Apprentice and Stakeholder Experience Operations Manager (0166-26 DE22 1GB

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Institute of Education and Skills (IoES) at the University of Derby is a vibrant, values-driven community with a strong national reputation for excellence in education and skills development. We are proud of our 'Outstanding' Initial Teacher Training and Education (ITTE) and 'Good' FE & Skills provision, which underpins our commitment to transforming lives through high-quality, inclusive education.

Ambitious and forward-looking, the IoES is entering an exciting phase of growth. We are expanding and strengthening our FE and Skills provision across Buxton, Chesterfield and the Nuclear Skills Academy, responding to regional and national priorities and working closely with industry to deliver future-focused curricula.

This is an opportunity to join a university that is bold in its vision, collaborative in its culture and committed to innovation, impact and learner/apprentice success. If you want to help shape the future of FE and Skills within a supportive, high-performing institute, the IoES at Derby is the place to do it.

The Apprentice and Stakeholder Experience Operations Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for apprenticeship and skills delivery. The role is responsible for ensuring a high-quality, consistent and compliant experience across the full apprentice and employer journey, translating regulatory requirements and policy into effective institutional practice.

Core responsibilities include overseeing quality assurance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement across FE and HE apprenticeship provision; embedding robust and auditable processes in line with ESFA, OfS, QAA and Ofsted requirements; and ensuring effective coordination of end-point assessment activity in partnership with Registry teams. The post holder leads on the development and use of systems to capture and respond to apprentice, employer and stakeholder feedback, using data to inform decision-making and enhance outcomes.

The role also includes responsibility for stakeholder and employer engagement, working collaboratively with internal teams to strengthen partnerships, support business development and contribute to income generation. Acting as a key point of coordination across FE and HE academic units and professional services, the post holder ensures consistent standards and effective governance. The role has line management responsibility for Apprenticeship and Stakeholder Experience Coordinators and administrative staff, providing leadership, direction and performance management to support high-quality service delivery.

The primary location for this role can be flexible with the post holder based at either our Kedleston Road or Nuclear Skills Academy (NSA) sites in Derby, or our Buxton site. The role will require regular travel to Buxton and the NSA.

You will be an experienced leader in apprenticeships and skills, with a strong track record of delivering high-quality, compliant provision within Further and/or Higher Education. You will hold an honours degree (or…