Apprentice and Stakeholder Experience Operations Manager
Posted 45 minutes 46 seconds ago by University of Derby
Permanent
Full Time
Academic Jobs
Midlands, United Kingdom
Job Description
£50,832 to £63,540 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £73,071 per annum)
Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.
We have one simple promise - to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 - making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
The Institute of Education and Skills (IoES) at the University of Derby is a vibrant, values-driven community with a strong national reputation for excellence in education and skills development. We are proud of our 'Outstanding' Initial Teacher Training and Education (ITTE) and 'Good' FE & Skills provision, which underpins our commitment to transforming lives through high-quality, inclusive education.
Ambitious and forward-looking, the IoES is entering an exciting phase of growth. We are expanding and strengthening our FE and Skills provision across Buxton, Chesterfield and the Nuclear Skills Academy, responding to regional and national priorities and working closely with industry to deliver future-focused curricula.
This is an opportunity to join a university that is bold in its vision, collaborative in its culture and committed to innovation, impact and learner/apprentice success. If you want to help shape the future of FE and Skills within a supportive, high-performing institute, the IoES at Derby is the place to do it.
The Apprentice and Stakeholder Experience Operations Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for apprenticeship and skills delivery. The role is responsible for ensuring a high-quality, consistent and compliant experience across the full apprentice and employer journey, translating regulatory requirements and policy into effective institutional practice.
Core responsibilities include overseeing quality assurance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement across FE and HE apprenticeship provision; embedding robust and auditable processes in line with ESFA, OfS, QAA and Ofsted requirements; and ensuring effective coordination of end-point assessment activity in partnership with Registry teams. The post holder leads on the development and use of systems to capture and respond to apprentice, employer and stakeholder feedback, using data to inform decision-making and enhance outcomes.
The role also includes responsibility for stakeholder and employer engagement, working collaboratively with internal teams to strengthen partnerships, support business development and contribute to income generation. Acting as a key point of coordination across FE and HE academic units and professional services, the post holder ensures consistent standards and effective governance. The role has line management responsibility for Apprenticeship and Stakeholder Experience Coordinators and administrative staff, providing leadership, direction and performance management to support high-quality service delivery.
The primary location for this role can be flexible with the post holder based at either our Kedleston Road or Nuclear Skills Academy (NSA) sites in Derby, or our Buxton site. The role will require regular travel to Buxton and the NSA.
You will be an experienced leader in apprenticeships and skills, with a strong track record of delivering high-quality, compliant provision within Further and/or Higher Education. You will hold an honours degree (or equivalent experience) and bring substantial experience of working with apprenticeship frameworks or standards across a range of subject areas.
You will have a sound understanding of the regulatory landscape, including ESFA funding rules, OfS, QAA and Ofsted requirements, with proven experience of quality assurance, self-assessment, inspection or audit activity. You will be confident in using data and reporting systems to monitor performance, identify issues and drive continuous improvement, with a clear focus on achieving strong outcomes for apprentices and employers.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills are essential. You will have experience of managing and developing teams, working collaboratively across complex organisations, and influencing a wide range of stakeholders, including employers and external partners. You will be highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities and projects, and demonstrate a methodical, detail-oriented approach. A commitment to safeguarding, compliance and high professional standards is essential, alongside the ability to build effective relationships and operate with credibility at all levels.
The postholder provides strategic and operational leadership for apprenticeship delivery and stakeholder engagement, ensuring high-quality provision and full regulatory compliance. Key responsibilities include:
Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.
We have one simple promise - to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 - making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
The Institute of Education and Skills (IoES) at the University of Derby is a vibrant, values-driven community with a strong national reputation for excellence in education and skills development. We are proud of our 'Outstanding' Initial Teacher Training and Education (ITTE) and 'Good' FE & Skills provision, which underpins our commitment to transforming lives through high-quality, inclusive education.
Ambitious and forward-looking, the IoES is entering an exciting phase of growth. We are expanding and strengthening our FE and Skills provision across Buxton, Chesterfield and the Nuclear Skills Academy, responding to regional and national priorities and working closely with industry to deliver future-focused curricula.
This is an opportunity to join a university that is bold in its vision, collaborative in its culture and committed to innovation, impact and learner/apprentice success. If you want to help shape the future of FE and Skills within a supportive, high-performing institute, the IoES at Derby is the place to do it.
The Apprentice and Stakeholder Experience Operations Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for apprenticeship and skills delivery. The role is responsible for ensuring a high-quality, consistent and compliant experience across the full apprentice and employer journey, translating regulatory requirements and policy into effective institutional practice.
