C3S Business School | Barcelona, Spain

Position: Head of Academic Department

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Sector: Higher Education | Academic Leadership | Quality Assurance

About C3S Business SchoolEstablished in 2014, Castelldefels School of Social Sciences (C3S Business School) is a private international business school located in the heart of Barcelona, Spain.

C3S Business School is committed to delivering accessible, high-quality, industry-focused education that prepares students for successful careers in an increasingly competitive integral business environment.

The institution offers a diverse portfolio of Bachelor's, Master's and professional diploma programmes through collaborations with Spanish and UK universities and recognised UK awarding organisations.

As an associated centre of the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), C3S Business School places strong emphasis on academic quality, practical learning, international exposure and continuous institutional development.

About the RoleC3S Business School is seeking an experienced and highly qualified Head of Academic Department to lead academic operations, oversee curriculum development and ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality education across its programmes.

The successful candidate will provide strategic academic leadership, strengthen teaching and assessment standards, oversee internal quality assurance processes and support the continuous improvement of academic provision.

This position requires a strong understanding of higher education academic management, UK qualification frameworks, curriculum development, assessment practices and regulatory quality assurance requirements.

The Head of Academic Department will work closely with academic leadership, programme coordinators, lecturers and administrative teams to maintain academic excellence and ensure that institutional practices meet applicable awarding organisation requirements.

Key Responsibilities1. Academic Leadership and Programme Management

- Lead, coordinate and oversee academic delivery across Bachelor's, Master's and diploma programmes.
- Provide academic direction and guidance to lecturers, programme coordinators and academic support teams.
- Ensure consistent academic standards, effective teaching practices and a positive student learning experience.
- Oversee academic planning, teaching schedules, programme delivery and academic performance monitoring.
- Promote a culture of academic accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

2. Curriculum Design and Academic Development

- Lead the design, development, review and continuous improvement of curricula across academic programmes.
- Ensure academic content is rigorous, current, industry-relevant and aligned with programme objectives.
- Review module specifications, teaching materials, learning resources and assessment strategies.
- Support lecturers in developing engaging, practical and academically appropriate learning experiences.
- Integrate relevant industry developments, emerging technologies and contemporary business practices into academic content.

3. Assessment Management and Academic Quality Assurance

- Oversee the complete academic assessment cycle, including assignment development, submission, marking, feedback, verification and improvement.
- Ensure assessment briefs are clearly structured and aligned with prescribed Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria.
- Monitor criterion-based assessment practices to ensure fairness, consistency and transparency.




- Review marking standards, assessment decisions and the quality of academic feedback.
- Ensure assessment processes comply with institutional policies and relevant awarding organisation requirements.

4. Internal Verification, Moderation and Standardisation

- Lead and manage Internal Verification (IV), assessment moderation and academic standardisation processes.
- Develop and maintain effective internal quality assurance procedures.
- Review assessment documentation, marking decisions and verification records.
- Coordinate standardisation meetings and support consistent assessment practices among academic staff.
- Identify areas requiring corrective action and implement appropriate quality improvement measures.
- Support preparation for external verification, academic reviews and awarding organisation monitoring activities.

5. Academic Compliance and Documentation

- Maintain compliance with applicable academic regulations, qualification specifications and quality assurance requirements.
- Ensure accurate and timely maintenance of academic records, assessment documentation and verification reports.
- Monitor the implementation of academic policies and institutional procedures.
- Support academic audits, quality reviews and external verification processes.
- Ensure academic processes remain transparent, properly documented and consistently implemented.

6. Faculty Development and Academic Support

- Provide professional guidance and academic support to lecturers and teaching staff.
- Review teaching effectiveness and identify opportunities for faculty development.
- Organise academic meetings, assessment standardisation sessions and professional development activities.
- Encourage innovative teaching methods, student engagement and effective use of educational technology.
- Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across academic departments.

7. Academic Integrity and Responsible AI Use

- Promote high standards of academic integrity, ethical conduct and responsible academic practice.
- Oversee the implementation of plagiarism prevention policies and appropriate academic misconduct procedures.
- Develop guidance on the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in teaching, learning and assessment.
- Support lecturers in designing assessments that encourage independent thinking, critical analysis and authentic student work.
- Ensure academic integrity procedures are consistently communicated and applied.

8. Academic Performance and Continuous Improvement

- Monitor academic performance, assessment outcomes, student progression and teaching effectiveness.
- Review student feedback and academic quality indicators to identify improvement opportunities.
- Develop and implement academic enhancement initiatives.
- Prepare academic performance reports and recommendations for institutional leadership.
- Contribute to long-term academic planning and the continuous development of the school's educational provision.

Candidate Requirements

Essential Qualifications and Experience
- PhD or equivalent doctoral qualification from a recognised higher education institution.




- Full professional fluency in written and spoken English (C2 level or equivalent).
- Proven lecturing and teaching experience within higher education.
- Demonstrated experience in academic leadership, departmental management or programme coordination.
- Strong background in curriculum design, academic content development and programme planning.
- Comprehensive understanding of the UK higher education assessment and quality assurance environment.
- Practical experience with Internal Verification (IV), moderation and standardisation procedures.
- Strong knowledge of Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria and criterion-based assessment methods.
- Experience managing assessment briefs, marking processes, academic feedback and assessment quality.
- Understanding of academic integrity, plagiarism prevention and responsible AI use in education.
- Excellent leadership, organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple academic priorities while maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience
- Previous experience working with Ofqual-regulated qualifications and recognised UK awarding organisations.
- Familiarity with UK qualification frameworks and vocational or professional higher education programmes.
- Experience preparing for external verification, academic audits or institutional quality reviews.
- Experience managing international academic programmes and multicultural teaching environments.
- Knowledge of learning management systems and digital assessment platforms.
- Experience leading academic improvement initiatives and faculty professional development.
- Understanding of Spanish and European higher education environments would be an advantage.

What We Are Looking ForWe are looking for an academic leader who combines strong educational expertise with practical management capabilities.

The ideal candidate will be capable of guiding academic teams, maintaining consistent assessment standards, improving curriculum quality and ensuring that academic delivery meets both institutional expectations and relevant external requirements.

The successful candidate should demonstrate sound academic judgement, attention to detail, strong leadership and a commitment to delivering a high-quality learning experience for an international student community.

Why Join C3S Business School?

- Take on a senior academic leadership role within an international business school in Barcelona.
- Contribute directly to curriculum development, academic strategy and educational quality.
- Work with an international community of students, educators and academic professionals.
- Support the development of industry-relevant and career-focused academic programmes.
- Play an important role in strengthening academic standards, assessment practices and institutional development.

How to ApplyInterested and suitably qualified candidates are invited to submit their updated CV and cover letter to:

Email: [email protected]

Email Subject: Application – Head of Academic Department

Applications should demonstrate relevant academic qualifications, leadership experience, curriculum development expertise and knowledge of UK academic assessment and quality assurance systems.

We welcome applications from experienced academic professionals who are committed to educational excellence, effective academic leadership and continuous improvement.

C3S Business School

Barcelona, Spain

Developing Global Talent Through Quality Education

📌 HEAD OF ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT | BARCELONA
🏢 C3S Business School
📍 Barcelona