Head of Quality

Byfleet office and/or Home based (Remote) | £58,348 per annum | Full Time

Overview of the company

Open College Network South East Region Ltd, trading as Laser Learning Awards (LASER), is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity, and was established in its own right in 2006 following the merger of several Open College Networks in the south east of England.

It is a well-established awarding organisation which has developed from its Open College Network origins into a flourishing successful business whilst remaining true to its values and mission of increasing and widening participation in education and training.

LASER is regulated by Ofqual and offers qualifications and bespoke accreditation used by a wide range of organisations including further education colleges, schools, local authorities, voluntary and charitable organisations and private training providers. LASER is approved by the Security Industry Authority under its Trident Awards brand to offer security qualifications which enable successful learners to apply for licences to work within the private security industry. LASER is also an Access Validating Agency regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education to validate, monitor and certificate Access to HE Diplomas.

Overview of the role

The Head of Quality is responsible for leading and managing the LASER Quality team (for Ofqual regulated qualifications including those in the licence-linked security sector, and non-accredited provision) and its strategy and functions. The postholder will provide strategic leadership of the Quality team, ensuring it has the capacity, capability, skills and resources required to meet its responsibilities and organisational commitments effectively.  Working with LASER’s Senior Management Team and Product team, the postholder will ensure LASER products, services and qualifications, including assessments and assessment strategies, are fit for purpose and best serving the needs of learners and centres. The postholder will have responsibility for managing complaints and appeals and overseeing investigations and sanctions.

This is an interesting and demanding post which will take a leading role in the strategic planning and implementation of LASER’s ongoing quality management, including overall leadership, continuous development and resourcing of the LASER quality team, ensuring that it is equipped to deliver current priorities while responding effectively to future regulatory and organisational requirements.

The Head of Quality has both an externally facing and internally focused leadership role. Externally, the postholder will provide overall leadership of centre monitoring and LASER’s centre assessment standards scrutiny strategy, while building and maintaining effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Internally, the role contributes to organisational assurance and continuous improvement through leadership of self-evaluation activities, supporting the annual Statement of Compliance and overseeing ongoing internal audit activity.

The role will be supported by a dedicated and knowledgeable management team and by a highly experienced Quality team, and will work closely with the Quality Manager and Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Responsible Officer).

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate their skills and experience working at a senior level and leading a team in Quality Assurance and/or Regulatory Compliance within an awarding organisation; their ability to make sound and justified decisions based on a range of information and with full understanding of all potential consequences; their understanding of the post 16 education and training landscape and policy direction; their ability to build productive external and internal relationships; and their commitment to the values and ethos of the organisation.

The role has a competitive salary and additional benefits are available. Flexible working options will be considered, however some attendance at the LASER office in Byfleet will be required, along with some further travel as necessary.

Applications

The application will include completion of an application form (attached below), and a supporting letter which must clearly address how your knowledge, experience and skills make you suitable for this role and match, as a minimum, the Essential Criteria of the Person Specification (see Job Description and Person Specification below).

The closing date for applications is 5:00pm on Monday 26 October 2026. Late applications cannot be accepted.

Please email applications to Fiona Summers, at laserhr@laser-awards.org.uk or click the 'Apply Now' button below to open an email to the same address.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 5 November and potentially on Friday 6 November in LASER’s Byfleet office.