Operations Manager - Adult Skills
Salary: £40,000
Location: Hybrid, London - Local and National travel may be required
Job Type: Full Time, Permanent
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the delivery of funded adult learning, vocational training and employability programmes. This is a fantastic opportunity for an operational leader who is passionate about delivering high-quality learner outcomes while ensuring compliance with funding, quality and contractual requirements.
You will provide leadership to a team of Adult Skills Tutors, overseeing the full learner journey and ensuring performance targets, quality standards and organisational objectives are achieved. You will play a key role in driving operational excellence, continuous improvement and service development while building strong relationships with internal teams, employers, commissioners and delivery partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the effective delivery of funded adult learning, vocational training and employability programmes, ensuring contractual, quality and performance targets are achieved.
- Manage operational performance through workforce planning, resource allocation and effective performance management.
- Monitor learner performance, attendance, retention, achievement and progression, implementing timely interventions where required.
- Use management information, dashboards and data analysis to drive continuous improvement and maximise contract performance.
- Ensure delivery complies with funding regulations, awarding body requirements, quality frameworks and inspection standards.
- Support the implementation of new programmes, contracts and operational initiatives.
- Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team through coaching, performance reviews, training and professional development.
- Manage recruitment, onboarding, induction and ongoing performance of direct reports.
- Foster a positive, inclusive and learner-focused culture across the delivery team.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with employers, commissioners, subcontractors and external stakeholders.
- Support contract management activities, customer engagement and business growth opportunities.
- Work collaboratively with internal departments including Quality, Compliance, Learner Engagement and Safeguarding.
- Ensure learner records, attendance, progress and achievement documentation are accurate and compliant.
- Support internal audits, external inspections, quality assurance activities and continuous improvement planning.
- Promote safeguarding, Prevent, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and learner wellbeing across all areas of delivery.
- Contribute to organisational development by supporting new products, services, bids and operational improvements.
Skills and Experience
- Proven experience managing operational teams within an adult skills, employability or funded training environment.
- Experience delivering against contractual performance targets and quality measures.
- Strong leadership experience managing teams across multiple locations and remote environments.
- Excellent performance management skills with the ability to motivate, coach and develop high-performing teams.
- Strong analytical skills with experience using performance data, dashboards and management information to drive operational improvement.
- Excellent planning, organisational, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Good understanding of Ofsted requirements, quality assurance processes and funded learning compliance.
- Experience working with funding bodies, awarding organisations and commissioner requirements.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
- Willingness to travel across the UK as required.
- Understanding of financial management and budgeting principles.
- Project management experience is desirable.
- Experience supporting bids, tenders or business development activities is advantageous.
- Experience supporting organisations through Ofsted inspections is beneficial.
- Knowledge or experience of Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) is desirable.
- A collaborative approach with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive continuous improvement.
