Head of Apprenticeship Development and Quality

S Knights Recruitment; Brighton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

S Knights Recruitment is assisting an established adult education organisation in East Sussex to appoint a Head of Apprenticeship Development and Quality. You will shape apprenticeship strategy, drive quality and compliance, and build strong employer partnerships to ensure high-quality learner outcomes.

Role requires strategic leadership across curriculum, funding, digital learning and e-portfolio delivery, with a focus on continuous improvement and learner progression.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in developing and improving apprenticeship provision within FE or similar.
• Strong knowledge of apprenticeship standards, funding rules, EPA processes and Ofsted.
• Experience leading SAR, QIP, quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic growth of apprenticeship provision and establish new employer partnerships.
• Oversee budgets and performance of apprenticeship programmes and ensure funding is used effectively.
• Monitor KPIs: recruitment, retention, achievement, completion, learner and employer satisfaction.
• Lead SAR and QIP processes and ensure actions are embedded.
• Ensure programmes align with standards, funding rules, EPA requirements and Ofsted expectations.
• Oversee quality assurance activities and digital learning initiatives.

Skills

Quality assurance

Curriculum development

Compliance

Strategic growth

Employer partnerships

Digital learning

e-portfolio development

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Education

PGCE / DET or equivalent

Tools

MIS

e-portfolio

Digital learning technologies

Job description

Head of Apprenticeship Development and Quality

Location: East Sussex

Salary: £40,000 - £50,000

Contract: Full-time | Permanent

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced apprenticeship leader with a strong background in quality assurance, curriculum development, compliance and strategic growth?

This is an exciting opportunity to take strategic ownership of apprenticeship development and quality within an established adult education organisation. You will play a key role in shaping apprenticeship strategy, strengthening quality and compliance, developing employer partnerships and ensuring apprentices receive a high-quality learning experience that supports achievement, progression and career development.

The role is ideally suited to a senior apprenticeship professional who understands the wider Further Education, work-based learning and Employability & Skills landscape and can combine strategic thinking with hands-on expertise across quality, curriculum, funding, digital learning and employer engagement.

About the Organisation

Our client is an established adult education organisation delivering distinctive learning and development opportunities through experiential, practical and vocational education.

The organisation has a strong focus on developing learners both personally and professionally, combining practical skills, vocational competence and work-based learning to support positive progression outcomes.

You'll be joining an organisation where learner development, quality, innovation and community are central to the learning experience, with the opportunity to play a key role in shaping and expanding its apprenticeship provision.

The organisation is committed to developing a high-quality apprenticeship offer that reflects employer needs, occupational standards and evolving expectations across the Further Education and skills landscape.

Why Join?

• Lead the strategic growth and development of apprenticeship provision within an established education environment.
• Influence apprenticeship quality, curriculum development, compliance and learner outcomes.
• Develop innovative delivery models incorporating experiential, vocational and work-based learning.
• Build relationships with employers, EPA organisations, awarding bodies and external partners.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, digital learning and e-portfolio development.
• Help shape an apprenticeship provision focused on learner achievement, progression and employer satisfaction.

The Role

As Head of Apprenticeship Development and Quality, you will provide strategic leadership for the establishment, development and continuous improvement of the organisation's apprenticeship provision.

You will lead across quality assurance, curriculum development, compliance, funding, employer engagement, performance management and apprenticeship growth, ensuring programmes remain aligned with occupational standards, apprenticeship requirements, Ofsted expectations, funding rules and employer needs.

Working collaboratively with curriculum, finance, quality and external stakeholders, you will ensure apprenticeship provision is educationally effective, commercially sustainable and capable of delivering strong learner and employer outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic growth of apprenticeship provision by identifying new markets, opportunities, employer partnerships and sustainable development opportunities.
• Develop and monitor apprenticeship budgets and performance, working with finance teams to support effective use of funding and long-term sustainability.
• Monitor key performance indicators including recruitment, retention, achievement, completion, learner satisfaction and employer satisfaction, implementing improvement actions where required.
• Lead the Self-Assessment Report (SAR) and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) processes, ensuring actions are monitored, evaluated and effectively embedded.
• Ensure apprenticeship programmes align with occupational standards, Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs), funding rules, EPA requirements and Ofsted expectations.
• Lead quality assurance activities including internal verification, audits, sampling, learner reviews, assessment materials and Teaching, Learning and Assessment.
• Support curriculum design and programme development, ensuring apprenticeship delivery models remain innovative, relevant, responsive and aligned with employer and learner needs.
• Lead the improvement and consistent use of e-portfolio, MIS and digital learning systems, ensuring accurate evidence capture, reporting, learner tracking and quality monitoring.
• Build and manage effective relationships with employers, End-Point Assessment organisations, awarding bodies, curriculum teams and external partners to strengthen delivery and identify new opportunities.
• Monitor government policy, apprenticeship reforms and sector developments, providing clear guidance and briefing information to administrative, quality and curriculum teams.
• Analyse learner and employer feedback, performance data and quality intelligence to identify trends, risks and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Ensure apprentices receive appropriate support with English and maths, safeguarding, Prevent, equality, diversity, inclusion and additional learning needs.
• Represent the organisation at employer forums, conferences, seminars and webinars, promoting the apprenticeship offer and developing strategic partnerships.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for an experienced apprenticeship and quality professional with a proven track record of developing and improving apprenticeship provision within Further Education, work-based learning, independent training providers or the wider Employability & Skills sector.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience leading or significantly developing apprenticeship provision within Further Education or work-based learning.
• Strong knowledge of apprenticeship standards, funding rules, EPA processes, compliance requirements and the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework.
• Demonstrable experience leading SAR, QIP, quality assurance, auditing, monitoring and continuous improvement activity.
• Experience of curriculum design, programme development and high-quality Teaching, Learning and Assessment.
• Strong understanding of apprenticeship funding, off-the-job training, learner progression, achievement and employer engagement.
• Experience using e-portfolios, MIS, learner management systems and digital learning technologies to support apprenticeship delivery, compliance and quality.
• Strong analytical, report-writing, communication, stakeholder management and strategic decision-making skills.
• A teaching, training, assessor or IQA qualification such as PGCE, DET or equivalent would be advantageous.
• An understanding of experiential, therapeutic, craft-based, land-based or alternative educational approaches would be desirable.