Head of Teaching

The Architectural Association

Head of Teaching

Salary:
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Role Overview

Competitive
London – Bedford Square
Director’s Office
Foundation, Undergraduate programmes, Postgraduate
programmes, Core Studies and Part 3
School Director
1 May 2026
Permanent
Full-time (In person)

The Head of Teaching is a critical role within the Architectural Association, helping to shape the
academic direction of a school that has a uniquely flexible and rapidly evolving curricular focus. The AA
may be the oldest school of architecture in the UK, but its independent status has always enabled it to
shape the debate. With graduates from over 130 different countries, this is an international and ever-
growing conversation with a network of collaborators that include some of the most significant voices
in the field.

The Head of Teaching is a senior academic role (and member of the Senior Management Team) that
oversees the delivery, assessment, staffing and monitoring of the existing academic offering and the
development of new courses and programmes. They support and oversee the performance of
academic staff in their delivery of the school’s curriculum. They are also responsible for the
preparation of materials for regulatory oversight and internal revalidations.

The role requires an individual with an active understanding and involvement with the current
landscape in UK architectural education, evidence of clarity and rigour in the development of academic
frameworks, and excellent communication skills and transparency in their interaction with colleagues.

Main Responsibilities

As a senior academic the Head of Teaching is expected to engage in teaching activity and
research/professional progression as part of their role in addition to the following:

Academic Leadership

•  Help align the academic direction to the strategic aims of the AA.
•  Keep informed and inform others of current architectural, cultural and higher education

developments and advise the school and Director.

•  Support the Director in the development of a long-term academic staffing strategy, succession

planning, and leave cover.

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•  Review new and current unit, programme and studio staff, teaching materials, design briefs

and integration in the annual induction process

•  Assist the Director and academic staff with review of new teaching proposals and teaching

applications.

•  Prepare annual programme guides for the Intermediate and Diploma programmes.
•  Oversee preparation of annual programme guides for Foundation and postgraduate

programmes, PhD, and Part 3.

•  Lead on annual academic appointment process with support from HR and Finance.
•  Communicate clearly and regularly with AA SMT groups and Director, especially concerning

areas of staff difficulty or dissatisfaction, academic issues, and areas that effect policy, risk or
regulatory obligations.
Lead the annual NSS review, response and production of the action plan.

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•  Coordinate student feedback and survey responses for review by Academic Group.

Academic Programme Recruitment and Outreach

•  Support Admissions and Outreach on the AA strategy for widening participation and

recruitment activities, and regularly monitor and report progress to SMT.

•  Support the visibility and promotion of financial support to a wider and more diverse cohort,

and regularly monitor and report progress to SMT.

•  Support academic programmes with articulation of content for recruitment initiatives.

Staff support

•  Supporting new and existing academic staff development.
•  Lead on the induction and mentoring of new academic staff.
•  Conduct probationary reviews of academic staff.
•  Conduct annual reviews of academic programmes heads.
•  Assist the Director with annual feedback to academic staff.
•  Provide clarity and sensitivity to the support of academic staff.
•  Ensure that discussions with staff are carefully documented and difficulties resolved in a timely

and conclusive manner.

•  Manage the AA’s Complaints procedure in relation to formal complaints raised by academic

staff.

Monitoring

•  Maintain and review procedures for monitoring academic standards.
•  Attend and contribute to school-wide formative and summative assessment events.
•  Chair annual external examination events for foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate

awards.

•  Review annual academic monitoring; development of academic action plans; and proposals for

new academic courses.

•  Prepare Intermediate and Diploma School annual monitoring and regular RIBA re-

validation/ARB monitoring and re-prescription materials.

•  Communicate regulatory requirements and the school’s response to the AA community and

Council members.

Budget

•  Oversee academic budget planning and expenditure in line with budgetary constraints.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to
undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

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All staff must:

•  Comply with all legislative and regulatory requirements (e.g. Finance, HR, Health & Safety)
•  Adhere to the requirements set out in the AA Code of Behavioural Expectations and other

institutional policies.

Person Specification

•  Experienced academic/professional with a proven track record of academic leadership in the

field of architecture

•  Record of research/practice making a significant contribution to the discipline.
•  Network of national and international contacts in the wider field.
•  Postgraduate degree in Architecture required; PhD or PhD-track preferable
•  Regulatory knowledge around UK HE and ARB/RIBA Parts 1, 2, 3
•  Support and manage performance by providing ongoing guidance, constructive feedback, and

resolving performance-related issues.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

•  Knowledge of the contemporary field of architecture, including its trends and directions
•  Ability to understand, interpret and communicate processes and regulations accurately
•  Ability to work under pressure and multi-task whilst maintaining collegiality
•  Good planning and organisational skills with excellent attention to detail
•  Excellent communication and influencing skills, including excellent spoken and written English,

in formal documents, briefs, letters, emails and other communications

•  Proactive approach with the ability to work independently and flexibly, managing and

prioritising own workload

•  Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and experience of working with data and information

both of a confidential and / or sensitive nature

•  Ability to work with colleagues at all levels, within and outside the organisation, being

responsive, polite, friendly and efficient
•  Commitment and duty of care to all students
•  Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias

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