Dean of Lifelong Learning
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Full-time
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Job details
- Job type
- Full-time
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- Posting language
- English
- Posted
Original job description
This Job is based in Australia
What we are looking for
The Dean of Lifelong Learning is responsible for academic, strategic and commercial leadership in the post experience education market. Working with the Provost, the University Leadership Team, Academic Board and Council, the Dean develops and executes a sustainable growth strategy that advances the University’s lifelong learning vision while delivering measurable educational, societal and commercial outcomes.
The Dean leads the development of a university wide lifelong learning model and portfolio strategy that responds to evolving workforce needs, emerging industry opportunities, and societal demand for upskilling and reskilling. The role is accountable for driving portfolio and market growth, enhancing UNSW's competitive position, and ensuring investment decisions deliver strong returns, financial sustainability, and strategic impact.
Working closely with Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Faculty Deans, the Dean convenes strategic conversations regarding market opportunities, portfolio performance, customer needs, partnership development and innovative delivery models. The Dean is responsible for ensuring UNSW maintains a competitive, scalable and financially sustainable lifelong learning offering that leverages technology, innovation and new business models to support growth and market leadership.
What you will do
Reporting to the Provost, the role will lead the Lifelong Learning Hub and will be responsible for:
You will bring a distinguished record of strategic leadership in a complex university, education or related environment. You will combine academic credibility with commercial acumen, market awareness and a strong understanding of online education and emerging learning technologies.
You will be an influential and collaborative leader, able to build alignment across a complex organisation and deliver change through relationships, evidence and shared purpose. Your experience may come from a major research-intensive university, continuing or executive education, online higher education, workforce development, a dual-sector institution or a private education business.
Above all, you will bring the vision, judgement and drive to position UNSW at the forefront of lifelong learning and to create education that delivers lasting value for learners, employers and the wider community.
Why this is important to UNSW
You will be instrumental in shaping how the University responds to the growing demand for accessible, relevant and career-focused learning throughout people’s working lives. You will connect UNSW’s academic strengths with the needs of industry, government and the wider community, building a sustainable lifelong learning portfolio that supports upskilling and reskilling, strengthens the University’s market position and creates meaningful educational, commercial and societal impact.
What’s in it for you
UNSW offers the opportunity to influence the future direction of education at scale at Australia’s #1 university, working with outstanding academic and professional colleagues in a globally connected university environment.
How to Apply
UNSW Have Engaged The Executive Search Firm, Odgers, To Support Us In This Important Search. For Further Information Or a Confidential Discussion, Please Contact The Consultants Leading The Search
Jenny Sutton: +61 402 548 703 or jenny.sutton@odgers.com
Diana Kovalova: +61 421 643 624 or diana.kovalova@odgers.com
Angela Bull: +61 432 842 508 or angela.bull@odgers.com
Applications will close on 19th November 2026 and should be submitted via the Odgers website www.odgers.com/97005
What we are looking for
The Dean of Lifelong Learning is responsible for academic, strategic and commercial leadership in the post experience education market. Working with the Provost, the University Leadership Team, Academic Board and Council, the Dean develops and executes a sustainable growth strategy that advances the University’s lifelong learning vision while delivering measurable educational, societal and commercial outcomes.
The Dean leads the development of a university wide lifelong learning model and portfolio strategy that responds to evolving workforce needs, emerging industry opportunities, and societal demand for upskilling and reskilling. The role is accountable for driving portfolio and market growth, enhancing UNSW's competitive position, and ensuring investment decisions deliver strong returns, financial sustainability, and strategic impact.
Working closely with Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Faculty Deans, the Dean convenes strategic conversations regarding market opportunities, portfolio performance, customer needs, partnership development and innovative delivery models. The Dean is responsible for ensuring UNSW maintains a competitive, scalable and financially sustainable lifelong learning offering that leverages technology, innovation and new business models to support growth and market leadership.
