Hybrid Apprenticeship Outcomes Officer

University of the Built Environment; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job description

Please note that this is an expression of interest and not a current vacancy.

Whilst we do not currently have a vacancy available, we are keen to receive applications from those who would like to be considered for the role of Apprenticeship Outcomes Officer (AOO) at some point in the future. As the University continues to grow and expand its academic offering, the need for AOOs to support our students also continues to grow.

You will need to submit your application below and ‘connect’ with our Apprenticeship Outcomes team via the Careers Site to be added to our AOO pool.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Employment status and working hours

Please note on your application if you would be interested in being considered for part‑time or full‑time vacancies that may arise.

Organisation structure

Chief Operating Officer, Apprenticeship Outcomes.

Your line manager will be an Apprenticeship Outcomes Manager.

Place of work flexibility

Your time will be split between the Horizons, Reading office and your home*. The exact split of days/hours is negotiable but will include up to 30 days per year at Horizons. *Working from home is only possible if your environment is suitable.

High level summary of job role

As an Apprenticeship Outcomes Officer, you will manage a caseload of apprentices to achieve timely and successful outcomes. You will plan for and facilitate high quality progress reviews where the apprentice and the employer take the lead in reviewing the progress made. As part of this you will facilitate the setting of targets that stretch and challenge the apprentice, to ensure they achieve their maximum potential. You will monitor each allocated apprentice’s participation in off‑the‑job training and ensure that the requirements for apprenticeship funding are met.

You will maintain accurate records of apprentice progress and other factors within each apprentice’s e‑portfolio. You will also provide non‑technical support and guidance to employers of apprentices in allocated caseloads, to enable them to understand and fulfil the requirements of the apprenticeship and to support their apprentice(s) to achieve. You will also undertake administrative duties relating to changes of circumstances, gateway progression and processing apprenticeship gateway completions in the allocated caseload.

Specific job role accountabilities and responsibilities

• Schedule, plan for and undertake high‑quality progress monitoring and review activity for an allocated apprentice caseload.
• Monitor each allocated apprentice’s participation in off‑the‑job training and ensure, through taking interventions as appropriate, that the requirements for apprenticeship funding are met.
• Maintain accurate records of apprentice progress and other factors within each allocated apprentice’s e‑portfolio. This will include recording progress against milestones, updating milestone dates as appropriate and maintaining a journal.
• Be jointly accountable, with the relevant Apprenticeship Outcome Manager, for the achievement of retention and success targets for apprentices in allocated caseload.
• Provide non‑technical support and guidance to employers of apprentices in allocated caseload to enable them to understand and fulfil the requirements of the apprenticeship and to support their apprentice(s) to achieve.
• Respond to Student Central queries relating to apprentices in allocated caseload.
• Contribute to apprentice on‑boarding activities, to include completing additional progress reviews as required to support the needs of the apprenticeship business.
• Undertake required aspects of administrative work in relation to changes of circumstances, gateway progression and completions for apprenticeships in the allocated caseload.
• Support the implementation of outstanding Safeguarding practice (including health, safety and welfare) across the University’s apprenticeship team, in liaison with University staff with designated responsibilities for Safeguarding.
• Follow‑up on and where appropriate refer any health and safety issues/concerns identified as part of apprentice progress reviews or by any other means.
• Support the compliance of the University’s apprenticeship programme delivery with ESFA requirements and partnership lead provider requirements.
• Support self‑assessment and quality improvement planning activity.
• Support the integration of the University’s apprenticeship provision into its core business.

Other important features of the job role

Line management responsibilities: None.

Budget responsibility: None.

In this role you will liaise with the following: Apprentices, Employers, Apprenticeship team, Student Outreach team, Academic team, Business Development team.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

E = Essential person requirement; D = Desirable person requirement

How the person requirement will be assessed:

A = Application; I = Interview; T = Test or other assessment

Please be aware that as part of onboarding processes, we will seek original documentary evidence of the relevant academic and/or professional qualifications which you include within your job application. This is all part of our comprehensive pre‑employment screening which also includes checking your identity, right to work, criminal record history (basic disclosure), and three years employment history.

Qualifications and training

Level 3 or higher qualification or equivalent workplace experience (D, A, I).

Evidence of recent professional development (D, A, I).

Further education level qualifications (D, A, I).

Coaching or counselling qualification (D, A, I).

Degree level qualification or equivalent (D, A, I).

Previous experience

Experience in a similar role (E, A, I).

Supporting learners/apprentices in identifying and setting own SMART targets (E, A, I).

Working within the Higher Education sector/Built Environment sector (D, A, I).

