Post 16 and Adult Learning Strategic Lead

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made - please note that this also includes any CV uploaded. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.
Kirklees
Children & Families
Learning & Early Support
37
1
Huddersfield and surrounding areas
Permanent
Grade 15

£51,515 - £53,407

This post is located in Kirklees LA’s Learning and Early Support Service. The service works with schools, learning settings and providers, offering and supporting learning provision across all ages and levels.

Kirklees enjoys an enviable reputation for its post-16 and adult provision. We have superb post-16 institutions, excellent commissioned adult and community education and we are in a key position to benefit and influence future adult education and skills devolution. Challenges exist in ensuring that the provision remains inclusive, sufficient and appropriate to the needs of all groups. We are determined that all Kirklees’ residents can develop the skills, knowledge and love of learning needed to contribute to their wellbeing and meet the needs of the future economy.

Working under the Head of Post-16, Progression and Partnerships and the Acting Head of Service, Adult and Community Learning, you will manage the strategic relationships with post-16 and adult and community education providers, assess outcomes, assure and improve quality, and ensure curriculum breadth, depth and value. Managing projects, you will be instrumental in driving the delivery and implementation of key initiatives which support participation and good outcomes for all people learning in Kirklees. You will work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to improve outcomes. We are looking for people who demonstrate the Council’s behaviours and expectations and continually strive for excellence.

You will:

  • Develop and engage in effective relationships with local delivery partners to ensure they have full understanding of the local learning and skills environment and that LA policies and targets are understood by, and integrated with key external organisations.
  • Drive improvement in the performance of delivery partners and identify innovative interventions to overcome barriers to improvement and ensure value for money.
  • Develop and implement agreed elements of local strategies and plans, ensuring the quality and mix of learning provision commissioned meets local, regional and national priorities and targets.
  • Participate in and lead where appropriate, significant development projects or initiatives that contribute to the performance improvement for the local Council or region.
  • Work with elected members and senior officers to ensure consistent and cohesive approaches for functional responsibilities: SEND and vulnerable learners; economic development; links between young people’s learning and adult skills; intelligence, data gathering and local analysis; and FE and adult planning and funding.

Requirements for this job:

  • Provide funding and policy expertise in post-16 and adult learning and skills to inform related activity across Council services and joint planning and commissioning with partners and stakeholders
  • Undertake statutory audits of study programmes in post-16 settings,
  • Build and develop relationships with a range of post-16 and adult providers, developing a restorative environment and a collaborative approach to future projects,
  • Meet post-16 statutory duties on participation by securing sufficient and appropriate provision and progression for all post-16 learning routes,
  • Provide vital assessment, quality assurance and improvement for Kirklees LA’s own adult education provision,
  • Work with providers to build sufficiency of range and choice of provision for those who are 19-25 years with an EHCP, with a continuing role in quality assurance,
  • Advise on and lead the development of appropriate transition strategies and plans for vulnerable learners,
  • Work with providers to ensure compliance with the Children and Families Act,
  • Support Kirklees Learning Partners and SENDACT to ensure strategy and policy are fit for post-16 practitioners with specific reference to improving quality of outcomes for vulnerable students and those at risk of becoming NEET.
  • Work with Head of Post-16, Progression and Partnerships to commission CEIAG and NEET-prevention delivery to meet statutory LA responsibilities and influence the delivery of statutory school responsibilities.
  • There may be requirement to manage people within a matrix management system to ensure the successful delivery of projects and the service as a whole.

NB:  INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY 25 MARCH 2021

Phil Mark is the manager for this role, please contact them on 01484 221000 for an informal discussion, or if you need any more information. 
This job is subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level, please refer to the Job Description/Profile.  A conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment but will be considered as part of the recruitment process.
We know there’s a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and we encourage applications from people with all differing abilities. So, if you need any support completing an application form, or any other format for the application or Job Description please contact the Recruitment Team for help by email: jobs@kirklees.gov.uk or phone: 01484 221000 and ask for ‘Recruitment’.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

21 March 2021, 11:55 PM

Important Information

This vacancy is closed to applications.