Early Careers Apprentice Specialist

Stantec Inc.; Reading; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid / Flexible working

Competitive salary

Professional subscriptions paid

Job summary

Stantec is seeking an experienced Early Careers Apprentice Specialist to own our UK&I apprenticeship offering, ensuring high-quality, compliant learning experiences from onboarding through EPA and transition into roles.

You will liaise with universities, colleges and training providers, shape strategic partnerships, monitor performance, and ensure funding rules and governance across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing apprenticeship programmes with strong technical knowledge of apprenticeship standards.
• Detailed understanding of apprenticeship legislation, funding rules and compliance requirements.
• Experience coordinating with universities, colleges and training providers to support learner success.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the apprenticeship lifecycle from onboarding to EPA and transition into roles within the business.
• Develop strategic partnerships with universities and training providers to enable high-quality delivery.
• Govern provider governance, agreements and programme documentation with internal stakeholders.
• Monitor learner progression, provider performance and programme outcomes.

Skills

Apprenticeship programmes

Stakeholder engagement

Compliance knowledge

Programme governance

Data reporting

Job description

We're looking for an experienced Early Careers Apprentice Specialist to take ownership of Stantec's apprenticeship offering across the UK&I, ensuring apprentices receive a high-quality, compliant and well-supported learning experience throughout their academic journey and into their professional careers. This is an important role that combines apprenticeship expertise, compliance, programme management and stakeholder engagement. As Stantec's apprenticeship subject matter expert, you'll work closely with training providers, universities, People Leaders, Talent Acquisition and HR to shape the future of our apprenticeship offering, ensuring programmes deliver exceptional learner outcomes while remaining aligned with funding, regulatory and business requirements. Working across multiple apprenticeship standards, disciplines and locations, you'll be a trusted advisor to the business, bringing the confidence and credibility to influence stakeholders at all levels, challenge constructively when required and drive continuous improvement across our apprenticeship provision. About the Role As the business' Early Careers Apprentice Specialist, you'll oversee the academic support liaison in addition to aspects of the apprentice lifecycle, from onboarding and enrolment through to progression reviews, Gateway, End Point Assessment (EPA), programme completion and transition into experienced or qualified roles within the business. You'll act as the primary liaison between Stantec and our network of universities, colleges and training providers, developing strategic partnerships that support learner success and high-quality programme delivery. You'll monitor provider performance, learner progression, achievement rates and service quality, ensuring programmes align with Stantec's standards, values and learner expectations. Acting as the organisation's apprenticeship technical expert, you'll provide trusted advice on apprenticeship legislation, compliance requirements, funding rules and programme best practice across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You'll support Talent Acquisition teams with apprenticeship recruitment activity, reviewing candidate suitability and advising on programme eligibility and pathways. You'll also take ownership of apprenticeship governance, provider agreements and programme documentation, reviewing contractual and legal documentation with training providers and working collaboratively with internal stakeholders to ensure arrangements are compliant, commercially appropriate and aligned with business requirements. Operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, you'll balance multiple stakeholders, priorities and complex activities while ensuring apprentices, People Leaders and training partners receive a consistently high standard of support. Your Impact You'll play a key role in ensuring Stantec's apprentices receive an outstanding learning experience, supporting them to successfully progress through their academic programmes and into professional careers within the business. By building strong relationships with universities and training providers, you'll influence programme quality, learner outcomes and continuous improvement, helping to drive strong retention, achievement and EPA success rates. Your expertise will provide confidence and clarity to People Leaders, Talent Acquisition teams and business stakeholders navigating an increasingly complex apprenticeship landscape. Through effective governance, data management and performance reporting, you'll provide insights that inform workforce planning, levy investment and future programme development. You'll continually identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen partnerships and enhance the apprentice experience, helping position Stantec as an employer of choice for apprentices.
You'll be an experienced apprenticeship, learning or early careers professional with strong technical knowledge of apprenticeship programmes, funding and compliance requirements. You'll be confident operating in a complex environment, balancing competing priorities while building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.,
You'll be a dynamic, proactive and commercially aware professional who can build credibility quickly, influence decisions and hold your own in conversations with senior leaders, universities, training providers and external partners. Above all, you'll be passionate about supporting learner success, improving programme quality and ensuring Stantec's apprenticeship programmes continue to deliver exceptional outcomes for both apprentices and the business.
The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities. Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients' vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today's challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities. Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world-class talent is a crucial key to our success.

• Significant experience managing apprenticeship programmes with strong technical knowledge of apprenticeship standards, particularly Level 6 programmes.
• Detailed understanding of apprenticeship legislation, funding rules and compliance requirements across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Experience supporting apprentices through key milestones including onboarding, academic progression reviews, Gateway, End Point Assessment (EPA) and transition into experienced or qualified roles.
• Strong experience managing relationships with universities, colleges and apprenticeship training providers, with the ability to develop strategic partnerships that drive quality and performance.
• Experience reviewing, interpreting and managing provider agreements, contracts and other programme-related documentation.
• The confidence, presence and credibility to influence, challenge and advise stakeholders at all levels, acting as a trusted business partner.
• Experience monitoring learner progression, provider performance, compliance and programme outcomes.
• The ability to identify and proactively manage learner welfare, retention and performance risks, coordinating appropriate support where required.
• Experience acting as a trusted advisor to People Leaders and senior stakeholders on apprenticeship matters.
• Experience supporting apprenticeship recruitment activity, including reviewing candidate suitability and advising on programme pathways.
• Knowledge of UK employment practices and experience partnering with HR and Client Services teams to support apprentice-related matters.
• Strong analytical capability, with experience managing apprenticeship data, reporting, dashboards and programme performance metrics.
• Exceptional organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage a high volume of complex activity, multiple stakeholders and competing priorities simultaneously.

You'll be a dynamic, proactive and commercially aware professional who can build credibility quickly, influence decisions and hold your own in conversations with senior leaders, universities, training providers and external partners. Above all, you'll be passionate about supporting learner success, improving programme quality and ensuring Stantec's apprenticeship programmes continue to deliver exceptional outcomes for both apprentices and the business.

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities. Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients' vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today's challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities. Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world-class talent is a crucial key to our success.

• We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Named 'Best Place to Work' and 'International Consulting Firm of the Year' at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups)
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK - we want you to be part of it!
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.