Quality Officer

Durham County Council; Seaham; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking a Quality Assurance Coordinator role that focuses on driving quality improvement in employment and skills services. The ideal candidate will have Level 4 in Careers Guidance or significant experience in quality assurance. Responsibilities include monitoring delivery standards, conducting audits, and developing improvement plans. This temporary position offers flexible working arrangements and a competitive rewards package.

Benefits

27 days annual leave (rising to 32 after five years)

Membership in Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Significant experience in quality assurance required.
• Experience with Employment and Skills programmes management.
• Ability to develop self-assessment and improvement policies.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of systems to monitor IAG service standards.
• Conduct quality audits of client records.
• Lead the Quality Improvement Plan.
• Identify enhancements through data analysis.

Skills

Quality assurance

Performance management

Client record analysis

Matrix Standard knowledge

Education

Level 4 in Careers Guidance and Development or equivalent

Job description

Are you passionate about driving quality and continuous improvement in employment and skills services? Do you have a keen eye for detail and a proactive mindset? If so, Employability Durham wants to hear from you. This is temporary until 31 December 2026.

What Is Involved?

Employability Durham sits within the Economic Development Service and the wider Regeneration Economy and Growth directorate, providing a comprehensive range of services designed to support both individuals and employers across County Durham. Our mission is to strengthen the local economy and help people overcome barriers to employment through tailored training, skills development, and personalised quality information, advice and guidance. We specialise in supporting those who are long‑term unemployed or furthest from the labour market, helping them build confidence, reconnect with their communities, and explore meaningful pathways toward employment.

You Will:

• Support the development of systems and processes to monitor the delivery of IAG services to ensure high quality standards in adherence to our minimum standards.
• Undertake regular samples of client records on our CRM system to complete quality audits to ensure advisers are adhering to service/contract Minimum Standards. Conduct audits and analyse data to identify areas for enhancement.
• Develop a self‑assessment and Quality Improvement Plan on a yearly basis to support Matrix Standard Assessment to ensure continuous improvement across Employability Durham.
• Lead the monitoring and review of the Quality Improvement Plan to ensure that the actions identified in the plan are on target to support continuous quality improvement across Employability Durham delivery.

We encourage you to contact Adam Richardson, Performance Co‑ordinator via email at [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

What Will I Need?

• Level 4 in Careers Guidance and Development or equivalent OR significant experience in quality assurance
• Experience of quality and performance management in relation to the delivery of Employment and Skills programmes.
• Experience of developing and managing self‑assessment and quality improvement policies and processes.
• Knowledge of the Matrix Standard with regards to the delivery of IAG services within the Employment and Skills sector.

Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria.

Interviews

Interviews will be held on Thursday 18 December 2025.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked‑after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

Our Offer to You

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of an excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

How to Apply

Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website.

If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email [e-mail].

We welcome applications from disabled people and those who are or consider themselves to be neurodivergent.

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