About The Role
Leeds City College are seeking an ambitious and dynamic Deputy Head of Apprenticeship and Commercial to join our Travel, Food and Drink team at The Printworks Campus. This department delivers high-quality apprenticeship provision in Butchery, Commis Chef, Chef de Partie, Hospitality Team Member, and Hospitality Supervisor. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated leader to work closely with the Head of School and shape the future of our provision. You will lead on quality, teaching, learning and assessment to ensure apprentices are inspired, supported and equipped with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to thrive in their careers. With a strong focus on achievement, retention and progression rates, you will drive standards that exceed national benchmarks and reflect industry needs. This role requires a leader who is passionate about vocational education, committed to learner success, and eager to contribute to a thriving and supportive department.
What You Will Do
* Lead on quality, teaching, learning and assessment to secure outstanding outcomes for apprentices across Butchery, Professional Cookery, Food Operatives and Hospitality standards.
* Manage departmental performance, ensuring apprenticeship retention, achievement, and progression consistently exceed national benchmarks.
* Oversee curriculum development to ensure provision is responsive to employer needs, local priorities, and national skills agendas, adapting programmes to meet growth and funding opportunities.
* Drive a culture of excellence in learning, through staff development, observations, and the promotion of high-quality teaching and assessment practices.
* Support financial sustainability, meeting income and growth targets to strengthen apprenticeship and commercial provision for Travel, Food and Drink.
* Lead and inspire staff, ensuring effective planning, delivery, and assessment strategies that enable apprentices to achieve their full potential.
* Implement robust quality assurance processes, monitoring learner progress through SMART targets and interventions, while supporting continuous improvement of courses.
* Work collaboratively with apprentices, employers and colleagues to build strong relationships that enhance the learner and employer experience.
* Contribute to recruitment and induction activities, ensuring learners are effectively supported from the outset and throughout their journey.
* Maintain high standards of safeguarding, compliance and professional practice, supporting both learners and staff in a safe and inclusive environment.
* Lead and manage quality assurance processes and inform the review process to develop and improve identified courses.
* Build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including apprentices, employers, curriculum and support colleagues.
* Participate in student recruitment activities, including interviews and open evenings.
About You
* A proven track record of leading apprenticeship delivery, engaging with employers, and building strong internal and external partnerships.
* Experience of quality assurance, curriculum responsiveness and the ability to adapt provision to local and national priorities.
* Strong leadership and organisational skills to manage staff performance, ensure effective delivery, and maximise success for learners.
* The ability to inspire both learners and colleagues, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
* Vision, energy and expertise to help shape the next phase of our Travel, Food and Drink provision.
* Resilient, proactive and solutions-focused, thrive in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift.
* Confidence in managing performance, overseeing quality assurance, and ensuring programmes are responsive to local, regional and national priorities.
* Passion for vocational education, commitment to learner success, and dedication to maintaining our department’s reputation as a Grade 1 provider.
Benefits
* Annual Leave: 44 days plus bank holidays (for Curriculum and Management) and 39 days plus bank holidays (for Curriculum support and business support).
* Pension Schemes with generous employer contributions: Teachers’ Pension Scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, People’s Pension Scheme.
* CPD Opportunities: Annual staff conference plus 2 additional staff development days.
* Qualifications Including PGCE, Apprenticeships, Leadership and Management Courses.
* Employee wellbeing initiatives: Family Friendly Policies, discounted onsite spa and gym access.
* Travel and commuting benefits: discounted travel through various schemes.
* Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (discuss with the recruiting manager).
About Us
Leeds City College is one of the largest further education institutions in the country and a major provider of apprenticeships regionally. We offer a vibrant and diverse learning environment, delivering innovative education that is supportive, inspiring and life-changing. Our values put students first and underpin everything we do.
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and welfare. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks including an enhanced DBS check, online checks and two satisfactory references. It is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity with children.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in recruitment. We strive to create a workplace that embraces equality and fairness, with processes designed to remove bias and promote a diverse talent pool. For more about our EDI objectives, please refer to our information pages.
Recruitment Agencies
We do not accept unsolicited CVs or applications from agencies and will not be liable for fees in connection with candidates submitted speculatively unless expressly instructed for a particular vacancy on our Preferred Supplier List.
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