Standards‑based apprenticeship delivery including end‑point assessment processes (D, A, I).

Using Microsoft Teams or Zoom for virtual meetings (D, A, I).

Skills, knowledge, and aptitudes

Verbal and written communication skills (E, A, I).

Planning and organisational skills, with the ability to work flexibly and adapt readily to changing circumstances (E, I).

Digital skills confidence: We use MS Office which includes Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and several other systems/technology (E, I, T).

Ability to motivate and support others to achieve their goals (E, I).

Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage competing priorities in a highly pressurised environment (E, A, I).

Attention to detail (E, A, I).

Knowledge of Safeguarding and Prevent Duty requirements (D, I).

Understanding of apprenticeship funding methodologies and funding rule requirements (D, A, I).

Knowledge of the Maths and English functional skills curriculum, initial and diagnostic assessment processes and skills development resources, e.g. BKSB or similar (D, A, I).

Understanding of the Education Inspection Framework and Ofsted inspection processes (D, A, I).

Other requirements or special requirements

Alignment to the University’s core values of Passion, Integrity, Excellence and Support; all employees are expected to demonstrate our values at work (E, I).

Commitment to delivering positive outcomes for our students; we want our students to be successful (E, I).

You must be prepared to undertake mandatory online training should you be appointed including Data Protection, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Prevent, and EDI (E, I).

PAY AND BENEFITS

Salary: Salary £30,942 per annum.

Holiday: 26 days paid holiday (rising to 28 with service) plus paid bank/public holidays plus up to five paid closure days (typically between Christmas and New Year); all per holiday year Full Time Equivalent. Our holiday year runs from 1 August to 31 July. We also have a holiday buy and sell scheme in place. Sometimes the University does not need to close for five days per year and any balance (for example one day), can be used as a paid Wellbeing Day to take time out for your own physical or mental health.

Pension and life assurance: Pensions auto‑enrolment to the People’s Pension which is a default salary sacrifice scheme. You may opt out of salary sacrifice but remain in the scheme, or you may choose to opt out altogether. We provide life assurance (death in service) cover as standard to all employees.

Family‑friendly policies: Policies in place for all types of family‑friendly statutory leave with enhanced pay available from day one of employment for some leave types. Access to Tax‑Free Childcare (Government scheme).

Wellbeing: Full access to the Employee Assistance Programme as well as the Thrive Mental Wellbeing app. Several employees are trained Mental Health First Aiders and can support staff. We have a wellbeing policy and we focus on five pillars of wellbeing.

Sustainable travel: Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice schemes.

Parking: We have locked sheds for bicycles. For cars, for Horizons based roles, we may in the future be able to offer parking on site however you must not assume this will be possible. Every now and then we may have a spare parking space become available and you can ask to join the waiting list. The University is keen wherever possible, to encourage staff to commute as sustainably as possible.

Other health related benefits: Employer‑funded Health Cash Plan (Simplyhealth) and voluntary dental insurance (Unum).

Other valuable benefits:

• Charity giving options available including one voluntary paid day, per annum.
• You will have access to Microsoft Office 365 applications for personal use.
• You will have access to range of lifestyle discounts and everyday savings.
• We offer learning platforms including LinkedIn learning.

On the Join the team page of our website, you will find the full list of employee benefits.

APPLICATIONS - THINGS TO CONSIDER

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Rebecca Bickerton on 0118 467 2154 or email [e-mail]. For any other enquiries please contact HR on 0118 467 2454 / 2433 or email [e-mail].

Did one of our employees recommend you? If you apply on the recommendation of an existing employee, please make sure to mention their name within your application.

We're passionate about sustainability and we have a five‑year strategic plan: We expect job seekers to be curious about who we are and what we do. We point you towards a couple of resources about who we are and sustainability.

Closing date and next steps

This is an open advert, and successful candidates will be added to our AOO pool and considered for future opportunities. Our ATS does not screen applications, we humans do. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and you will receive a response from us to inform you of the outcome of your application.

If you are interested in being considered for future Apprenticeship Outcomes vacancies, please ‘connect’ with our Careers Site so we can reach out to you should a vacancy become available.

Interview details

Dates for interview will be advised to you when a vacancy arises. We'll ask you to tell us about any dates you cannot make, up to 4 weeks from the closing date; this helps us to plan interviews should you be shortlisted, prior to contacting you.

Interviews are normally carried out over Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Depending on the job role and place of work, your interview may be at our Reading or London office. Please be prepared for a two‑stage interview process, held on different dates. As part of the interview process, you will likely meet a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Note for internal candidates

If you are an existing employee, we request you inform your current line manager of your intention to apply for this role.