Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
About Us
We are a growing education-based organisation committed to delivering outstanding education, early years provision and specialist support services. Operating across nurseries, schools and associated educational settings, we strive to achieve the highest standards of quality, safeguarding, governance and regulatory compliance.
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Quality Assurance Manager to lead our quality assurance and compliance function, ensuring that our services consistently meet statutory requirements and deliver excellent outcomes for children, young people, staff and stakeholders.
About the Role
Reporting to the Directors, the Quality Assurance Manager will be responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the organisation's quality assurance framework. The successful candidate will oversee internal audits, compliance monitoring, regulatory readiness, policy development and continuous quality improvement across all educational and early years services.
The role requires a strategic and analytical professional with excellent leadership, communication and problem-solving skills who can work collaboratively with managers to promote a culture of quality, accountability and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the organisation's quality assurance and continuous improvement programme across all education and early years services.
- Develop, implement and maintain the organisation's Quality Assurance Framework, policies and quality standards.
- Design and manage quality assurance systems to monitor compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
- Plan and conduct internal quality audits, compliance inspections and operational reviews across all sites.
- Monitor compliance with Ofsted requirements, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), safeguarding legislation, health and safety requirements, data protection legislation and organisational policies.
- Evaluate the quality of teaching, learning, childcare, operational processes and service delivery through structured quality assurance activities.
- Analyse audit findings, identify trends, risks and areas requiring improvement, and prepare detailed management reports.
- Develop, implement and monitor quality improvement action plans, ensuring recommendations are completed within agreed timescales.
- Work closely with senior leaders, managers and staff to embed a culture of continuous improvement and organisational excellence.
- Prepare services for external inspections, audits and regulatory visits, providing guidance and support throughout the inspection process.
- Review organisational policies, procedures and operational practices to ensure they remain compliant with current legislation and recognised best practice.
- Monitor safeguarding arrangements and contribute to safeguarding audits, ensuring effective systems are maintained.
- Oversee quality performance indicators, compliance dashboards and management information to support strategic decision-making.
- Investigate quality concerns, complaints and compliance issues, making recommendations to improve service delivery.
- Coordinate lessons learned from inspections, audits, complaints and incidents to strengthen organisational performance.
- Deliver training, guidance and coaching to managers and staff on quality assurance processes, compliance obligations and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Support risk management activities by identifying operational and regulatory risks and recommending appropriate mitigation measures.
- Liaise with regulators, local authorities, external auditors and other professional bodies where required.
- Contribute to strategic planning and organisational development initiatives.
- Promote a positive culture of accountability, transparency, quality and professional excellence throughout the organisation.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the responsibilities of the role.
Essential Requirements
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Quality Management, Education, Business Management, Healthcare, Compliance or a related discipline.
- Significant experience in a Quality Assurance, Compliance or Governance management role.
- Experience conducting audits, inspections or quality reviews within regulated environments.
- Excellent knowledge of quality assurance methodologies, continuous improvement principles and risk management.
- Strong understanding of Ofsted requirements, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), safeguarding and relevant education legislation.
- Experience developing quality assurance frameworks, policies and performance monitoring systems.
- Excellent analytical, organisational and report-writing skills.
- Strong leadership, influencing and stakeholder management abilities.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to interpret legislation, regulatory guidance and quality standards.
- High level of attention to detail and professional integrity.
- Competence in Microsoft Office applications and quality management systems.
Desirable
- Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor qualification.
- Experience working within schools, nurseries, colleges or multi-site education organisations.
- Knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems or equivalent quality standards.
- Experience supporting successful Ofsted inspections.
- Qualification or training in safeguarding or risk management.
- Experience developing organisational performance dashboards and quality metrics.
- Understanding of project management and organisational change.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary.
- Pension scheme.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Professional development and funded training opportunities.
- Opportunities for career progression within a growing organisation.
- Employee wellbeing initiatives.
- A supportive and collaborative working environment.
- The opportunity to play a key role in driving quality, compliance and continuous improvement across the organisation.
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to safer recruitment procedures, including an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, identity verification, Right to Work checks, qualification verification and any other pre-employment checks required by legislation.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
How to Apply
If you are passionate about quality, compliance and continuous improvement and have the expertise to help drive excellence across our education services, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please submit your CV together with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £48,300.00-£50,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
