Apprenticeships Operations Manager

Suncitykickball; Barnsley; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading apprenticeship training provider in Barnsley is seeking an experienced Apprenticeships Operations Manager to oversee the quality and performance of apprenticeship delivery. This role involves managing a team of Skills Coaches, ensuring adherence to regulatory frameworks, and driving positive learner outcomes. The successful candidate will have significant experience in apprenticeship operations management, a strong understanding of the Education Inspection Framework, and demonstrate leadership skills necessary for team development. This permanent, full-time position offers a salary range of £35k - £38k and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Birthday off

Christmas Shopping day

Westfield Health Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in apprenticeship or FE operations management.
• Strong working knowledge of the Education Inspection Framework.
• In-depth understanding of DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams to deliver compliant, high-quality provision.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and performance-manage a team of Skills Coaches.
• Provide strategic oversight of curriculum intent and implementation.
• Monitor the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment.
• Ensure that apprenticeship programmes are delivered in compliance with regulations.

Skills

Apprenticeship management

Quality assurance

Performance management

Team leadership

Curriculum development

Employer relationship management

Education

Teaching, assessing, or training qualification (AET, PGCE, TAQA)

IQA or Lead IQA qualification

Job description

To start Feb 2026

Yorkshire based Hybrid

£35k - £38k Permanent Full Time ; Benefits include 25 + all bank holidays, Birthday off, Christmas Shopping day, Westfield Health Scheme

Do you have a passion for Apprenticeships? Are you an experienced manager within the Skills and employability sector with experience of quality and funding?
This could be your next career move...

The Apprenticeship Operations Manager is responsible for the operational leadership, quality assurance, and performance management of apprenticeship delivery across the organisation. The post-holder will lead and manage a team of Skills Coaches, ensuring that apprenticeship programmes are delivered in full compliance with the DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules, the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF), and internal quality assurance requirements. The role has direct accountability for learner outcomes, Skills Coach KPIs, audit readiness, funding compliance, and employer satisfaction, ensuring that provision is ambitious, well sequenced, and delivers sustained impact for learners and employers.

We are looking for an experienced Apprenticeships Operations Manager to lead the operational and delivery output of the business against contractual requirements along with maintaining and exceeding quality standards and outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and performance-manage a team of approximately 10-12 Skills Coaches. Set clear expectations and objectives aligned to learner progress, achievement, quality, and compliance. Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and CPD planning, holding staff accountable for outcomes. Ensure Skills Coaches maintain up-to-date CPD and occupational competence. Embed our client's values into everyday practice and decision-making. Develop customer relationships with employers via observational visits with team.
• Provide strategic oversight of curriculum intent, implementation, and impact across all apprenticeship programmes. Ensure delivery teams implement ambitious, sequenced, and knowledge-rich curricula informed by accurate initial assessment and learner starting points. Monitor the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment to ensure learners know more, do more, and remember more over time. Ensure off‑the‑job training is planned, meaningful, and fully evidenced. Support Skills Coaches to confidently articulate curriculum design, sequencing, and learner progress during Ofsted deep dives. Maintain high standards in behaviour and attitudes, personal development, safeguarding, Prevent, British Values, and SEND. Lead internal quality reviews and contribute to Ofsted inspection preparation.

Qualifications and Experience

Proven experience in apprenticeship or FE operations management.

Strong working knowledge of the Education Inspection Framework.

In‑depth understanding of DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules.

Demonstrated experience managing teams to deliver compliant, high‑quality provision.

Track record of achieving performance, funding, and audit outcomes. Experience using ILR systems and managing audit evidence.

Desirable

Ideally you will have Teaching, assessing, or training qualification (AET, PGCE, TAQA).

IQA or Lead IQA qualification. Experience across multiple apprenticeship standards or sectors.

JOIN THE TEAM

To apply for the role of Apprenticeships Operations Team Leader, please email your CV to: email omitted

Tina Lacey Recruitment is a specialist recruitment agency dedicated to the skills, training and welfare to work sectors nationally. We are committed to giving full free pre‑interview advice and guidance right throughout the interview process.