As a Senior Apprenticeships Development Manager, the post holder will work to support regional teams and systems to maximize the potential of apprenticeships. The post is responsible for providing professional expertise to the outcome of the business processes for the Department or Directorate.
The Senior Apprenticeship Specialist (AfC Band 8b) sits within the Workforce, Training and Education directorate, in the Supply, Design and People Services Development sub-directorate. The role exists to help the NHS maximise the potential of apprenticeships as a key workforce supply route, supporting regions and local systems to expand uptake and embed good practice. Working with the Apprenticeships Lead and accountable to the Associate Director of Supply Development, the postholder provides senior, specialist expertise to shape processes, products and guidance that enable employers to make best use of apprenticeships and other alternative supply approaches. The post is delivered in a complex and often politically sensitive environment, requiring confident communication with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. This includes building and sustaining partnerships across the NHS England matrix, supporting stakeholder briefings, and presenting complex and sometimes contentious information in formal settings.
Improving quality and outcomes
- To support the development of national initiatives to maximize the opportunities to introduce new and different people to the NHS.
- Developing guidance and other supportive approaches which will assist health and care employers to maximise the use of apprenticeships.
- To work collaboratively across the NHS England matrix, including integrating the National Director’s portfolio.
Operational
- As a senior lead working internally and externally to deliver projects, initiatives and services to time and in a cost-effective way.
To support the identification and sharing of best practice in apprenticeships to support service improvement.
- To operate in a highly political and sensitive environment.
- Support the portfolio of programmes/projects in demonstrating value for money tracking, managing and delivering agreed benefits.
- Provide specialist advice and prepare strategic reports and briefings for directors and stakeholders.
- In depth analysis, interpretation and production of complex and multiple reports.
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.
Operational working knowledge of apprenticeships
Knowledge of the NHS terms and conditions of service and their application to apprentices and other supply approaches.
Extensive knowledge of apprenticeships acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master’s level equivalent.
Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement.
Have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and individual employers and commissioning organisations.
Experience of budgetary responsible, including budget setting with evidence of working knowledge of financial processes
Experience of building effective cross functional working relationships to drive organisational agenda
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
