment, immigration, regulatory compliance, and complex commercial matters. 
Act as the primary liaison with external counsel, ensuring cost-effective and quality service delivery. 

Bring your experience:  

Qualified solicitor with 8+ years PQE, preferably with experience in the higher education sector.
Strong understanding of OfS regulations, student contracts, university franchising, and consumer protection laws strongly preferable.
Experience in contract negotiation, risk management, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance.
Aligns legal advice with business objectives, ensuring regulatory and commercial priorities are met. 
Ability to clearly convey complex legal concepts to senior stakeholders and commercial teams, fostering collaboration. 
Ability to manage competing priorities with precision and efficiency, ensuring compliance and risk mitigation. 

A little more about QA Higher Education

QAHE is a private UK higher education provider working in partnership with UK universities to recruit to and deliver a range of programmes from foundation level to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.  

We currently teach over 17,000 students from all over the world. We work with our partner universities cover course subject areas including Accountancy, Business, Computing, Cyber, Digital Marketing, Events Management, Project Management and Web Development all delivered in city centre locations. 

We believe everyone should be given access to outstanding higher education and our aim is to make that possible.  

QAHE is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults with care and support needs. We hold the expectation that all staff share this commitment in creating a safe and inclusive environment and as an organisation, we comply with relevant legislation and best practices in safeguarding.