Apprentice and Stakeholder Experience Operations Manager

About the role

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.

About You

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.

Principal accountabilities

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.

Strategic Leadership and Policy

• 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.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• 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.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• 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.

Stakeholder Engagement

• 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.

Team Leadership and Management

• 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.

Business Development and Growth

• 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.

General

• To comply with the requirements of Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, Prevent, Health and Safety, Quality and other University policies including Equal Opportunities, Risk Management and Equality and Diversity.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

• An Honours Degree – 2:1 or above in a relevant subject or substantial equivalent experience
• Recognised teaching qualification for further/higher education

Experience

• Leading employer and apprentice voice by developing systems and managing data and reporting systems with a clear focus on problem solving and feeding back on action taken
• Confident in leading internal quality review, self-assessment and quality improvement in line with the Inspection Framework
• Experience of curriculum planning in line with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of ESFA, QAA, OfS audit and intervention regimes
• Recent Ofsted inspection experience with at least ‘good’ grades for previous inspections
• Experience of monitoring the progress of apprentices
• Experience of working on apprenticeships and skills in a range of academic fields
• Experience of managing several activities/projects to meet deadlines
• Experience of leading and preparing for external audit and inspection
• Experience of organising events/activities

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Strong leadership skills with demonstrable experience of empowering others working in complex situations
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrable ability to lead key aspects of apprenticeships and skills provision from Levels 2–7
• Experience and accountability for outcomes
• Good knowledge of funding and audit rules
• Knowledge and understanding of the application of safeguarding principles
• Confident in working with organisational and external procedures/regulations
• High levels of stakeholder influence across industry, government, internally and at various levels of the organisation
• Confident in a team environment and able to engage others
• Confident in developing internal and external professional relationships
• Commitment to report writing
• Analysis of data
• Contribution to self-assessment and self-evaluation production
• Methodical approach with strong attention to detail and ability to set high standards for self and others

Business requirements

• Completed enhanced DBS check with child barred list
• Prohibited from Teaching check
• Willingness to work flexibly and be responsive to business needs and customer expectations
• Willingness to positively respond to change and learn new challenges
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Willingness to provide support at University events from time to time e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days, (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends)

Desirable Criteria

Qualifications

• Masters level qualification in related subject area

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Teacher’s Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Access to employer-funded Private Health Insurance
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development