Senior Manager Quality and Performance – Apprenticeships

About the Role

The Senior Manager Quality & Performance plays a key role in ensuring the quality, performance and continuous improvement of the Open University’s Apprenticeship provision. Working in partnership with Faculties, Apprenticeship Services and wider University stakeholders, the role is responsible for developing and embedding effective quality, performance and assurance arrangements, supporting positive apprentice outcomes, regulatory compliance and organisational excellence.

The postholder will provide oversight of apprenticeship performance, identification of risks and drive improvement activity across the portfolio. This role will lead the OU’s apprenticeship self‑assessment and quality improvement processes, ensuring that interventions result in measurable improvements. The postholder will work collaboratively across the University to embed a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and high performance.

The role also plays a key part in maintaining organisational readiness for external inspection, audit and regulatory review, working closely with colleagues across functions to ensure the OU continually meets regulatory requirements to deliver high‑quality apprenticeship provision.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development, implementation and review of quality, performance and assurance measures, which will lead to continuous improvement.
• Lead on the monitoring of Apprenticeship quality and performance indicators, ensuring regular reports on quality, standards and emerging risks are produced for key governance groups and committees.
• Work with Faculties and other Units to deliver measurable improvements in Apprenticeship quality and performance indicators across the OU.
• Support the design, implementation and review of the OU’s quality assurance frameworks, systems, processes and policies for Apprenticeship provision.
• Ensure quality assurance activities lead to measurable improvements in performance and are integrated within wider governance processes.
• Lead risk‑informed challenge and support interventions where quality indicators, performance or compliance indicators identify emerging risks; ensuring that robust actions are in place and monitored and that any areas of ongoing concern are raised through appropriate governance structures.
• Work collaboratively with Apprenticeship Services, Faculties and other business units to support the development, implementation and monitoring of the University Self‑Assessment Report and Quality Improvement Plan.
• Support organisational readiness for external inspections, audits and reviews.
• Work collaboratively across Apprenticeship Services teams to identify, monitor and address risks relating to Apprenticeship regulatory requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the faculties, relevant Apprenticeship Services teams and other key stakeholders, to support continuous improvement in the quality of Practice Tuition and learner support, improving apprentice progress, achievement, satisfaction and outcomes.
• Deputise as a representative for Apprenticeship Services on University groups, committees and in external meetings, as required.
• Contribute to the successful management of change and the development of a culture of continuous improvement in Apprenticeships.

About You

• Experience in a senior quality, performance, assurance or continuous improvement role within apprenticeships, further or higher education, with a demonstrable track record of delivering organisational improvement.
• Experience of leading quality assurance, self‑assessment and quality improvement activities, including preparing for and supporting external inspection, audit and regulatory review processes (e.g. Ofsted and apprenticeship regulatory requirements).
• Proven experience of designing, implementing and monitoring quality, performance and assurance frameworks, systems and processes that drive continuous improvement and successful apprentice outcomes.
• Experience of developing, monitoring and delivering against key performance indicators, using data and management information to identify trends, risks and opportunities, and translate insights into effective improvement actions.
• Good understanding of apprenticeship quality, compliance and regulatory requirements, and the ability to evaluate adherence to policies, procedures and assurance frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience of identifying, assessing and managing organisational risks, implementing appropriate interventions and ensuring issues are escalated effectively through governance.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build productive relationships and challenge constructively at all levels across a complex organisation.
• Strong judgement and decision making skills, with the ability to balance quality, compliance and operational considerations to achieve results.
• Flexible and resilient, with a focus on solutions; the ability to respond effectively to emerging challenges, deliver through ambiguity and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Benefits

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work‑life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page.

Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement, please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Working Location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be 1‑2 days per week, but this could be more often if business needs dictate. Full‑time working based from our Milton Keynes site is also supported if this is preferred by the candidate. Expenses associated with travel to our Milton Keynes site are not reimbursable.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all under‑represented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.

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