INTERNAL VACANCY
York Learning are looking to recruit a Learning and Skills Development Manager within our Adult Skills (ASF) team, we are the Adult Skills & Community Learning arm of York Council. York Learning delivers programmes of learning to meet the needs of local communities, local authority workforce development and businesses with a focus on widening participation of those from disadvantaged groups, apprentices, unemployed & low skilled adults, SEND, those furthest from the labour market, and those adults who would benefit from improvements in their health and wellbeing.
This is a fantastic opportunity to shape impactful educational progression to skills such as Trades; Green Skills, and Logistics, working with a wide range of partners to support residents into learning and employment. If you’re passionate about community development, partnership working, and driving positive change, we’d love to hear from you.
We are seeking a strategic and experienced professional with a strong background in skills development, adult education and employment support. You will have a deep understanding of national and local policy in these areas and a proven ability to lead the design and delivery of impactful, inclusive programmes. You will be confident managing complex, multi-agency projects and budgets, with excellent skills in partnership working, performance management, and innovation. You’ll also bring strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills, and a commitment to equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
The development manager will be responsible for working with various curriculum managers to ensure there is a strong focus within each different curriculums on the skills needs and aspirations of the city being developed within our offer. There will also be a focus to ensure that contract performance is maximised.
This will include those managers recruitment and development of courses and monitoring targets.
Whilst we can’t promise that every day will be the same, your key responsibilities are likely include:
* Identify new skills funded opportunities within adult education, including cross curriculum working, partnerships with stakeholders, government agencies, and community partners within funding thresholds.
* Represent York Learning internally and externally to ensure that the service offer is aligned with local and national market demands and contributes to the city’s essential skills and learning requirements; identifying opportunities for co-produced programmes with partners to increase learning pathways across the city.
* Develop and implement a development strategy to meet strategic aims, revenue and learner recruitment targets.
* Working closely with the 16-18 and SEND Learning teams inlcuding sub-contractors to support growth and better opportunities for young people. Whilst monitoring continued contract compliance with the quality and performance of the offer within budgets set.
* Generate leads and monitor performance on starts for funded training programmes
* Prepare and deliver presentations to potential stakeholders and partners.
* Work closely with internal teams, including operations, and marketing, to ensure support processes are in place to lead to the successful and delivery of ASF and young people’s learning programmes.
* Attend networking events and conferences to promote the organisation..
* Working with Curriculum Managers and Marketing teams develop innovative approaches to attract learners.
* Monitor and evaluate the success of business development initiatives.
* Ensure that all contracts and partnerships comply with relevant funding requirements and regulatory standards.
* Keep up to date with government policies and initiatives related to adult education and workforce development.
About You
* Proven experience in business development, learner recruitment, or a related field.
* Strong relationship-building and networking skills.
* Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
* Ability to understand stakeholder needs, for example community partners and DWP.
* Knowledge of local labour markets and industries.
* Experience working with learners, job seekers, and universal credit claimants.
* Ability to work independently and meet targets
* Excellent collaboration skills to work effectively with stakeholders
* Outstanding organisational skills
* Expertise in building relationships whilst providing challenge towards targets.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills
* Strong teamwork skills
* Inquisitive mind and drive to continually source new business opportunities, growth and learner engagement
* An understanding and knowledge of the Adults skills landscape is required.
About Us
York Learning helps more than 5,000 learners every year to achieve their goals. We cover a wider range of offers with a wide range of expertise available within the service.
We are rated as Good by Ofsted and our quality processes are deeply embedded within our offer and all are expected to support and work within that process.
We promote the wellbeing of all our learners and our employees and are fully committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and fulfilling our Prevent Duty obligations.
Please be aware we request proof of qualifications and the Right to Work in the UK.
The Council is committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.
This role is suitable as a job sharing position.
Hybrid working arrangements are available for this role. Each role at CYC is different and your working arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of the role and in collaboration with you and your needs as part of the recruitment process. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team.
As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.
City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
For further information or an informal discussion please contact Angela Padfield Head of York Learning at angela.padfield@york.gov.uk or on 07919090047
Closing date: Thursday 21 August 2025 at 12 midnight
Interview date: Tuesday 2 September
Internally advertised posts are only open to CYC, WWY and Be Independent employees. Explore and Veritau employees are not eligible to apply for these posts. #J-18808-Ljbffr