Apprenticeships Operations Manager

The Spencer Academies Trust is a dynamic organisation committed to delivering the best in opportunities and outcomes for the thousands of children and young people across the East Midlands. Our commitment to staff development is seen within our apprenticeships provision: Spencer Apprenticeships. It is committed to high quality professional training for the education sector, supporting excellence in education and securing best possible outcomes for children and young people. Based in the East Midlands, this arm of work within Spencer Academies Trust has been established since 2021 and is continuing to grow in the range of programmes: Teacher (level 6), TA (level 3) and Early Intervention Practitioner (level 4) – new this year.

Our trust is a significant levy payer, and we are aware that is the case for other MATs and schools, in an area that underuses the levy and the opportunities it affords for high quality staff development. We are looking to recruit an Apprenticeship Operations Manager to help us develop the provision. This is a pivotal role if you want to make a real difference at a time when our business is growing. The success of our programme so far was recognised in our Ofsted monitoring visit in September 2023, where we were awarded with a ‘significant progress’ judgement across the provision.

The Apprenticeship Operations Manager will develop, implement and oversee our apprenticeship programme, leading on plans to ensure compliance with Ofsted’s framework and be ESFA audit ready. The apprenticeships will be for both our own schools as a MAT but also the wider education, so employer engagement within and beyond our own organisation will be pivotal. You will work closely with the CEO of Spencer Academies Trust and the senior leadership of the Spencer Alliance for Leadership and Teaching to ensure successful delivery of apprenticeships in order to maximise the achievement of outcomes and deliver the performance expectations of employers.

We are looking for a dynamic, inspirational individual who is forward thinking and committed to developing the service. Ideally you will have a working knowledge of Ofsted and ESFA requirements relating to apprenticeships, functional skills and End Point Assessment along with a good understanding of the Individual Learning Records System. Experience of working in a similar role in an organisational with Apprenticeship Provider status is desirable.

The suitable applicant will be friendly and organised with excellent time management and prioritisation skills. As an enthusiastic team player you would enjoy both the challenge and reward of encouraging, developing and inspiring staff to maximise their potential.

Summary of Role

• Responsibility to lead and manage the successful delivery of apprenticeships ensuring that Spencer Academies Trust apprenticeships are at the forefront of work-based learning delivery and innovation.

• Working with the trust leadership team, the Apprenticeship Operations Manager will scope and build our next 5 year vision and delivery plan to grow this strand of work within and beyond the organisation. Using prior knowledge of the sector and stakeholder engagement, they will support the organisation in building a suite of high-quality apprenticeships and develop a robust infrastructure to deliver.

• Oversee of team of colleagues, coordinating their shared passion for the successful delivery of our apprenticeship programmes. This includes: a coordinator for funding and compliance, an administrator, a lead Tutor Assessor, 3 further tutor assessors and two curriculum leads (TA and EIP).

• Lead on the quality assurance of the programme delivery to ensure consistency across the team to support out ambition of a high quality offer for all learners to ensure they are career ready

• The Apprenticeship Operations Manager will lead on performance against agreed KPIs and ensure that there is a high level of quality delivery of provider apprenticeship training meeting the needs of learners and developing new curriculum areas.

• Account to the Strategic Board, our dedicated governing body for the apprenticeship provision.

• Looking forward, the trust would like to build wider professional development programmes, such as safeguarding support officer, to support the work of schools and MATs.

• They will play a key role in achieving positive recognition with external agencies including Ofsted, ESFA, HEE, Awarding organisations and End Point Assessment organisations.

• Form part of a team that is responsible for achieving industry standards for achievement rates, audit compliance and learner progression.

How to Apply

• What are the timelines? This vacancy will be open for applications until Tuesday 24th September (9pm), with interviews taking place from Thursday 26th September.

• Want to find out more? If you would like to discuss the role further and find out more about us as an organisation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Tammy Elward, our Director of the SALT team – telward@spencertrust.org.uk

• Submitting an application? To apply, please send a CV with a cover letter to Tammy Elward, our Director of the SALT Team – telward@spencertrust.org.uk – successful applicants will be invited to interview and will be asked to complete the full application process.