Head of Apprenticeship Development and Quality

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…