Head of Teaching

Architectural Association

Start date
1st May 2026

About the Organisation

AA is an independent architectural school and an international cultural institution that serves as a forum for ideas. Being a major Centre for debate, the AA offers an unparalleled public programme of lectures, symposia, and exhibitions, together with accompanying publications.

The Architectural Association was founded in 1847, opening as a day school in 1901. The AA is committed to public benefit attained by the learning, teaching, discussion and promotion of architecture. The School is recognised as a worldwide leader in architectural education, with graduates that include many of the world’s leading architects, scholars, critics and educators. The academic and professional programmes of study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, up to and including doctoral level, are validated by external professional and academic bodies.

The AA campus is located in historic 18th century Bedford Square in London, with a 350-acre woodland setting in Hooke Park in Dorset. The AA has an annual revenue of £18 million, a student body of 1000 students, 200 faculty, 90 staff, 6,500 members and thousands of visitors who come to engage with the most relevant debates in architecture today.

About the role

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 includes 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. 

Responsibilities

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.
• 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 the review of new teaching proposals and teaching applications.
• Prepare annual programme guides for the Intermediate and Diploma programmes.
• Oversee the preparation of annual programme guides for Foundation and postgraduate programmes, PhD, and Part 3.
• Lead the annual academic appointment process with support from HR and Finance.
• Communicate clearly and regularly with AA SMT groups and the Director, especially concerning areas of staff difficulty or dissatisfaction, academic issues, and areas that affect policy, risk or regulatory obligations.
• Lead the annual NSS review, response and production of the action plan.
• Coordinate student feedback and survey responses for review by the 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 programme 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 the 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.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

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.
• 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 & 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 multitask 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 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 

Required Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Architecture required; PhD or PhD-track preferable

Compensation & Benefits

• 40 days of annual leave, and in addition to the Bank Holiday
• Defined pension scheme
• Season ticket loans and access to professional development opportunities.
• Various on-site exhibitions, public programmes and lectures.

Working locations

• London, Bedford Square, United Kingdom

How to apply

• Please apply directly by emailing your application to [email protected] by 16th February 2026. Please include the job title in the subject line. 
• Applicants are required to submit the following:
  • AA Application Form.
  • Cover letter or email, no more than two pages, setting out why you are suitable for the role
  • Full CV
  • Your salary expectations
• Informal enquiries should be addressed to [email protected] or 02078874110

Policies

We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Please note that it will not be possible for the AA School to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for successful candidates. Therefore, the appointed candidate will need to be eligible to work in the UK for the duration of their employment with the AA School, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

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