Senior Manager Apprenticeships Product Maintenance

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 13 months

Welsh Language Standard: Not Applicable

Job Description: 

About the Role

Interview Date: mid September 2024

Flexible and remote working is an option, the contractual location is Milton Keynes and thus will be expected to be on campus at least 1 to 2 days per week and ad hoc as required. 

As part of the application process:  Please submit your CV and a Supporting 1000 word Statement that demonstrates how you meet the essential/desirable criteria listed below. 

Reporting to the Head of Apprenticeships Product Launch and Maintenance, the role is responsible for working with Units across the University to ensure the maintenance of Apprenticeship Product information assets in the four UK Nations takes place in a timely way and meets the operational and regulatory requirements of Apprenticeship provision. 

The role will be the primary interface between BDU, faculties, module teams/curriculum related project teams and operational and administrative areas of the University and help to ensure that apprenticeship product information assets meet agreed quality standards including compliance with external regulations. 

The role will also be responsible for maintaining key internal apprenticeship communication mechanisms: e.g. Apprenticeship & Technical Education Newsletter, Apprenticeship Hub internal website. 

Key Responsibilities

Apprenticeship Product maintenance

• Maintain the Apprenticeship products information assets in accordance with the Product Launch and Maintenance Framework and the Systems check list.
• Lead on ensuring any Apprenticeship Product maintenance activity takes place in a timely fashion working collaboratively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders across the University (e.g. Faculties, Academic Services and BDU). Ensure that all critical curriculum, compliance and governance issues are identified and resolved prior to the presentation.
• Review and act on changes in the apprenticeship offering, identifying business impacts through appropriate stakeholder engagement before the business decisions are made.
• Work with the Team and other colleagues as appropriate to establish standard operating procedures for the ongoing support and delivery of the product maintenance activities.

Content generation and maintenance of information assets

• Provide subject matter expertise relating to Apprenticeship Product maintenance processes and lead on information assets content reviews, including internal and external marketing/sales collateral, product briefing and communications content.
• Lead on maintaining accurate records of the structure and specification for all apprenticeship curriculum (in partnership with relevant Apprenticeship Services and Qualification and Curriculum manager colleagues), ensuring that all relevant University information assets are up to date, accurate, and compliant with the ESFA Funding and other Apprenticeship rules and internal governance.
• Lead on the content generation, production and circulation of the Apprenticeship & Technical Education newsletter

Communication and engagement

• Lead and manage internal stakeholder communication and engagement activities related to the Apprenticeship Product maintenance.
• Provide general communications and engagement related support and advice to the Team, working closely with colleagues in BDU, faculties and Academic Services.

Reviews and Improvements

• Maintain a working knowledge of the ESFA Funding and other Apprenticeship rules and IfATE standards;
• Lead on the maintenance of key operational apprenticeship related university Stage-gate* assets and reviews (*The Stage-gate process provides the framework that supports both business and governance decisions throughout the lifecycle of curriculum).
• Support the annual review and update of the Apprenticeship Academic Framework in line with the latest ESFA funding rules.
• Deputise for and undertake other duties as specified by the Head of Apprenticeship Product Launch and Maintenance when required

Skills and Experience

Essential Requirements

• Evidence of designing and implementing new processes, with a focus on improving efficiency for internal staff and students/apprentices.
• Proven track record of delivering to agreed timescales and briefs, particularly in fast moving and changeable situations.
• Evidence of leading a wide range of stakeholders without formal management authority in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Confident decision-maker with ability to build trust and excellent relationships with stakeholders, to negotiate, influence and challenge effectively to achieve preferred solutions and progress activities within agreed timescales.
• A track record of building and managing relationships with multiple stakeholders across an organisation.
• Extensive experience in delivering impactful communication and engagement plans in a complex organisation with evidence of excellent writing skills adaptable for a range of outlets to captivate different audiences.
• Evidence of ability to manage a number of information assets in parallel, with strong attention to detail, sound editorial judgement, whilst ensuring consistency across channels.
• A self starter with strong organisational skills able to work independently taking ownership of tasks through to completion.
• Proven experience of application and interpretation of University and external policy and procedures and evidence of the ability to translate the systems and business processes into a language that an end user will understand and present ideas and proposals to stakeholders in a compelling way, in writing and in person to ensure successful outcomes.
• A strong awareness of the wider HE apprenticeships landscape including rules, regulations, policy and compliance.
• Commitment to the OU values, including equal opportunities and diversity principles

Contact us

If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application, please contact: Careers@open.ac.uk.

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 underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.