Adult Skills Performance and Growth Lead

Description

We reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role.

Department: Skills Management

Location: Hybrid

Compensation: £44,000 - £48,000 / year

We reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role.

The Adult Skills Performance and Growth Lead is responsible for providing strategic leadership, performance oversight and continuous improvement across all Adult Skills Funded provision delivered by Acorn Training. The role plays a critical part in ensuring that Adult Skills Fund programmes achieve contractual, financial, quality and growth objectives whilst delivering exceptional learner and stakeholder outcomes.

Working closely with the Assistant Director for Skills, the Adult Skills Performance and Growth Lead will develop and implement the organisation's Adult Skills Fund strategy, ensuring provision remains compliant, financially sustainable, responsive to local and regional priorities, and aligned to commissioner expectations.

The role will provide leadership and line management to Skills Contracts Operations Managers and wider contract teams, embedding a culture of accountability, innovation, high performance and continuous improvement across all Adult Skills Fund contracts.

The Adult Skills Performance and Growth Lead will work collaboratively with Business Development, Curriculum, Quality, MIS, Learner Engagement, Delivery and Claims teams to maximise contract performance, drive contract growth opportunities and position Acorn Training as a leading provider of Adult Skills Fund provision nationally. In addition, the Adult Skills and Performance Growth Lead will work closely with the Group Strategic Partnership Manager on the development of bids to ensure they are competitive and meet the needs of new and existing markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all Adult Skills Fund contracts, ensuring delivery aligns with organisational priorities, commissioner requirements and local skills improvement priorities.
• Develop and implement the organisation's Adult Skills Fund growth and performance strategy, driving sustainable contract performance and organisational growth.
• Lead contract planning, forecasting and performance management processes across all Adult Skills Funded provision.
• Ensure effective monitoring of contract performance against financial profiles, learner targets, achievement rates, quality standards and contractual KPIs.
• Analyse management information, performance data and market intelligence to inform strategic decision-making and identify areas for improvement or growth.
• Line manage the Skills Contracts Operations Managers, providing leadership, coaching, performance management and professional development.
• Establish a high-performance culture focused on accountability, customer service, learner outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce and succession planning to ensure sustainable and effective contract management capability across Adult Skills Fund provision.
• Develop leadership capability within contract management teams through mentoring, coaching and professional development activities.
• Drive collaboration across operational, quality and curriculum teams to achieve organisational objectives.
• Ensure all Adult Skills Fund provision remains fully compliant with funding rules, commissioner requirements, audit standards and organisational policies.
• Work closely with the Quality and Curriculum team to drive continuous improvement activities across all contracts.
• Lead contract self-assessment, quality improvement planning, internal audits and commissioner assurance activities.
• Ensure effective corrective action planning where performance, quality or compliance concerns are identified.
• Maintain a continual state of inspection and audit readiness across Adult Skills Fund provision.
• Identify and share effective practice across contracts to improve learner outcomes, operational effectiveness and value for money.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with commissioners, funding bodies, local authorities, combined authorities and strategic partners.
• Act as the senior operational lead for commissioner relationships, contractual reviews and performance discussions.
• Represent Acorn Training at regional and national forums, stakeholder meetings and strategic networking events.
• Contribute to the bid writing process by providing operational insight, performance evidence and market intelligence to support the development of competitive, high-quality submissions that meet commissioner requirements and align with Adult Skills Fund priorities.
• Support the identification and development of new funding streams, growth opportunities and commercial initiatives.
• Develop partnerships with employers, referral organisations, community groups and delivery partners to support learner recruitment, progression and contract growth.
• Lead financial performance management across Adult Skills Fund contracts, ensuring delivery remains within profile and achieves agreed funding targets.
• Monitor contract utilisation and performance against budget, undertaking corrective action where required.
• Ensure robust forecasting and risk management processes are in place across all Adult Skills Fund provision.
• Lead strategic projects and organisational improvement initiatives as directed by the Assistant Director for Skills.
• Contribute to organisational business planning, growth strategies and quality improvement objectives.
• Champion innovation, digital transformation and learner-centred approaches to delivery and contract management.
• Promote Acorn Training's values, culture and commitment to delivering positive outcomes for learners, employers and communities.

Key Performance Indicators

• Achievement of Adult Skills Fund contractual performance measures and funding targets.
• Contract utilisation and financial performance against profile.
• Learner recruitment, retention, achievement and progression outcomes.
• Employer, commissioner and stakeholder satisfaction levels.
• Successful achievement of quality assurance, compliance and audit outcomes.
• Achievement of contract growth, partnership and business development objectives.
• Timely and accurate performance reporting and forecasting.
• Effective leadership and performance management of Skills Contracts Operations Managers and associated teams.
• Successful implementation of strategic improvement initiatives and growth plans.

Qualifications and specific training

• Degree in leadership, management, business, education or a related discipline (essential)
• Level 5 management qualification or significant senior leadership experience (essential)
• GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics (essential)
• Full driving licence (essential)
• Leadership or executive management qualification (desirable)
• IOSH Managing Safely (desirable)
• Teaching, assessment or quality assurance qualification (desirable)

Experience

• Significant experience within post-16 education and skills (essential)
• Proven experience of strategic leadership of adult learning and/or funded provision (essential)
• Experience managing Adult Skills Fund or equivalent publicly funded contracts (essential)
• Experience leading performance improvement and quality enhancement (essential)
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary operational teams (essential)
• Experience of financial planning, forecasting and budget management (essential)
• Experience managing multiple contracts across different funding agencies (desirable)
• Experience leading organisational transformation, growth or merger projects (desirable)

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of Adult Skills Fund funding rules, performance measures and compliance requirements (essential)
• Knowledge of commissioner assurance frameworks, audit requirements and quality systems (essential)
• Understanding of labour market intelligence, local skills priorities and adult education policy (essential)
• Knowledge of safeguarding, Prevent, equality and compliance responsibilities (essential)
• Knowledge of devolved authority funding systems and commissioning arrangements (desirable)
• Understanding of emerging developments within adult skills and workforce development policy (desirable)

Skills and Qualities

• Outstanding leadership and people management skills (essential)
• Strong strategic planning and organisational skills (essential)
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement abilities (essential)
• Ability to interpret complex performance and financial data. Strong commercial awareness and growth mindset (essential)
• Ability to lead organisational change and continuous improvement (essential)
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills (essential)
• Experience using advanced performance dashboards, CRM systems and data analytics tools to inform strategic decision-making (desirable)

Job Benefits

• Flexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant
• Up to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
• Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing
• Training and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications
• Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers
• Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge
• Disability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces
• Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives
• Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards
• £500 Recommend a friend scheme

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