Core responsibilities include overseeing quality assurance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement across FE and HE apprenticeship provision; embedding robust and auditable processes in line with ESFA, OfS, QAA and Ofsted requirements; and ensuring effective coordination of end-point assessment activity in partnership with Registry teams. The post holder leads on the development and use of systems to capture and respond to apprentice, employer and stakeholder feedback, using data to inform decision-making and enhance outcomes.
The role also includes responsibility for stakeholder and employer engagement, working collaboratively with internal teams to strengthen partnerships, support business development and contribute to income generation. Acting as a key point of coordination across FE and HE academic units and professional services, the post holder ensures consistent standards and effective governance. The role has line management responsibility for Apprenticeship and Stakeholder Experience Coordinators and administrative staff, providing leadership, direction and performance management to support high-quality service delivery.
The primary location for this role can be flexible with the post holder based at either our Kedleston Road or Nuclear Skills Academy (NSA) sites in Derby, or our Buxton site. The role will require regular travel to Buxton and the NSA.
You will be an experienced leader in apprenticeships and skills, with a strong track record of delivering high-quality, compliant provision within Further and/or Higher Education. You will hold an honours degree (or equivalent experience) and bring substantial experience of working with apprenticeship frameworks or standards across a range of subject areas.
You will have a sound understanding of the regulatory landscape, including ESFA funding rules, OfS, QAA and Ofsted requirements, with proven experience of quality assurance, self-assessment, inspection or audit activity. You will be confident in using data and reporting systems to monitor performance, identify issues and drive continuous improvement, with a clear focus on achieving strong outcomes for apprentices and employers.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills are essential. You will have experience of managing and developing teams, working collaboratively across complex organisations, and influencing a wide range of stakeholders, including employers and external partners. You will be highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities and projects, and demonstrate a methodical, detail-oriented approach. A commitment to safeguarding, compliance and high professional standards is essential, alongside the ability to build effective relationships and operate with credibility at all levels.
The postholder provides strategic and operational leadership for apprenticeship delivery and stakeholder engagement, ensuring high-quality provision and full regulatory compliance. Key responsibilities include:
- Oversight of quality and delivery: Monitoring effectiveness of provision, assuring the apprentice experience, and using robust systems to gather, analyse and respond to apprentice, employer and stakeholder feedback.
- Compliance and assurance: Embedding auditable regulatory processes across the University, including attendance, progress tracking and employer reporting, with a clear focus on strong outcomes.
- EPA coordination: Working closely with Registry EPA teams to ensure effective coordination and high-quality reporting for integrated and non-integrated apprenticeships.
- Stakeholder and employer engagement: Partnering with Business Engagement and Employability teams to strengthen employer networks, support business development and enhance income generation.
- External representation: Acting as a key University representative with commercial, industrial and political stakeholders to advance strategic objectives.
- Maintain expert knowledge of FE and HE apprenticeship and skills policy and regulations, horizon scanning national and regional developments.
- Translate policy and regulatory requirements into institutional strategy, operational practice and continuous improvement activity.
- Establish, implement and review strategies, policies and procedures for Apprenticeships and Skills across the University.
- Lead long term planning for apprenticeship growth and development, embedding co creation with employers and apprentices.
- Build institutional understanding of apprenticeships and skills, refining systems and processes to enhance quality and effectiveness.
- Lead quality monitoring, performance evaluation and compliance processes for apprenticeship provision.
- Provide expert advice, guidance and constructive challenge to leaders, managers and academic staff to secure timely improvement.
- Intervene supportively where quality, performance or regulatory practice requires improvement.
- Lead and contribute to self assessment and quality improvement planning, ensuring measurable impact.
- Ensure accurate data capture, reporting and compliance with funding and regulatory requirements.
- Oversee reporting to employers, governance and deliberative structures, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement.
- Ensure effective monitoring of apprentice progress and performance, including the consistent use of systems such as Smart Assessor.
- Lead the apprentice and employer survey cycle, including distribution, analysis and reporting of outcomes.
- Ensure the apprentice voice is systematically captured and strategically used to enhance provision.
- Engage with a wide range of external agencies to align processes, reporting and ways of working.
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to implement policies, processes and systems that support a high quality apprentice and employer experience.
- Develop and maintain effective employer and stakeholder relationships, including supporting engagement events.
- Contribute to employer focused marketing and market intelligence in collaboration with relevant teams.
- Lead, set priorities for and continuously improve performance across the Apprenticeship and Stakeholder Experience Co ordinator team.
- Provide leadership and oversight for assessors, trainers, IQAs and self employed staff, ensuring technical quality and accountability.
- Promote a culture of openness, solution focused working and shared responsibility.
- Work collaboratively with Business Development Managers to support the specification, bidding for and delivery of employer based provision and external funding.
- Develop business networks with employers, Local Enterprise Partnerships and regional bodies to support growth and income generation click apply for full job details