Programme Manager ESOL

Thurrock Council; Thurrock; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority seeks a Programme Manager for ESOL responsible for leading and inspiring a team of tutors. The role involves developing ESOL courses, ensuring learner success, and maximizing funding. Ideal candidates will have experience teaching ESOL to adults, curriculum design expertise, and strong multitasking skills. Benefits include a generous annual leave entitlements, pension scheme, and professional development opportunities. Join us to make a difference in the community.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working opportunities

Ongoing training and professional development

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience teaching ESOL to adults.
• Good knowledge of Adult Skills funding and its rules.
• Ambitions and the ability to work collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Manage and motivate a small team of tutors for ESOL courses.
• Develop a portfolio of ESOL courses ensuring student success.
• Maximise funding through innovative curriculum planning.

Skills

ESOL teaching experience

Curriculum design experience

Quality management

Mentoring skills

Multitasking abilities

Education

Teaching qualification relevant to post-16 provision

ESOL specialism qualification

English and Maths at Level 2

Job description

Job Title: Programme Manager – ESOL – Thurrock Adult Community College

Annual Salary: £40,965 – £46,671 pro rata (actual £32,772 – £37,336.80); depending on qualifications and experience plus £598 fringe allowance pro rata (actual £478.40 per annum)

Grade: TACC Programme Area Managers, SCP 13-17

Employment Type: Permanent – 52 weeks per year

Hours per Week: 29.6 (0.8 FTE), Monday to Friday (including evenings/Saturdays as & when required)

About the Department

Thurrock Adult Community College is the local authority's provider of adult education for Thurrock. Our main base is in the Old Court House in Grays, but we deliver courses across the borough. Thurrock Adult Community College is a good provider, a rewarding place to work and an inspiring place to learn.

About the Role

As a Programme Manager for ESOL, you will:

• Manage, inspire and motivate a small but growing team of tutors delivering accredited and non-accredited ESOL courses. Making sure planning, delivering and monitoring of teaching, learning and assessment takes place at the highest standards for our learners.
• Be an outstanding teaching, learning and assessment practitioner.
• Manage and develop a designated portfolio of ESOL courses, ensuring learners reach their full potential and the college maximises its funding drawdown.
• Maximise funding drawdown through innovative curriculum planning.
• Ensure good quality provision within ESOL, resulting in high attendance, retention and achievement rates.

What We're Looking For

• An ESOL specialism with experience of teaching ESOL to adults.
• Experience of curriculum design using Tailored Learning and Adult Skills funding, preferably in ESOL.
• Experience of curriculum management in adult community learning, preferably in ESOL.
• Good knowledge of Adult Skills funding and its rules.
• Experience of quality management and quality improvement within adult community learning.
• Experience of mentoring and developing new tutors.
• Ambitions, focus and the ability to work collaboratively with others for continuous improvement in order to contribute to our journey to outstanding.
• Good multitasking skills and the ability to prioritise workloads to meet deadlines.

Essential Qualifications

• Teaching qualification relevant to post-16 provision.
• ESOL specialism qualification.
• English and Maths at Level 2.

DBS Check: An Enhanced DBS with Child and Adult Barred List checks is required.

Benefits of Working with Us

• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable).
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Staff discounts and local offers.
• A supportive and inclusive working environment.

Important Dates

• Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 22nd January 2026.
• Closing Date (Internal & External): 8th February 2026.
• Interview Date: To be confirmed.

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Fay Stone – Vice Principal

Application Requirements

The college is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults. As such, as part of our recruitment process we may undertake social media checks on all successful applicants.

As part of the Safer Recruitment process, Gap Management is required for all Safeguarding roles. Please complete the Gaps in Employment grid provided (refer to the example document for guidance) and upload it under Miscellaneous Documents as part of your application.

If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.