What you will do
Reporting to the Provost, the role will lead the Lifelong Learning Hub and will be responsible for:
- Developing and executing a university-wide strategy for lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling
- Building and commercialising a high-value portfolio of post-experience programs
- Identifying market opportunities through customer insight, competitor analysis and portfolio performance
- Driving sustainable revenue growth, strong learner outcomes and return on investment
- Advancing innovative, scalable and technology-enabled approaches to education delivery
- Building strategic partnerships with industry, government and other organisations
- Influencing academic and professional communities to reform post-experience learning practices
- Ensuring robust quality assurance and strong educational outcomes across the portfolio
- Representing UNSW externally with senior corporate, government and education stakeholders
You will bring a distinguished record of strategic leadership in a complex university, education or related environment. You will combine academic credibility with commercial acumen, market awareness and a strong understanding of online education and emerging learning technologies.
You will be an influential and collaborative leader, able to build alignment across a complex organisation and deliver change through relationships, evidence and shared purpose. Your experience may come from a major research-intensive university, continuing or executive education, online higher education, workforce development, a dual-sector institution or a private education business.
Above all, you will bring the vision, judgement and drive to position UNSW at the forefront of lifelong learning and to create education that delivers lasting value for learners, employers and the wider community.
Why this is important to UNSW
You will be instrumental in shaping how the University responds to the growing demand for accessible, relevant and career-focused learning throughout people’s working lives. You will connect UNSW’s academic strengths with the needs of industry, government and the wider community, building a sustainable lifelong learning portfolio that supports upskilling and reskilling, strengthens the University’s market position and creates meaningful educational, commercial and societal impact.
What’s in it for you
UNSW offers the opportunity to influence the future direction of education at scale at Australia’s #1 university, working with outstanding academic and professional colleagues in a globally connected university environment.
How to Apply
UNSW Have Engaged The Executive Search Firm, Odgers, To Support Us In This Important Search. For Further Information Or a Confidential Discussion, Please Contact The Consultants Leading The Search
Jenny Sutton: +61 402 548 703 or jenny.sutton@odgers.com
Diana Kovalova: +61 421 643 624 or diana.kovalova@odgers.com
Angela Bull: +61 432 842 508 or angela.bull@odgers.com
Applications will close on 19th November 2026 and should be submitted via the Odgers website www.odgers.com/97005
More about this job
Responsibilities
Lead the Lifelong Learning Hub and develop and execute a university-wide strategy and commercially sustainable portfolio of post-experience education. Drive market growth, learner outcomes, partnerships, innovative delivery, quality assurance, and external representation.
Requirements
Requires a distinguished record of strategic leadership in a complex university, education, or related environment, combining academic credibility with commercial acumen and market awareness. Candidates should understand online education and emerging learning technologies and be able to influence stakeholders, build alignment, and lead organisational change.
Skills
- Strategic Leadership
- Lifelong Learning Strategy
- Portfolio Development
- Commercialisation
- Market Analysis
- Customer Insight
- Revenue Growth
- Financial Sustainability
- Return on Investment
- Online Education
- Learning Technologies
- Educational Innovation
- Strategic Partnerships
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Change Leadership
- Quality Assurance
Visa sponsorship
Not detected in the job text
Hiring contact
Jenny Sutton
Hiring contact email
jenny.sutton@odgers.com
Categories
- Education
- Management & Leadership
Keywords
- Lifelong Learning
- Upskilling
- Reskilling
- Post-Experience Education
- Executive Education
- Portfolio Strategy
- Commercialisation
- Market Opportunities
- Customer Insight
- Competitor Analysis
- Portfolio Performance
- Revenue Growth
- Return on Investment
- Online Education
- Learning Technologies
- Technology-Enabled Education
- Innovative Delivery Models
- Industry Partnerships
- Government Partnerships
- Workforce Development
- Quality Assurance
- Learner Outcomes
- Financial Sustainability
- Higher Education