Apprenticeship Operations Manager
Barnsley, South Yorkshire•Full-time
£35,000 - £38,000 annually
£35,000 - £38,000 annually
About the Job
About The Role:
The Apprenticeship Operations Manager is responsible for the operational leadership, quality assurance, and performance management of apprenticeship delivery across the organisation. The post-holder will lead and manage a team of Skills Coaches, ensuring that apprenticeship programmes are delivered in full compliance with the DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules, the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF), and internal quality assurance requirements. The role has direct accountability for learner outcomes, Skills Coach KPIs, audit readiness, funding compliance, and employer satisfaction, ensuring that provision is ambitious, well-sequenced, and delivers sustained impact for learners and employers.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Performance:
The Apprenticeship Operations Manager is responsible for the operational leadership, quality assurance, and performance management of apprenticeship delivery across the organisation. The post-holder will lead and manage a team of Skills Coaches, ensuring that apprenticeship programmes are delivered in full compliance with the DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules, the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF), and internal quality assurance requirements. The role has direct accountability for learner outcomes, Skills Coach KPIs, audit readiness, funding compliance, and employer satisfaction, ensuring that provision is ambitious, well-sequenced, and delivers sustained impact for learners and employers.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Performance:
- Lead, coach, and performance-manage a team of approximately 10–12 Skills Coaches.
- Set clear expectations and objectives aligned to learner progress, achievement, quality, and compliance.
- Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and CPD planning, holding staff accountable for outcomes.
- Ensure Skills Coaches maintain up-to-date CPD and occupational competence.
- Embed Total Training Provision’s values into everyday practice and decision-making.
Quality Assurance & Ofsted EIF Compliance:
- Provide strategic oversight of curriculum intent, implementation, and impact across all apprenticeship programmes.
- Ensure delivery teams implement ambitious, sequenced, and knowledge-rich curricula informed by accurate initial assessment and learner starting points.
- Monitor the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment to ensure learners know more, do more, and remember more over time.
- Ensure off-the-job training is planned, meaningful, and fully evidenced.
- Support Skills Coaches to confidently articulate curriculum design, sequencing, and learner progress during Ofsted deep dives.
- Maintain high standards in behaviour and attitudes, personal development, safeguarding, Prevent, British Values, and SEND.
- Lead internal quality reviews and contribute to Ofsted inspection preparation.
Funding Compliance & DfE Apprenticeship Rules:
- Ensure full compliance with DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules (2025–2026), including:
- Learner eligibility and initial assessment
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and reduction of duration and cost
- Training plans, commitment statements, and progress reviews
- Off-the-job training evidence
- English and maths delivery and support
- Changes of circumstances, breaks in learning, withdrawals, and completions
- Validate that ILR data, learner records, and funding claims are accurate, complete, and compliant.
- Maintain robust audit trails to minimise funding risk and prevent clawback.
Audit Readiness & Data Integrity:
- Ensure all delivery and compliance processes meet internal and external audit standards.
- Monitor ILR accuracy, funding band compliance, and appropriate use of public funds.
- Investigate and resolve data anomalies within 48 hours.
- Ensure learner documentation and evidence are uploaded and shared within the required timescales.
- Lead internal compliance checks and contribute to the continuous improvement of systems and processes.
Performance Expectations:
The Apprenticeship Operations Manager is accountable for managing Skills Coach performance against organisational KPIs, including:
- ≥95% learner achievement rate
- 100% compliance with 8–12 weekly progress reviews, including employer engagement
- 100% of learners are making evidence-based monthly progress
- ≤5% audit or funding errors
- ≤5% learners behind progress or unfunded
- 100% onboarding and ePortfolio setup within 4 weeks of enrolment
- Delivery within contract profile (≤10% variance)
- Effective management of withdrawals with 1-month funding payback
- Performance data must be actively analysed and used to drive improvement and intervention.
Learner & Employer Experience:
- Ensure learners and employers receive a high-quality, responsive, and professional service.
- Oversee employer engagement, progress reporting, and review activity.
- Ensure timely response to complaints, concerns, and risks.
- Monitor learner and employer satisfaction, ensuring satisfaction rates of 90–95%+.
- Ensure personal development, careers education, and British Values are embedded across the learner journey.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Work closely with Quality, Curriculum, Compliance, MIS, and Business Development teams.
- Support curriculum planning and continuous improvement aligned to employer and sector needs.
- Represent Total Training Provision during audits, Ofsted inspections, and stakeholder reviews.
What We Are Looking For:
- Proven experience in apprenticeship or FE operations management.
- Strong working knowledge of the Education Inspection Framework.
- In-depth understanding of DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules.
- Demonstrated experience managing teams to deliver compliant, high-quality provision.
- Track record of achieving performance, funding, and audit outcomes.
- Experience using ILR systems and managing audit evidence.
Desirables:
- Teaching, assessing, or training qualification (AET, PGCE, TAQA).
- IQA or Lead IQA qualification.
- Experience across multiple apprenticeship standards or sectors.
Thinking of Applying?
If you would like to discuss this role in more detail or need support in applying for this role, please contact our recruitment team on recruitment@total-tp.com. Total Training Provision are committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.