Are you passionate about apprenticeships and ready to lead employer engagement and programme delivery at a leading UK institution?
Join The Open University as an Apprenticeship Programme Delivery Manager and play a key role in delivering high-quality apprenticeship experiences that drive learner success and meet employer needs.
About the Role
The Apprenticeship Programme Delivery Manager is an employer‑facing role where you will operate independently and manage a caseload of employers. You will support these employers by providing regular apprentice progress reports and meeting with them on a monthly/quarterly basis to ensure our apprenticeships run smoothly. You will work with your allocated employers to identify ongoing skills gaps and plan future apprenticeship cohorts, onboard new apprentices to ensure eligibility and suitability, and manage the end‑to‑end onboarding process on the Aptem platform. Working within the Business Development Unit, you will be part of a wider team providing administration and operational support to deliver apprenticeships and collaborating closely with university faculties. This role is for a fixed term of 12 months.
Key Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with employers, particularly apprenticeship leads, through structured contact and regular monthly/quarterly meetings, preparing and issuing apprenticeship progress reports as per our service level agreement.
- Support your caseload of employers with future workforce planning and identification of new apprenticeship cohorts.
- Ensure apprentices’ onboarding and registration comply with the Department for Education (DfE) Rules; verify applicants meet suitability and eligibility criteria and provide necessary support.
- Utilise the Aptem platform for the applicant and employer onboarding journey to ensure an efficient and seamless experience for all users.
- Conduct robust applicant initial assessment reviews and discussions to identify suitability and additional support needs.
- Prepare and deliver employer and applicant information sessions and briefing webinars; support employers to use the Aptem onboarding system.
- Manage employer change of circumstances such as break in learning, withdrawal and redundancy, ensuring timely processing in accordance with DfE funding rules and Open University registration policy.
- Handle the end‑to‑end change of employer process, ensuring a timely transition for all parties.
- Support Student Experience Managers and Staff Tutors with queries relating to individual apprentices or employers, providing relevant guidance to enable regulatory‑compliance resolution.
- Collaborate with colleagues and the wider Apprenticeship Services Team to maintain consistent and efficient ways of working, and support ad‑hoc duties as required.
- Work with faculties to analyse tutor feedback and raise concerns with apprentice progress or at‑risk of non‑completion.
- Keep up‑to‑date knowledge of current rules and regulations relating to apprenticeships.
- Develop comprehensive knowledge of Open University apprenticeship programmes, including pedagogy, assessment and delivery patterns, and participate in quality assurance or other audits of our apprenticeship delivery as required.
About You
- Experience working in a similar role for an apprenticeship or training provider with an understanding of Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeship programmes and the Apprenticeship Levy, and accurate data collection practices such as the Individual Learner Record (ILR).
- Experience of quality assurance, inspections and DfE compliance, and understanding of additional learning/social needs and safeguarding policies; awareness of Health & Safety considerations for employers is advantageous.
- Understanding of a “beginning‑to‑end” work‑based learning/training programme including recruitment, induction, workshops and apprentice reviews.
- A goal‑orientated professional who can work autonomously, manage priorities effectively and assume ownership of tasks with minimal supervision.
- Excellent communication skills – face‑to‑face, online and written, with experience of facilitating meetings and webinars and strong presentation abilities; able to communicate with stakeholders at all levels.
- Experience of stakeholder engagement, influencing, negotiating and dealing with large organisations, preferably in an apprenticeship provider setting; good networking skills and ability to build collaborative cross‑functional relationships.
Benefits
- 33 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and a three‑day Christmas closure period.
- Access to a leading pension scheme for UK higher education with generous employer contributions.
- Staff Fee Waivers for OU study, allowing you to earn a degree for free.
- Hybrid working with limited on‑site office requirement and agile, family‑friendly policies.
- Discounts, wellbeing support and development opportunities.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…