Head of Student Placement Quality and Assurance

About IDP

IDP is the global leader in international education services, delivering global success to students, test takers and our partners, through trusted human relationships, digital technology and customer research. An Australian-listed company, we operate in more than 50 countries around the world.

Our team is comprised of over 7,000 people of various nationalities, ages and cultural backgrounds. Proudly customer-first, our expert people are powered by global technology. Together, we offer unmatched services, helping local dreams become realities, all over the world.

Learn more at www.careers.idp.com

Role purpose

This role provides strategic and operational leadership across

In this role, you will provide both strategic vision and hands-on operational leadership across key quality and assurance areas, including:

• Independent Assurance: Lead comprehensive global audits and assurance activities to evaluate adherence to the Student Placement Ways of Working (SPWOW). Assess process compliance, control effectiveness, and ensure operational activities meet established standards, identifying and rectifying areas of non-compliance.
• Global Quality Governance: Define and evolve the quality standards and metrics that underpin counselling excellence, lead management integrity, application accuracy, document verification, and operational controls. Own the Quality Management System (QMS) that facilitates consistent quality oversight across all regions, providing accessible standards, tools, and reporting frameworks.

And take the lead on

You will also take the lead on critical initiatives such as:

• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Mitigation: Collaborate with regional teams to ensure preparedness for significant regulatory requirements including UK AQF/BCA, Australia ESOS 2025, Canada IRCC high-risk oversight, and US F1 visa mandates. Implement and integrate regulatory controls seamlessly into operational practices to ensure ethical, compliant conduct worldwide.
• Process Improvement & Standardisation: Identify gaps in procedures, training, and quality across diverse operations to spearhead initiatives that align with ISO 9001:2015 quality management principles. Drive process standardisation and efficiency improvements that reduce rework, enhance data integrity, and mitigate operational risks.

Reporting for

Your leadership will include oversight and reporting for the following areas:

• Quality Measurement: Utilize global performance dashboards and early warning indicators focused on counselling quality, application integrity, compliance adherence, conversion rates, and visa outcome success.
• Drive continuous improvement by managing quality scorecards at both global and country levels, and communicate comprehensive insights and trends to the Global Leadership Team as well as the Board or Audit and Risk Committee when necessary.

This is an excellent opportunity for team members who bring

This position is a remarkable opportunity for those who bring a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to excellence. We welcome applicants who can demonstrate:

• Over 10 years of professional expertise in fields such as internal audit, compliance, risk management, governance, or quality assurance leadership.
• Proven capability to operate effectively within complex, multi-country or matrix environments, showing adeptness at navigating diverse cultural and regulatory contexts.
• A strong governance ethos paired with influential communication skills to engage and align senior leadership around quality initiatives.
• Familiarity with quality frameworks, operational transformation projects, and regulatory compliance mandates applicable to global education services.
• Exceptional analytical proficiency and a passion for data-driven decision making that ensures continual enhancement of processes and outcomes.
• The highest standards of integrity, attention to detail, and a genuine dedication to prioritising student-centric results.

Desirable qualifications include certifications or degrees in audit, governance, risk management, quality systems, or regulatory compliance, as well as direct experience implementing ISO 9001:2015 or comparable global quality frameworks.

What success looks like

• Widespread and consistent adoption of the Student Placement Ways of Working (SPWOW) methodologies across all operational countries, ensuring uniformity and excellence in service delivery.
• Measurable improvements in counselling standards, regulatory compliance adherence, integrity of lead management, and enhanced application processing outcomes that collectively amplify student success.
• Efficient and proactive implementation of evolving regulatory requirements, strengthening IDP’s position as a trusted, compliant service provider in every market.
• Enhanced audit performance with tangible risk mitigation outcomes, accompanied by timely closure of risk treatments and elevated control environment ratings.
• Substantial reduction in data errors, operational rework, and compliance infractions, resulting in streamlined processes and heightened organisational reliability.
• Positive and verifiable improvements in satisfaction and experience metrics for students, counsellors, and institutional clients, reinforcing IDP’s reputation for excellence.

If you are driven by a passion for quality assurance, governance, and transformative operational leadership, and eager to help shape the future of international student placement, we encourage you to apply. Join us in advancing a world-class, trusted student experience that truly makes a difference.