Head of Subcontracting

Location: National – Hybrid/Remote with regular travel

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Reporting to: Executive Director of Legal & Corporate Services

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Head of Subcontracting will have strategic and operational responsibility for SCL's portfolio of subcontracted provision and key third-party delivery partnerships, with an annual portfolio value of approximately £3–5 million.

The role will provide end-to-end leadership of subcontracting arrangements, from due diligence, contracting and mobilisation through to performance management, compliance, financial oversight, intervention, renewal and exit.

Working closely with Legal, Finance, Quality, Compliance, Operations and Business Development, the postholder will ensure subcontracted provision delivers against contractual, financial, quality and regulatory requirements while maintaining strong, commercially sustainable partner relationships.

The Head of Subcontracting will provide clear ownership and governance of the portfolio, ensuring risks and underperformance are identified and addressed early, while providing senior leadership with appropriate visibility of performance, financial exposure and compliance.

The role will also support the assessment and mobilisation of new subcontracting and strategic partnership opportunities, ensuring arrangements are commercially viable, operationally deliverable and aligned with SCL's strategic objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take overall responsibility for the effective management of SCL's £3–5m portfolio of subcontracted provision and relevant third-party delivery partnerships.
• Establish and maintain effective portfolio governance, including performance dashboards, KPIs, RAID logs, action plans and appropriate escalation mechanisms.
• Monitor subcontractor performance across recruitment, retention, achievement, learner outcomes, quality, compliance, financial performance and contractual delivery.
• Chair regular subcontractor performance reviews, ensuring actions are clearly documented, owned and completed within agreed timescales.
• Identify underperformance at the earliest opportunity and implement appropriate improvement plans, interventions and escalation.
• Provide regular reporting and recommendations to Executive and Senior Leadership on portfolio performance, financial position, compliance and emerging risks.
• Lead strategic reviews of the portfolio and make evidence-based recommendations regarding continuation, growth, intervention, renewal or termination of individual arrangements.
• Maintain oversight of the commercial performance of the subcontracting portfolio, including contract values, delivery profiles, utilisation, payments and forecasts.
• Work closely with Finance and MIS to ensure subcontractor payments are supported by eligible, compliant delivery and appropriate evidence.
• Identify and manage potential under-delivery, over-delivery, financial exposure and contractual risk.
• Support commercial negotiations relating to new arrangements, contract variations, extensions and renewals.
• Ensure subcontracting arrangements remain commercially sustainable and provide appropriate value to SCL, learners and funding bodies.
• Manage the operational contract lifecycle, including mobilisation, variations, performance intervention, renewal, teach-out and exit.
• Work with Legal on contractual interpretation, amendments, disputes, breaches and enforcement where required.

Funding, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure subcontracting arrangements operate in accordance with applicable Department for Education funding rules, devolved authority requirements, contractual obligations and SCL policies.
• Maintain an appropriate working knowledge of relevant funding and regulatory requirements and ensure changes affecting subcontracted provision are appropriately implemented.
• Ensure robust due diligence is completed before subcontractors are appointed and refreshed throughout the relationship, including financial, operational, quality and compliance checks.
• Work closely with Quality and Compliance teams to monitor learner eligibility, evidence, funding compliance, quality and delivery standards.
• Maintain effective subcontracting risk management arrangements and ensure material risks are appropriately mitigated and escalated.
• Support internal and external audit activity and ensure subcontractors provide required information, evidence and access.
• Ensure subcontracting arrangements are appropriately recorded, declared and reported to relevant funding bodies where required.
• Lead the operational mobilisation of new subcontractors and relevant third-party delivery partnerships, ensuring responsibilities, KPIs, systems, reporting, learner journey and governance arrangements are clearly established.
• Coordinate internal stakeholders to ensure new arrangements are operationally ready prior to delivery commencing.
• Build and maintain strong, commercially effective relationships with subcontractors and strategic delivery partners.
• Develop effective working relationships with relevant funding bodies, Combined/Mayoral Authorities, prime contractors and other stakeholders relevant to SCL's subcontracted provision.
• Work alongside Business Development to identify and assess potential subcontracting and partnership opportunities, including partner identification and due diligence.
• Assess proposed partnerships for strategic fit, delivery capability, quality, compliance risk and commercial viability.
• Identify opportunities to responsibly grow high-performing partnerships and improve the overall effectiveness and value of the portfolio.

Stakeholder Management & Leadership

• Act as SCL's principal operational point of coordination for subcontracting matters.
• Develop strong cross-functional relationships across Legal, Finance, Quality, Compliance, Curriculum, Operations, Data and Business Development.
• Ensure responsibilities between SCL and its subcontractors are clearly understood and effectively implemented.
• Provide informed advice and recommendations to senior stakeholders on subcontractor performance, commercial considerations, risk and proposed interventions.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and high-quality delivery across SCL's subcontracting network.

KEY MEASURES OF SUCCESS

Success in the role will include:

• Delivery against contracted learner, quality and financial profiles.
• Portfolio financial performance against budget and forecast.
• Compliance with funding, contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Strong internal and external audit outcomes.
• Timely identification and resolution of subcontractor underperformance and risk.
• Successful mobilisation of new subcontractors and partnerships.
• Effective management of interventions, renewals, teach-out and exits.
• Accurate and timely portfolio reporting and governance.
• Strong and productive subcontractor and stakeholder relationships.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Significant experience within subcontracting, contract management, partnership management, commercial management or publicly funded education and training.
• Demonstrable experience managing a substantial portfolio of contracts, subcontractors, suppliers or delivery partners.
• Strong understanding of contract management, commercial risk and supplier/partner performance management.
• Experience of financial monitoring, forecasting, KPI management and performance reporting.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex stakeholder relationships and addressing material underperformance.
• Experience of mobilising new contracts, services or delivery partnerships.
• Strong risk management, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience producing and presenting performance information and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, challenge and negotiate effectively.
• Experience within an independent training provider, FE college or publicly funded skills environment.
• Knowledge of DfE funding rules and subcontracting requirements.
• Experience across Adult Skills, 16–19 Study Programme, Apprenticeships and/or devolved adult skills provision.
• Experience working with Combined/Mayoral Authorities or other public-sector commissioners.
• Experience of funding assurance, audit and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing subcontractor intervention, recovery, teach-out or termination.
• Experience supporting public-sector bids, tenders and contract mobilisation.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional qualification or membership within contract management, procurement, commercial management or project management, for example CIPS, APMP, APM or PRINCE2 would be advantageous.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will be:

• Commercially minded while maintaining a strong focus on quality, compliance and learner outcomes.
• Proactive, accountable and results driven.
• Highly analytical with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident in challenging underperformance and holding partners to account.
• Credible and effective when working with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Pragmatic and solutions-focused, with sound judgement and decision-making skills.
• Adaptable and resilient within a fast-paced environment.
• Able to operate independently while collaborating effectively across multiple functions.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements with national travel.
• Opportunities for professional development and progression.
• A varied and influential role with responsibility for a significant portfolio of strategic delivery relationships.
• The opportunity to contribute directly to SCL's growth, quality and continued development.

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