Apprenticeship Compliance and Contracts Manager

Northeastern University London; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A higher education institution in the UK is seeking an Apprenticeship Compliance and Contracts Manager to oversee contract management and compliance for funded apprenticeship programs. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in apprenticeship compliance, including experience with DWP funding rules. Key responsibilities include managing the contract lifecycle, ensuring regulatory adherence, and fostering partnerships with stakeholders. This role demands exceptional communication skills and the ability to analyze data for performance metrics.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in apprenticeship compliance management required.
• Proven track record in contract lifecycle management needed.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end contract lifecycle management.
• Develop quality assurance frameworks and conduct compliance audits.
• Monitor regulatory changes and translate them into operational requirements.

Skills

Apprenticeship compliance management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Contract lifecycle management

Organizational skills

MS Office proficiency

Education

Honours degree or equivalent professional qualification

Tools

Learner Management Systems (LMS)

Power BI

Job description

Overview

Northeastern University London (NU London) wishes to appoint an Apprenticeship Compliance and Contracts Manager to lead the compliance, contract management, and regulatory requirements across our funded provision. This role is instrumental in ensuring operational excellence, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement within our Degree Apprenticeship programmes and other funded initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end contract lifecycle management, ensuring all Contracts for Services, Funding Agreements, Training Plans, Apprenticeship Agreements, and Sub-Contractor Contracts align with regulatory requirements and organisational risk appetite
• Develop and implement quality assurance frameworks to proactively identify compliance gaps before they impact funding or audit outcomes
• Own the monthly ILR submission process, implement controls and validation checks that ensure data accuracy
• Conduct regular compliance audits and risk assessments, create action plans to address vulnerabilities in apprenticeship delivery and funding processes
• Monitor and interpret changes to DWP Funding Rules, translating regulatory updates into operational requirements and staff training needs
• Drive continuous improvement of learner enrolment, on-programme support, and end point assessment processes through data analysis and stakeholder feedback
• Lead the strategic utilisation of the LMS (Maytas), designing reporting mechanisms that provide early warning indicators of learner risk and operational bottlenecks
• Analyse PDSAT reports monthly to identify systemic issues and trends, implementing preventative measures rather than reactive corrections
• Develop and refine onboarding workflows that enhance quality, reduce administrative burden, and improve the user experience
• Champion digital transformation initiatives that streamline processes and improve data integrity
• Maintain strategic oversight of the Apprenticeship Service account, proactively monitoring funding flows and resolving discrepancies that could impact revenue
• Lead funding diversification efforts, establishing robust administration and compliance frameworks for Skills Bootcamps and other funded programs
• Develop KPIs and performance metrics that track operational efficiency, and compliance rates of apprenticeship delivery
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with internal teams, employers, training providers, and regulatory bodies, setting clear expectations for communication standards and turnaround times
• Guide and support administrative team members, fostering a culture of compliance excellence and continuous improvement
• Act as the primary escalation point for complex compliance queries, contract disputes, and funding issues
• Represent the department in cross-functional projects and regulatory audits
• Establish comprehensive record-keeping protocols that ensure audit-readiness and support evidence-based decision making
• Create management information reports that inform senior leadership on compliance status, funding performance, and operational risks
• Lead Break-In-Learning (BIL) and Withdrawal processes, ensuring timely ILR updates used for retention strategies
• Support the Business and Partnership Development & Apprenticeships Senior Management Team
• Adhere to the GDPR/Data Protection Act
• Participate in the University appraisal process and take responsibility for identifying your own professional and career development needs
• Foster a positive work environment with a good team spirit, including the wider support teams, with student experience at the forefront of all efforts
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of Operations and Quality Lead (Apprenticeships) within the grading of the post

Qualifications

• Honours degree or equivalent professional qualification and/or vocational qualification
• Substantial experience in apprenticeship compliance management, with expert knowledge of DWP funding rules, ILR submissions, and audit frameworks
• Proven track record in contract lifecycle management and strategic oversight of regulatory requirements
• Proficiency in using learner management systems (LMS) and the Apprenticeship Service Account, with ability to develop dashboards, analyse data, and create performance metrics that inform decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to identify compliance risks, lead process optimisation initiatives, and translate regulatory changes into operational improvements
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with experience managing complex multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience working within a Further/Higher Education environment
• Outstanding organisational skills with proven ability to manage strategic priorities autonomously while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and composure under pressure
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office (particularly Excel), with strong data governance practices and comprehensive understanding of GDPR requirements
• Desirable: Experience in use of Power BI or similar business intelligence tools