Director of Professional Development

We are currently recruiting a Director of Professional Development for a permanent contract. This role is hybrid, with work performed both from home and in our Oxford or London hubs, in line with the institute’s hybrid working policy. Colleagues may work their hours flexibly during core business times and are offered formalised flexible working agreements. The starting salary is £82 935 for Oxford and £90 060 for London.

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to  by 7 July 2026.

The Director of Professional Development is the institute's strategic and operational leader for the IFoA's lifelong learning propositions, with responsibility for all education quality and standards, qualifications development and delivery, learning pathways and continuing professional development (CPD). This role ensures that the institute's professional development framework remains globally respected, future‑focused and aligned with the evolving needs of employers, members, policymakers, regulators and practitioners across international markets.

The postholder is accountable for the full lifecycle of professional learning and assessment – from qualification design and accreditation to CPD strategy, delivery, innovation and quality assurance – ensuring the institute remains the global benchmark for excellence in the actuarial profession and meets the IFoA's strategic and commercial objectives.

• Working with the Chief Membership Officer and professional development team, lead the global strategy and plans for professional education, qualification frameworks and CPD, ensuring alignment with the institute's mission and long‑term strategic growth objectives.
• Serve as executive sponsor for innovation in learning, assessment methodologies and digital professional education.
• Act as the senior authority for professional education standards, ensuring they remain relevant, evidence‑based and internationally recognised.
• Accountable for the end‑to‑end delivery of the IFoA professional qualification to meet quality, education standards and commercial objectives, including curriculum development and management, question item development, exam operational delivery, marking and awarding.
• Governance – reporting to, working with and supporting the IFoA Education Committee and its sub‑committees and groups as required.

• Oversee the research, design, development, delivery and review of all professional qualifications and certification routes.
• Ensure global consistency in standards while adapting pathways for practice and regional contexts, regulatory environments and market needs.
• Lead the development and governance of syllabi, competency frameworks, assessment models, recognition of prior learning and learning support content and products.

• Define and drive the development and delivery of global CPD strategy to uphold lifelong learning for all members, within a product lifecycle approach.
• Oversee design, development and quality assurance of CPD offerings, including digital learning content and products, events, micro‑credentials and partner‑led CPD.
• Ensure CPD frameworks promote currency of practice, ethical competence and professional excellence.

• Maintain rigorous quality assurance across all qualifications, examination assessments, providers and assessment partners, and CPD delivery channels.
• Ensure compliance with national and international regulatory requirements, accreditation bodies and chartered standards.
• Lead audit processes, risk management and continuous improvement of professional education and assessment standards.

• Lead the institute's transformation agenda for education and assessment, including the adoption of digital platforms, AI‑enabled assessment and content tools, remote proctoring, digital credentials and data‑driven quality assurance.
• Provide leadership for the institute's global assessment and qualification systems, ensuring they are robust, scalable and…