Vice Principal (Academic)
Vice Principal (Academic)
Location: RADA, London
Salary: £90,000 per annum
Reports to: Principal & CEO
Hours:Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract Type:Permanent
Shape the future of world-leading dramatic arts training.
For over 120 years, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) has been at the forefront of dramatic arts education, producing generations of actors, directors, writers, producers and technical artists who shape theatre, film and television worldwide. From our historic home in central London, we continue to evolve, innovate and inspire.
This is an exciting moment to join us. As part of our next phase of development, RADA has created the new role of Vice Principal (Academic) to strengthen academic leadership, coherence and strategic capacity across our portfolio. Our vision foregrounds sustainability, inclusion and wellbeing, while holding excellence and innovation at the heart of our academic mission.
The Role
As Vice Principal Academic, you will:
- Lead the development and delivery of a future-facing academic strategy that ensures our training anticipates industry trends and delivers outstanding graduate outcomes.
- Embed research-informed, inclusive pedagogy and promote interdisciplinary collaboration across all programmes.
- Ensure culturally competent teaching and equitable student outcomes, aligned with RADA’s commitments.
- Build partnerships and employability pathways that position graduates for sustainable careers.
- Embed a coherent research strategy that enhances RADA’s reputation and informs teaching practice.
- Represent RADA’s academic and creative vision externally and cultivate strategic relationships.
About You
You will bring:
- A proven track record of transformational academic leadership within higher education.
- Expertise in performance training or a closely related artistic discipline.
- Demonstrable success in curriculum innovation, faculty development, and quality assurance.
- Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and student-centred learning.
- The ability to build strategic partnerships and influence at the highest levels.
About us
Founded in 1904, RADA has an unparalleled record of success in training some of the world’s most renowned actors and technical specialists. Ours is an impressive history on which we are building an innovative future. RADA training is not only informed by the industry but also produces graduates who take their place at the vanguard of their profession working at the cutting edge of the dramatic arts. We have an ambitious strategy to encourage students from all circumstances and backgrounds to come to RADA.
We aim to be fair and equitable and enable dialogue in a world of rapidly changing demographics and evolving definitions of identity. Through our approach to teaching, learning and wider social engagement we foreground equitable and sustainable practice in a way that sets high standards and feeds expectations for fair and considerate behaviour both in RADA and beyond. Our access and participation programme aims to remove any barriers that students from underrepresented groups may encounter so they are able to access and succeed on our courses, and progress into the industry.
This is an exciting time to join us. We are developing a new vision and strategy for RADA, building on its existing successes to redefine training in the dramatic arts for the 21st century, focusing on key themes of training and student experience, growth, industry, and international dialogue and engagement.
In addition to our aims for our vocational training, we are working from our foundational strengths to grow our income streams through life-changing work, aligned with our core pedagogy and ethos. We aim to co-create with industry and other stakeholders to build on our reputation as a centre of excellence and innovation in our field.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
We are very interested in hearing from Black, Asian, and Global Majority candidates as well as candidates who identify as D/deaf or disabled, who are under-represented at this level at RADA.
We are taking positive action by guaranteeing progress directly to the second interview stage of the process, to any applicant who self-identifies as being from a Black, Asian or Global Majority background, and/or who self-identifies as D/deaf or disabled, and has professional experience in a leadership role, either at a Conservatoire, in Higher education or in industry.
How to apply
1) send your updated CV and covering letter to hrapplications@rada.ac.uk
2) complete our equal opportunities monitoring form.
Your CV (no more than two pages)
- A structured supporting statement (no more than three pages) outlining your motivation to join RADA as Vice Principal (Academic) and addressing the person specification. For each, include:
(a) a specific example of what you did,
(b) the measurable impact or outcome, and
(c) how this experience prepares you to deliver similar results at RADA.
Closing date: 12 noon, Wednesday 4 February 2026
Interview dates: w/c 9 February and w/c 16 February
If you have any questions please contact:
Vinodini Krishnan
HR Advisor
+44 (0)20 7908 4895
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is dedicated to Equal Opportunities in employment and seeks to achieve diversity amongst its staff to reflect the community it serves.